In the 2017-18 academic year, Resonate Global Mission was
privileged to partner with Calvin Theological Seminary by sponsoring a
2-semester church planting course at CTS. Designed to provide both theological
and practical learning, the course was led by Cory Willson, the Jake and Betsy
Tuls Assistant Professor of Missiology and Missional Ministry, and Geoff
Vandermolen, the Director of Vocational Formation and also an experienced
former church planter.
Students learned about various aspects of church planting,
covering biblical foundations, theological concepts, practical strategies and
skills, and spiritual disciplines. Two class trips to visit multiple church
plants in Ontario and Arizona provided opportunities for on-site learning from
local church planters in a variety of church plant models, giving the students
a glimpse into church planting that wouldn't have been possible from the
classroom.
The student feedback from the course was very positive. One
student said this was the most impactful course he'd taken at CTS, and a few
students are now considering that they may be called to church planting. In a
letter after the course, one student wrote: "...this class gave me a
clearer picture of who God has shaped me to be as a leader. I now know that I
am called to those considered outside of Christianity." Another
student wrote: “I came into the course expecting to learn different models
of church planting - maybe to have notes on a few structures or discipleship
plans - but my expectations were blown away. Not only did I form deep and
lasting relationships with other peers and professors who were asking some of
the same questions I was asking, but it felt like we became more aware of what
God’s Spirit was doing in and through each of our lives."
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| Calvin Theological Seminary's 17-18 church planting class. The class visited Arizona and Ontario to learn from church planters. |
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