School of Church Planting
Overview
The School of Church Planting is an 11-month long training school through which we train and equip people to get involved in what God is doing around the world to spread the worship of Jesus, whether that involvement is as a go-er, sender, or mobilizer.
In the school, we focus on training as opposed to teaching; practicals as opposed to theoreticals; and experience as opposed to hypotheticals. We bring in experienced, highly-qualified practitioners that train toward a list of core competencies we desire our church-planters, senders, and mobilizers to know, be, and do. Among our regular trainers are people such as Floyd McClung, Jimmy Seibert, Dr. Dudley Woodberry, Steve Hawthorne, J.O. Terry, as well as experienced missionaries from places such as Southeast Asia, Central Asia, North Africa, South Africa, and Western Europe.
Our goal is for every graduate of the school of church planting to be more committed to Jesus in every aspect of their life and to be equipped to be a part of initiating church-planting movements around the globe.
Process
There are three elements of our training process:
(1) Classroom Training & Teaching toward the development of greater maturity in Christ and the development of the relevant and necessary skills for church-planting;
(2) Strategic Planning, through a project called "Capstone," which guides students through an exhaustive process of praying and planning through how to initiate a church-planting movement, from selection of the people on which to focus to moving on from that people once they are equipped to carry on the work themselves; and
(3) Active Involvement in Local Church-Planting, though small groups whose charge is to grow the group solely through seekers and conversions locally.
Through these three elements, we offer a real-time, guided experience in church-planting here in Austin that will prepare student to do the same wherever God may lead them in the world.
Upon graduation from the school of church planting, students are then eligible to apply to be sent by our sending organization as church-planters, or Field Staff. The school is not the only criterion for acceptance as Field Staff, however. Applicants must also have experience leading and multiplying a "Hope Group" or similar small-group ministry. Upon completion of these two steps, those who desire to be sent as Field Staff must complete a Field Staff Application and be approved by our sending agency's board.
FAQs
The specifics about the school of church planting:How long?
September through JulyWhen?
Monday & Wednesday nights from 6-10pm and one weekend per monthHow much?
$2,450/individual; $3,450/couple (fees cover all books, trainer honoraria, retreats, and a portion of the school's 2-week outreach trip); there is an additional fee for childcareWhat else?
We read church-planting and team-related books, memorize Scripture, study how to start a church-planting movement, and go on a 2-week "outreach" near the end of the year.Application?
Yes. You can pick one up at church or email Lane Mears (lanem@hopeinthecity.org) and get one emailed. The deadline for submitting an application is August 1 (unless you are granted an exception to this deadline).