What is it?

Ministry Training Fellowship (MTF) is a cohort of men and women, who meet monthly, as they prepare for Christian Ministry at their local churches. 

What do you do at the gatherings?

Prior to each gathering, MTF cohort members work through training modules and then, at monthly MTF Gatherings, have discussions led by a trained facilitator on those topics. There are 6 different focus areas for the group:

• Spiritual Formation

• Soul Care

• Marriage and Family

• Emotional Intelligence

• Cultural Intelligence

• Leadership & Management
  

What are the benefits of this group?

Formal training programs often overlook the “soft skills” needed for long-term healthy ministry. The goal of this cohort is to cover those overlooked topics that are central to gospel ministry in our community.

Those who attend the MTF cohort and decide to pursue theological education through Reformed Theological Seminary or Covenant Seminary qualify for a 50% discount in tuition (new enrollment only). However, you don’t have to be enrolled in seminary to attend the MTF Cohort.

While most would prefer to do their formal ministry training in-person, many of us aren’t in situations that would allow the uprooting of our families and leaving full-time jobs in order to do that, leading many to enroll in distance education programs. The MTF cohort is designed to provide partnership and in person interaction often lost when participating in distance education programs.

Why are we doing this in Colorado Springs?

Less and Less people are entering into full time ministry. Many who do look to enter full time ministry leave their local areas-where they have relational and cultural connections- in order to pursue theological education. We think providing supportive training programs locally can help.

• More support for ministry candidates means more will be likely to pursue ministry training. 

• This program keeps ministry candidates local and planted in the communities to which God has called them to serve

• MTF can provide better trained ministry candidates, with not just formal education, but the skills and relationships needed for long-term fruitful ministry.

• Instead of each church trying to develop their own ministry training programs, this allows us to cooperate together in training ministry candidates.

FAQs

How do you access the course material?

When you show up to an MTF meeting, you will be enrolled in the cohort and have access to the content modules online.

Do you have to attend all the meetings?

No. Attendance is not mandatory unless you receive the seminary partnership discount. For that discount to apply, you must attend 75% of the meetings.

Do you need to be affiliated with a particular denomination to attend?

No. The program is offered by the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and facilitated by PCA Pastors, but you do not need to be formally affiliated with the PCA to attend and benefit from the program.

Is there a cost to attend?

No. This program is free to participate in. 

If the cohort has already started, can I still join?

Yes. There is no start or end date to the cohort. We have a 5-year rolling-rotation through all the training topics. That means you can start at any time, and over 5 years will work through all the training modules.