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Curriculum

Home · Training Center · Curriculum Residency is a rigorous eight-month program, running from September to April.
  • A typical week includes four full days of coaching, group discussion, guided reading, sermon preparation and church-plant planning.
  • Significant ministry involvement is expected on the weekends and some evenings.
  • Due to the demanding nature of the program, it is not feasible for residents to work in addition to their studies.
Virtually every topic covered involves both theology and practice, and is geared toward the needs of the senior pastor. Training is divided into four phases.

First Phase: Indoctrination. Here we cover the biblical and theological distinctives that unite all Harvest churches:
We also provide biblical perspective on some of the finer points of doctrine, where Christians tend to disagree. Believing decisively that character drives ministry, we spend time getting to know residents. We help them grow in holiness and wisdom, so they might be good examples to the flock.

Second Phase: Preaching. A high view of Scripture is essential to effective ministry. We make sure residents are passionately committed to the inerrancy, authority and sufficiency of God’s Word. All aspects of sermon preparation and delivery are covered, along with multiplied opportunities for residents to use and develop their preaching gifts. Residents are exposed to rigorous criticism and edifying encouragement throughout. The practical application of Scripture to life and ministry is a major emphasis.

Third Phase: Leadership. We examine the doctrine and governance of the church, along with the identification and training of elders, church administration, how to handle discipline issues, etc. Residents are evaluated for leadership ability in a number of ministry contexts throughout the year. Keen attention is paid to their ability to communicate passion, conviction and vision, while displaying upright moral behavior at all times.

Fourth Phase: Church Planting. Residents sit at the feet of men who have planted healthy churches, while planning for the launch of their own. Several field trips are done to various Harvest churches to see how the Harvest model works. The identification, training, and motivation of volunteers is essential to the establishment of a new church. As it grows, ministries become more complex, resulting in the need for skills in organization, coordination, budgeting, planning and strategic praying. Residents learn principles of ministry management from experienced members of the Harvest Executive Staff. We also cover shepherding issues. This covers all of the practical aspects of caring for people, such as discipleship, counseling, visitation, prayer, assimilation, etc. Residents gain experience practicing each of these in real ministry settings.

As much as possible, we utilize the “action learning” model. Residents learn by doing real ministry projects in real time with real consequences, under the guidance of a seasoned pastor. The lecture model is generally avoided in favor of the Socratic method, coaching and case studies. Spirited group discussions are the norm.