Journey: A Missional Leadership Development Program

No. You can complete the entire Journey program in your home country, without ever coming to the United States. In-person attendance at a Weekend Learning Event is optional for international participants. If you are unable to attend, you will be expected to view videos of these events.

Once you’ve met all the requirements of the Journey program, you’ll receive a certificate of completion. Because Journey isn't a graduate-level program, your certificate won't carry academic credit at AMBS. You can, however, apply for undergraduate-level credit at one of our educational partners. Our current partnership is listed below, and we're working on more!

Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA

• Complete the full Journey program.
• Present your Journey certification to the EMU Registrar's office.
• Pay a $300 recording fee to EMU and be entered in the student database.
• Receive 15 credit hours that can be used as elective or general credits toward an undergraduate degree!

Through Journey, you’ll develop strengths in six areas:  

• Spiritual disciplines, especially prayer and inner work
• Bible study and theology from an Anabaptist perspective
• Personal character, including courage, consistency, love, and self-discipline
• Mentoring and community, as you mentor others and are mentored yourself
• Recognizing spiritual gifts in yourself and your congregation
• Leadership skills, including preaching, worship, conflict transformation, time management, and more

The program is divided into 5 units:

1. The Biblical Story
2. The Mission of God and the Witness of the Church
3. Anabaptism: Foundations and Future—A Way of Being Church
4. Leadership: The Ministry of Reconciliation
5. Announcement and Celebration: Proclamation and Worship that Participate in the Mission of God

Both! Journey combines four key elements:

• Working online with other participants
• Meeting with a pastoral mentor
• Meeting with local or regional church leaders 
• Writing a reflection paper after each unit

To apply, you must be:

• able to work online, with regular internet access
• fluent in English at the level of early university study
• recommended by a church leader affiliated with Mennonite World Conference or one of our Educational Partners
• willing to find a suitable pastoral mentor

Please email us if you have questions about these requirements or want to know more about finding a pastoral mentor.

• We expect you to do at least 5 hours of study per week during a unit.
• Each of the 5 units runs for 20-22 weeks.
• The total amount of time to complete the program is 2-and-a-half years.

The 1st unit of each year runs mid-September to mid-February.
The 2nd unit of each year runs mid-February to mid-July.
This cycle repeats as participants progress through Units 1-5. 

Pastoral mentors must be ready to support applicants in a variety of ways. Mentors commit to meeting with their mentee every two weeks as well as regularly reading the participant’s learning journal and participating in annual gatherings. Qualified mentors will also have experience as a pastor, church planter, missionary or have served in another relevant church role. Ideally, a mentor would also have a seminary degree or have completed the Journey program.

Both applicants and pastoral mentors must be recommended for study in the program by district ministers or other suitable officials.

Online units of study begin each September and February. The complete program includes five units spanning two and a half years. Each unit costs $600 USD before the early registration deadline, or $700 USD after the early registration deadline. Financial assistance is available and takes into account the applicant's country of citizenship and resources on hand. Apply for financial assistance here.

For Fall 2021 session:

Aug. 20: $300 USD non-refundable deposit due

Sept. 10: Remaining tuition payment due

Refund Deadline: Sept. 22, one week after first day of online class

The fees listed above cover the cost of tuition only. Any other costs you might incur are not covered, including the costs of travel, lodging, and meals while you're meeting with local or regional church leaders. In addition, your pastoral mentor will not receive remuneration.

Refund policy:

1) A $300 non-refundable deposit is due upon acceptance.
2) The remaining tuition payment is due by the first day of the session.
3) No refunds will be granted after the first week of class.
4) Weekend Learning Event lodging and meal fees are due 2 weeks before the event and are non-refundable.