Ministry Discernment Residency Lab
EVERYONE HAS A ROLE IN GOD’S KINGDOM,
LET US HELP YOU FIND YOURS
Sept 2024 - May 2025 / Applications Due June 1
Whether you’re a church planter, pastor, counselor, student or worship minister, missionary, or gospel-centered, disciple-making accountant, we all have something in common. It can be really hard to discover your gifting and your fit for ministry. It takes time and coaching. We often have stereotypes of specific roles, and, if we’re honest, no one feels fully adequate for spiritual leadership. While classroom learning is necessary in any field, it’s in "the lab" that you get to put theory into practice, experiment in controlled environments, and truly gain hands-on experience in the roles and tasks for which you’re being trained.
This 9-month training (Sept - May) considers aspects of spiritual life and family, personal leadership and gifting, all through the lens of mission and calling. You and your spouse (if married) join together to learn, discuss, practice, and glean from many trainers in a cohort of peers, and discern your calling based on character, convictions, and competencies.
Our unique lab process is designed to train you for disciple-making while you remain in your current job or ministry (~6-8 hrs/week training with bi-monthly, on-site Lab Weeks.) And while we collaborate for the training, you contextualize it to your specific vision, in part by getting to remain embedded in your local church, whose leaders work to provide opportunities, practice, and development specific to your needs.
What topics are covered?
Each 8-week “class” dives deep into various aspects of four themes: ministry foundations, ministry leadership & self awareness, ministry relationships & discipleship, & mission / contextualization. Throughout the year, you’ll also complete a personal development plan based on your unique gifts and needs, which parallels the unified training. And there are times for your sending church / network / denomination to shape the trainng as well.
What is the cost?
The Ministry Discernment Lab costs $4050 ($450/mo, Sept - May). Tuition covers online and print materials, administrative and coaching costs, and all Lab expenses (incl. food, trainers, trainers, activities, etc.). Residents/churches cover travel costs to Lab Weeks, and any expenses for your local church internship. As part of the training, we encourage you to raise 100% of tuition and costs, and both scholarships and academic credit may be available.
Thank you for your interest in a Plant Fort Worth Residency Lab!
This initial application should require ~45 minutes to complete. Unfortunately you cannot save midway and return to it. You can download a .pdf version here, and (a) think through questions then submit the online version, or (b) complete, scan, and email instead (see instructions on the .pdf).