The future of the local church needs leaders who won’t wilt under pressure.

Ministry is demanding, and the statistics are clear: over 40% of pastors seriously consider walking away. The next generation of church leaders needs more than just theological knowledge; they need resilience, clarity, and hands-on competence to survive and thrive for a lifetime of discipleship-focused ministry.

We believe in planting deep roots. Like the trees described in Jeremiah 17:7-8, you need to be planted by the river–strong, stable, and fruitful-even when the inevitable drought hits.

Bible college and seminary provide excellent training, but are often unable to provide students with the hands-on experience necessary to thrive in life-long vocational ministry. Planted exists to bridge that gap. Here, you don’t just think about ministry; you do ministry-with coaching and mentoring from seasoned ministry leaders.

Our program is engineered to make sure you’re not one of the 40%:

1. Clarity of Calling: Test, confirm, or discover your ministry calling through real-world, hands-on experience.
2. High-Level Coaching: Receive dedicated mentorship that pushes your limits to grow your ministry competency.
3. Sustainable Ministry: Build the spiritual resilience and healthy habits required for a lifelong kingdom impact.

If you are serious about a lifelong, disciple-making ministry, Planted is where you put down deep roots and prepare to outlast the difficult seasons of ministry.

The Residency is a two-year, full-time program for individuals who are preparing to enter vocational ministry and need to build hands-on experience.

If you would like additional information about our program, or have any questions, please visit plantedcfc.com.

Applications for the 2026-2027 year will close on March 27, 2026.