RESIDENCY LAB
Church Planting Lab
This 10-month training equips you in the practical areas of starting a gospel-centered, Spirit-led, multiplying church.
Start a church that fits your convictions and mission.
From calling to launch.
You’re called to plant, but need real experience, practical tools, and a team around you—this lab helps you bridge the gap from theory to action so you can start with clarity, grow with support, and plant with confidence.
What you walk away with
You’ll leave with clarity about your calling and a concrete next step, shaped by real ministry experience rather than theory alone. Through hands-on training, proven frameworks, coaching, and community, you’ll develop the leadership, discipleship, and strategic skills needed to start and sustain a healthy church—along with a personalized plan and the confidence to move forward with purpose.
Get a taste of the topics covered.
This five-part training equips you to build a healthy, gospel-shaped church by clarifying your vision and context, centering on discipleship and dependence on the Spirit, developing leadership and teams, shaping gatherings and ministry strategy, and ensuring long-term health and sustainability—all reinforced through hands-on lab experiences.
-
This class defines the realities that shape a local church’s vision, & considers how the church’s culture can make or break that vision. Specifically, we’ll focus on competencies like: creating & casting vision; developing a culture to support that vision; & models of vocation & church.
-
This class looks at the strange balance of pursuing discipleship in your church plant: strategy/structure on one hand, and dependence/Spirit-ledness on the other. Specifically, we’ll focus on competencies like: discipleship as the goal; prioritizing prayer & dependence on the Spirit ; structures/metrics for discipleship ; and “administrative” realities of starting leading a church.
-
This class dives into the strategy of the various areas of ministry & mission you’re considering for your church plant – & the purpose, content, and plan for the different “gatherings” within each area. Specifically, we’ll focus on competencies like: preaching/teaching; liturgy & “liturgical services”; ministry plans; spaces & facilities that fit your discipleship vision. This will be the most tangible class so far, as you move toward casting a concrete vision for your church plant.
-
This class continues to look at the “trellis and vine” realities of ministry, zooming in on the dynamics of how your church’s leadership and team will work to foster thriving and multiplication. Specifically, we’ll focus on competencies like: developing and multiplying leaders ; team dynamics; gathering a core team ; multi-cultural team ; as we~ll as safety and policies , as you take steps toward planning specific areas of ministry in your church plant.
-
This class gets into the details of your next steps, and looks beyond the plant toward the longer-term future of your church. Our goal isn't just to see you and your team start a church, but to see you and your church thrive in sustainable, kingdom ministry, for decades, not just day one! Specifically, we'll focus on competencies like: personal growth and sustainability; church growth and sustainability ; and next steps as you form your core team.
Pricing
$450/month
August - May
$4,500
Additional Considerations
Travel to Lab Weeks (covered by you or your church)
Local ministry/internship expenses
Assessment fees (if applicable)
Scholarships and support-raising guidance available.
What’s Included:
Full 10-month cohort training experience
Bi-monthly Lab Weeks (lodging, meals, and training)
Access to experienced pastors and ministry leaders
Guided curriculum (digital + print materials)
Personalized development plan
Coaching and administrative support
Peer community and cohort relationships
Your next step
Ready to start?
We're here to help you find your fit, get your questions answered, and take your next step.