GIC Introduction
This is a unique opportunity to interact with church planters and ministry leaders, eager to collaborate for the sake of the gospel in your city. In a one-day workshop, we share the DNA of City to City, and how it might serve to foster gospel movement in your city and across our continent covering topics such as Gospel Theology, Renewal and Contextualization.
Gospel in the City
A training program to equip African church planters, pastors & church leaders for gospel-centered ministry in their city.
The Vision
Church Leaders are the key to city wide Gospel Renewal.
City to City trains leaders worldwide to build gospel centered movements in their cities - including right here in Africa. Ministry leaders need specialized training to build gospel-centred communities. Our course draws from City to City’s extensive experience and expertise to catalyze church planting and revitalization efforts and develop leaders to serve a gospel movement that seeks the renewal of the entire city.
The Training
The program provides in-depth training and practical, relational support to help participants develop the key competencies needed to effectively lead their churches.
The Program includes:
TRAINING MODULES
These modules begin with the theological foundations of gospel ministry and move toward increasingly complex leadership topics that follow the typical lifecycle of a church. Participants prepare for these sessions by completing reading assignments in advance. Each session, led by trained facilitators, includes time for peer-to-peer coaching, personal spiritual formation, and application of ideas to real-world problems.
COACHING
With our support, participants find and connect with a qualified coach with experience in urban church planting. This coaching relationship is intended to help planters apply concepts from the Gospel in the City modules in their new churches and confront obstacles. Built into the GIC program is an opportunity for reflection and peer-to-peer coaching that seeks to foster growth in both ministry and personal life.
PRACTICAL PROJECTS
After each training module, planters work with their coaches to complete a practical assignment that relates directly to their church plant. When planters attend the following session, they will gather in groups to share their projects, ask clarifying questions, and evaluate the effectiveness of each project.
The Details
After an application and interview process, 8-15 leaders are selected for each Gospel in the City Cohort. A seminary degree is not required. However, all participants in the Gospel in the City Cohort must be affiliated with a denomination, church planting network, or sending church.
Candidates should demonstrate:
+ A strong sense of calling towards gospel centered ministry in an urban context
+ Proven character and integrity
+ Ministry experience
Year A
Gospel Theology
Gospel Renewal
Idolatry
Personal Life of a Leader
Gospel Contextualization
Cultural Engagement
Ministry Design
Sonship
Evangelistic Pathways
Missional Small Groups
Kingdom-centered Prayer
Preaching
Year B
Gospel Fluency
Marriage
City Vision
Mercy & Justice
Faith & Work
Relational Evangelism
Launching Worship
Leadership Development
Spiritual Warfare
Gospel Ecosystems
Gospel Preaching
Counseling
Time & Venue: 1-2 Years meeting, 1x a month (4 hours)
Cost: $20
For more information, or to begin exploring whether the Gospel in the City is a good fit for you, contact info@citytocityafrica.com
INTENSIVE
The intensive training is a two week long learning experience for church planters that are called to plant a church in one of the major cities of Africa. Interactive classes taught by experienced church planters and trainers will be combined with on-site visits of church plants. The training will have the following main objectives:
Gospel Theology: We want to create a learning experience where future church planters get immersed into the depth of the gospel, learn to apply the gospel to themselves and understand how the gospel shapes and empowers every aspect of their church plant.
Ministry Design: How do we contextualize our ministry approaches to our urban context? What will the unique, city-focused ministry of our church planters look like in their respective context?
Balanced Ministry: How do we plant churches that address the different ministry fronts in the city? How will the gospel influence and propel your preaching, evangelism, discipleship, faith and work, and mercy and justice initiatives and bear fruit for your city?
Planting a missional church: How do we gather and train a core group for a church plant? How can we implement a missional mindset into our community from the earliest stages on? And how do we lead this community through the various first steps of a church plant?
WHAT ARE THE PREREQUISITES?
You should fulfill the following prerequisites in order to apply to the African Intensive:
You are preparing to plant a church in a major African city. If you have already launched the church, you are within the first 18 months of the plant.
You are seeking to plant a church that is gospel-centered and contextualized to your city. You aim for a holistic ministry approach (not only word but also deed ministries). You believe that one church alone will not be enough to reach the city and therefore you envision being part of a collaborative movement with other churches in your city.
Your level of English should be proficient enough so that you are able to read theological papers, follow the training sessions and interact with the other church planters in English.
You take the time before the training to read through the provided pre-reading and commit to come prepared to the training.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
to City Africa will cover all the costs for accommodation as well as for the lunches during the training days. We will also organize and book your accommodation.
The participants are responsible to pay for their travel to Pretoria and back, as well as their visas. They will also have to cover their expenses for breakfast, dinner and public transport during their time in Pretoria. In some cases, successful applicants will qualify for a grant for their travel to and from Pretoria.