HCPN is committed to strengthening church planters through different training and developmental opportunities. Healthy church planters are exponentially more likely to establish healthy new churches that multiply other healthy churches. Our heart is to raise up healthy multiplying leaders, from the city, for the city.
Planter Development
HCPN offers a wide variety of training programs for both prospective and current church planters. Varying training platforms have been developed including two different church planting residencies. Church planting residencies prepare leaders to plant strong and healthy churches. They are experiential learning environments designed to produce holistically-prepared leaders who are part of a city-wide movement of God’s Kingdom throughout Houston. You can find a description of each of the planter development tracks below.
Planter Development
HCPN offers a wide variety of training programs for both prospective and current church planters. Varying training platforms have been developed including two different church planting residencies. Church planting residencies prepare leaders to plant strong and healthy churches. They are experiential learning environments designed to produce holistically-prepared leaders who are part of a city-wide movement of God’s Kingdom throughout Houston. You can find a description of each of the planter development tracks below.
Foundational Cohort
The Foundational Cohort serves churches and those they are developing to plant new churches. It’s designed for those that are exploring a potential call to church planting. Participants are introduced to basic church planting competencies and helped to deepen their self-awareness of these needed skills. Participants will discern their call to church planting while growing a heart for the vision of collaborating together to plant churches.
Candidate Profile
Participants who are wanting to learn more about church or considering a call to church planting.
Participants who are connected to a local church and active in serving and ministry. Participants do not need to be active in full-time ministry to participate.
Participants wanting to grow in general ministry skills, leadership, and church planting competencies.
Program Description
- Participants participate in a monthly workshop (first Thursday) on a specific competency related to church planting.
- Participants receive coaching and mentoring from a coach who meets with them on a monthly basis.
- Participants receive monthly assignments aimed at personal and ministry growth.
Next Steps
- Start the Foundational Cohort process by applying at the link below. Applications received January-August 15th.
- Applicants submit a few additional items as requested by HCPN.
- Participants notified of acceptance into program.
- Foundational Cohort kicks off in September.
Apply
Foundational Cohort
Finishing Residency Cohorts
Finishing Residency Cohorts
The Finishing Residency Cohorts serve HCPN partner churches and those desiring to plant new churches through a 9 month residency program. This residency cohort is designed for those who are around 12-18 months from launching a new church plant. Applications are due March 1st. Cohorts launch in September.
Candidate Profile
- Resident has proven ministry and leadership experience.
- Resident has demonstrated a calling to plant a church.
- Resident demonstrates solid character and strength in general church planting competencies.
- Resident is at least 25 years old.
- Resident committed to planting in the Greater Houston area.
- Resident about 12-18 months from launching a new church.
Program Description
- Residents meet together in a cohort 2x’s a week.
- Residents receive a wide scope of training from experienced leaders and pastors. They will also meet regularly with a church planting coach.
- Residents matched up with a sending church for additional mentoring and coaching.
- Residents receive weekly assignments aimed at personal and ministry growth.
- Residents develop concrete church planting, leadership, and ministry skills.
- Residents design and implement the formation and launch of a contextualized new church plant.
- Residents receive a stipend and other resources.
Next Steps
- Start the Finishing Residency Cohort process by applying at the link below. Applications received January 1-March 1.
- Applicants will begin working through the pre-assessment phase from February-May.
- Recommended applicants will participate in a church planting assessment (w/spouse) and other candidates in June.
- Residents notified in July of acceptance into program.
- Finishing Residency Cohorts kick off in September.
Apply
Fortifying/Flourishing Cohorts
Fortifying/Flourishing Cohorts serve current HCPN pastors and church planters who are daily navigating the challenges of becoming a sustainable church moving towards growth and multiplication.
Candidate Profile
HCPN partner Pastor’s and Planter’s are welcome to participate. Whether you are working on moving from launching to sustainability, sustainability to growing, or growing to multiplying, you will process challenges unique to your season as a church.
Program Description
- Participants meet in a cohort of 5-8 pastors who are in a similar church stage.
- Cohorts meet every other month (5x’s) for 9 months. There is also the partner retreat in the fall where we encourage all the Fortifying Cohorts to come together.
- Cohort sessions are designed around two main components: Soul Care and Strategic Leadership.
- Cohorts are led by seasoned pastors. Other ministry leaders are brought in as well to help guide conversations and development.
- Participants will work on developing aspects of their vision and receive coaching on navigating challenges they are facing.
Next Steps
- Applications for Fortifying/Flourishing Cohorts are accepted between February-August. Apply below.
- Cohorts are announced at the end of the summer.
- Cohorts launch in September.
Apply