**INITIAL APPLICATIONS FOR 2018–2019 ARE DUE JULY 1** THE VISION OF THE SOMA FAMILY OF CHURCHES IS TO SEE GOSPEL SATURATION,

SO THAT EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD HAS A DAILY ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS IN WORD & DEED

We believe that a key component of this vision is to plant new churches who are committed to making disciples who make disciples to the glory of God. But starting a church is a difficult calling.

Management consultant Peter Drucker said that church leadership was the most difficult and taxing profession he was aware of. The apostle Paul said of ministry, “For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death” (2 Cor 1:8–9). Many churches have great zeal for church planting, but lack the capacity to fully develop leaders who will plant healthy churches and “run the race” well for the next 50 years.

To that end, we’re excited to host Soma Sending, a two-year, immersive and experiential process to start healthy churches and make gospel-saturated disciples, across North America and beyond.

HOW DOES SOMA SENDING WORK? Soma Sending is carried out in three interwoven components, to provide unified, quality training, that’s customized to each planter and his context:

• Immersion/Externship: the customized component generally involves an immersion into a local church family for at least a portion of the two-year process. In this context, potential planters “learn by doing,” creating a Personalized Development Plan crafted to your specific areas of growth in your personal life, mission, and ministry. Some externships also exist, in which a Soma leader coaches you in marks of a healthy Soma plant.

• Sending Summits: the unified component involves six 14-week classes*, in which potential planters complete prep work and assignments, and participate in cohort coaching. In the middle of each class, potential planters meet for a four-day Summit, where you engage in training and conversations with experts in various planting competencies. Wives join in for three Summits. Each round’s trainers differ, but previous rounds have included Jeff Vanderstelt, Ray and Jani Ortlund, Terry and Wendy Virgo, Elliot Grudem, Dhati Lewis, Rick McKinley, Matt Carter, Dwayne Bond, Gerry Breshears, and other experts in various competencies—as well as various local Soma church leaders. [*Plus 1-week breaks for Spring Break and Thanksgiving, and a 2-week break for Christmas]

• Assignments/Assessments: Throughout Soma Sending, potential planters carry out various assignments, and regularly receive feedback and informal assessment from local and national coaches, based on interactions, assignments, and your development plan. Before the process begins, and at the middle and end of the two years, you are also formally assessed, in personal, biblical-theological, and pastoral/planting competencies. Wives participate in regular cohort coaching as well, along with other wives walking through the process.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE? Soma Sending is not a general church leadership training; it’s specifically designed for those who feel compelled to plant a gospel-centered, missional church, and have seen some confirmation to that end. It’s designed for the “working man,” with both Immersion/Externship and Summit assignments designed to fit within about 8-10 hrs/wk (plus Summits). You must be affirmed by your wife (if married), and by another ministry leader.

An applicant should be a man of at least 23 years, who has confirmed church/ministry leadership experience, and will either foreseeably plant in 1–3 years or is within 18 months of having planted. You must have been involved with a Soma church, or have attended Soma School and had experience leading a Missional Community, and must display evidence of the character, competency, and capacity to plant. You must exhibit humility and teachability, and must be able to commit 8-10 hrs/wk for 2 years, plus participation in 6 Wednesday—Saturday Summits. You must remain committed to elements of church life, ministry, and mission during the process. You must hold to the Lausanne Covenant (bit.ly/1QpR2TE) and Soma’s Distinctives (bit.ly/1QTEy9F).

NORTH AMERICA 2018 - 2019

WHAT ARE THE SCHEDULE AND TOPICS COVERED? Applications open for Soma Sending’s 2018-2019 Round on June 1, 2017, and are due July 15 with the goal of placing all potential planters by September 1. Below is a tentative schedule for the 2018-2019 Round:

• Jan 2—Feb 2, 2018: “Class 0”—Preparation (no Summit; video intro call, mid-Jan TBD)Areas such as… church & leadership foundations, fund-raising, personal development plan

• Feb 5—May 18, 2018: Class 1—Foundations (Summit, Feb 28—Mar 3: Bellevue, WA)Areas such as… gospel-centered/Spirit-ledness, spiritual warfare, personal leadership strengths/needs, missional community life and leadership, theological vision-creation/-casting, and orientation

• May 21—Aug 24, 2018: Class 2—Relationships (Summit with wives, June 13—16: Ft Worth, TX)Areas such as… marriage and family in ministry, spiritual formation, pastoral families in community, leading by example, complimentarianism, and relationships/personalities/conflict/sin within the church

• Aug 27—Dec 7, 2018: Class 3—Leadership (Summit, Sept 19—22: Raleigh, NC)Areas such as… self-awareness, leadership and character, calling/personal gifting, team leadership, time management, leadership development, and coaching leaders (Class 3 is followed by a Midterm Assessment)

• Dec 10, ’18—Apr 5, ’19: Class 4—Mission (Summit with wives, likely Jan 16—19: location TBD)Areas such as… disciple-making conversations, core team building, mission field analysis, loving your city and “the least”, the pastor family on mission, biblical hospitality, and mission in community [+Soma Family Retreat]

• Apr 8—July 12, 2019: Class 5—Equipping (Summit, likely May 1—4: location TBD)Areas such as… preaching, discipleship in community, pastoral shepherding, organizational culture, budget, implementing your vision, child safety, and communicating in transitions

• July 15—Oct 18, 2019: Class 6—Sustainability (Summit with wives, likely Aug 7—10: location TBD)Areas such as… self-care, sustainability, “making it” for the next 40 years, wrap up, and next steps

• Oct 21—Dec 13: Final Project and Assessment, plus Next Steps (no Summit)

• Throughout: Immersion/Externship—Areas such as… pastoral and biblical-theological competency, elder qualifications, marriage and family leadership, missional community/church leadership/follow-ability, plus personalized areas of growth defined by annual development plan and assessments.

HOW DOES MONEY WORK? Once accepted, residents’ total tuition is $7600 (~$317/mo for 24 months)**. This is 70% of our total cost; the rest is covered by contributions from Soma churches and other generous donors. Your tuition covers all administrative, coaching, leadership, and expert expenses, as well as resources, assessments, and supplies. It also covers all Summit expenses once you arrive (training, activities, food, lodging, etc.). Tuition is paid either annually, or in six installments over two years. As part of the training, we strongly encourage you to raise at least 75% of your tuition. [**This doesn’t cover moving costs to an Immersion Church if applicable, or optional academic credit]

Immersion Churches generally cover the cost of transport to Summits, and provide residents a small monthly stipend for resources and meetings. Extern churches have more flexibility. While some churches financially support residents (part-/full-time), this isn’t guaranteed, but local leaders try to help potential planters find jobs.

IS ACADEMIC CREDIT AVAILABLE? Through a partnership with Western Seminary (Portland, OR), two options exist for academic credit: you can earn up to 16 hours of credit that can be applied toward a Masters’ degree, or a 16-hour Graduate Studies Certificate in Church Planting. Credit transfers vary per institution. Learn more: bit.ly/1mqvlLa or email Derek Heibert: dhiebert@westernseminary.edu.    

WHERE CAN I ASK QUESTIONS AND/OR APPLY? Initial Applications open for Soma Sending’s 2018-2019 on May 24, 2017, are due by July 1, 2017, and are available at somasending.com. A $100 application fee applies, and is explained as you begin the initial application process. For further questions, email julie.dore@wearesoma.com.