Journey: A Missional Leadership Development Program
For North American participants
Cultivate your spiritual formation. Nurture your leadership abilities. Deepen your theological perspectives.
The two-and-a-half to three-year Journey program is designed for pastors, those exploring a call to ministry, church planters, and other congregational lay leaders.
Through out the program, learners will find a rhythm of group and individual learning that includes a combination of online study, bi-weekly meetings with a mentor and face-to-face gatherings.
The curriculum of the Journey program will help you name and develop strengths in six areas: spiritual disciplines, theological and biblical studies, character development, mentoring and community, gift development and leadership skills.
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:
- The Biblical Story
- The Mission of God and the Witness of the Church
- Anabaptism: Foundations and Future—A Way of Being Church
- Leadership: The Ministry of Reconciliation
- Announcement and Celebration: Proclamation and Worship that Participate in the Mission of God
All of the above! Journey combines three different learning environments:
- Online coursework with other participants
- An annual visit to Amigo Centre (Sturgis, MI)
- Meetings with a local pastoral mentor every two weeks
So, in order to participate, you’ll need to be able to work online, to travel to the Fall Weekend Learning Event (where you’ll pay lodging and meal costs), and to meet with a pastoral mentor who's been approved by your conference minister or an equivalent regional church official.
- 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 1/2 years.
Journey follows a regular annual schedule:
- Early September: Fall Weekend Learning Event at Amigo Centre (Sturgis, MI)
- Mid-September to mid-February: Online coursework for Fall unit
- Early February: Winter Weekend Learning Event at AMBS (Elkhart, IN). You're not required to participate in this event, but many students love getting the chance to meet with their instructors and colleagues in person.
- Mid-February to mid-July: Online coursework for Winter unit
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.
Explore your call
Where are you going next on your journey? Are you paying attention to what the Spirit is saying to you and calling you to do for the next stage of your life? We invite you to consider this question.
Recently, Jewel Gingerich Longenecker, AMBS Dean of Lifelong Learning, joined Ohio Conference podcast hosts Corben Weaver Boshart and Ramon Lianez to talk about her faith journey and the many ways people can pursue theological education through AMBS, especially the seminary’s Journey program. Listen to the podcast.
Next steps
- To request an overview of the Journey curriculum, please email us at [email protected].
- For other questions, email us at [email protected] or call 574-296-6269.
Ready to begin your application?
Begin your Journey!
2021-2022 Dates
Dec. 14, 2021 Early application deadline for Winter 2022 (save $100)
Jan. 4, 2022 Final application deadline for Winter 2022
Friday-Sunday, Jan. 28-30, 2022 Weekend Learning Event at AMBS, Elkhart, IN
Feb. 8, 2022 Online Session I ends
Feb. 16, 2022 Online Session II begins
Contact Us
Email us at [email protected] or call (574) 296-6269.
Cost
The cost for the Fall session is $600 USD before July 14 and $700 USD after. This does not include fees for the Fall Weekend Learning Event. See Weekend Learning Event Fees for more information
Fees for the Fall Weekend Learning Event are due August 20 and are non-refundable. Fees cover both you and your pastoral mentor for the weekend.
Meals plus individual rooms: $445 per mentee/mentor pair
Meals plus shared room, 2 per room: $275 per mentee/mentor pair
Meals plus shared room, 3 per room: $220 per mentee/mentor pair
Meals plus shared room, 4 per room: $190 per mentee/mentor pair
Meals only: $110 per mentee/mentor pair
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.