Convergence Process

Convergence is designed to surface and train the next generation of pastors by prompting our churches to identify those who are gifted and called, as well as provide them with necessary mentoring to maturity. The goal is to involve the student in an educational process centered in pastoral training and development within the context of the local church, equipping them to be lifelong learners.

This educational process calls for a mentor pastor to be the primary faculty influence for their next generation pastor. Consequently, we select only those who have demonstrated a dedicated commitment to spiritual multiplication in their own ministries to be involved in what we are doing through Convergence. All students will come from healthy churches with a qualified mentor pastor.

The local church will be responsible for providing a healthy community for the student to mature by: 1) identifying pastoral candidates, 2) providing an approved mentor for the entire educational process, 3) providing a significant ministry context, 4) committing to enfold or send equipped pastors, and 5) contributing significant financial support to the student throughout the educational process.

Convergence offers training in three areas of development: Personal Transformation, Biblical/Theological Training and Ministry Strategy. This is accomplished through a multi-faceted approach utilizing a matrix of educational processes.

The three-year program involves students participating within a cohort for seven three-day Intensives each year. The goal of the instruction is a transformed student who is a biblically trained and skillful practitioner of missional strategy. The student is trained as an active ministerial journeyman.

The Intensives help the student to develop, enhance, teach, and perfect skills. Since they are on the path to becoming "professional communicators," a significant component of each Intensive is spent with the future communicators communicating. The student is given assignments to fulfill in the context of their church and community.

Professors are secured with graduate degrees. Not only are they competent instructors, but also transformational coaches, helping the student become a lifelong learner.