STUDENT INFORMATION
To join the LAUNCH program and prepare for ministry, here are the next steps…
1. Talk with Your Pastor - The LAUNCH program is built on a partnership with your Mentoring Pastor. During the application process, your Mentoring Pastor will be asked to fill out a reference form and have a meeting with the LAUNCH Director to talk through their commitment. Your Mentoring Pastor does not have to be your church’s senior pastor. It may be more appropriate for you to be mentored by the youth pastor, executive pastor, care pastor, etc. After your conversation with them, please direct them to the Mentoring Pastor page.
2. Fill Out the Application - Once you’ve talked to your pastor, please fill out the application so we can start the acceptance process. The application deadline for each year is August 15th.
3. We’ll Take It From There - We will send out reference forms, schedule an admissions interview with you, and schedule a phone call with your Mentoring Pastor. As long as our Admissions Team feels that you can succeed in the LAUNCH program, we will be thrilled to accept you.
Student Requirements
There are many aspects of being prepared to go into ministry leadership. The LAUNCH program is designed to build on several already established foundations. The following prerequisites are necessary for acceptance to the program:
Demonstrated Lifestyle of a Mature Disciple - This program is for those who are already walking as committed, mature disciples of Jesus. This will be demonstrated through the references, application, and interview process.
Sense of Calling to Ministry Leadership - This program is not simply for those who want more knowledge or to grow in their faith. It is designed for adults who feel called to ministry leadership. For this reason, the applicant should be clear that they desire to move into vocational ministry or volunteer leadership within the church.
A Solid Biblical Foundation - LAUNCH is not primarily a Bible school, but a ministry training school. For this reason, applicants must demonstrate a solid working knowledge of the Bible. If this has not already been established, then we may ask students to go through some Biblical training before applying to LAUNCH.
Basic English Competency and Writing Skills - To succeed in this program, you must have a solid grasp of both English and written communication. This will be judged through the application essays. If you need improvement in this area, you will be asked to do a free Writing Skills class before acceptance to the program.
Agreement with Radiant’s Beliefs & Values - On your application, you will be provided with the beliefs and values of Radiant Church. We are affiliated with Radiant Church and we encourage you to research this church body https://www.radiant.church/whoweare
LAUNCH Completion Requirements
The following are the requirements for completing the LAUNCH Program and receiving a Radiant School of Ministry Certificate of Ministry Leadership:
You must attend all 6 equipping retreats over the 2 years. These are central to the program. Please check the dates and your calendar to make sure you are able to attend.
You must complete the Bible reading plan each year.
You must complete all the work for each distance course in the program. (4 hours/week)
You must be active in practical ministry under the supervision and mentoring of a local church pastor. (6-8 hours/week)
You must have separate monthly meetings with your Mentoring Pastor and Discipleship Partner
You must regularly attend the weekly Zoom call
Collectively, you should expect to invest between 13 and 15 hours per week into this program. Depending on your current level of involvement in your church, you may already be meeting most, if not all, of the required ministry hours every week. These requirements and this time commitment represent the investment necessary to prepare yourself for ministry leadership over the course of two years.
Class schedule - Year 1
1ST TERM
Foundations of Ministry
Destiny by Design
2nd TERM
Missions
Personal Evangelism
3rd TERM
School of the Spirit
Essential Theology
4th TERM
Marriage and Sexuality
Discipleship
Class schedule - Year 2
1ST TERM
Hosting and Preaching
Living a Life of Excellence
2nd TERM
Shepherding a Church
Leadership
Pioneering
3rd TERM
Ministering in the Spirit
Ministry Management
Pioneering Continued
4th TERM
Principles of a Fruitful Ministry
Ministry Management Continued
Pioneering Continued
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click the question to reveal the answer.
How much does the program cost?
The tuition for a student in LAUNCH will be $3,200 each year ($6,400 over 2 years). This includes everything except your textbooks or your travel costs to attend the retreats. For three or more students from the same host church, we offer a discount applied directly to each student’s tuition.
How long does this program last?
LAUNCH is a two year program. There will be breaks for holidays and the summer.
When are the retreats?
Mid to Late September
Mid to Late January
Early May - Right before the Arise Shine Conference!
Am I Guaranteed a Job After Graduation?
No, neither you nor your church are committing to employment at the end of the LAUNCH program. However, we expect that there may be some cases where employment is mutually beneficial to both you and your church.
I’m a recent high school graduate, is LAUNCH a good fit for me?
LAUNCH is designed to train working adults for ministry. Radiant School of Ministry’s Full Time program in Kalamazoo, MI is geared towards ages 18-25. If you aren’t sure which program would be a better fit for you, please contact us at info@radiant.school.
Are Online Classes Hosted a Certain Night of the Week?
The online classes will be asynchronous, meaning that you will be able to complete your required class work throughout the week as it fits your schedule. These class videos and assignments become available on Mondays and assignments are due the following Sunday. However, along with the asynchronous coursework, we do have Zoom calls (Peer Groups) on Monday evenings that are a required part of the program.
What are the Monday Night Peer Groups?
On Monday nights, you’ll meet online with at least one member of the LAUNCH leadership team and your cohort of students for further equipping and exploration of different topics together. These nights will include a mix of live interaction with the course teachers, teaching from the LAUNCH leadership team, and discussion groups with your peers.