PASTORAL partner
information
LAUNCH is a Radiant School of Ministry distance education program that partners with local pastors and their churches to train working adults for full time ministry. RSM provides the online classes, in-person retreats, and overall program structure. The pastoral partner in the local church provides mentoring and ministry experience to the student. Together, we can equip working adults for a transition to full-time ministry to reach the world for Christ!
If you have a student that you want to join the LAUNCH program
under your supervision, these are the next steps…
Talk with the Student - Have a conversation with the student where you express your desire to see them prepared for ministry, recommend LAUNCH, and direct them to the website to fill out the Application by August 1.
Student Fills Out the Application - The acceptance process starts officially with the student filling out the application. Their application will prompt us to send out references and we will also do an interview with the student during this timeframe.
Pastor Fills Out the Pastoral Commitment Form - The student’s submitted application will prompt us to send you the Pastoral Commitment Form. This is both a reference from you for the student and a commitment from you to walk through the 2-year program with them.
Pastoral Phone Call - We will call you to connect briefly about the program over the phone, clarify expectations, and answer any questions you have.
Student Acceptance - After these steps, our admissions team will review the application and reference form. If we feel that your student is a good fit for LAUNCH you will both be notified of their acceptance.
Student Enrollment - After the student enrolls in the program, we will send you all the resources you will need to walk with the student through the program. Our goal is to empower and assist you to raise up the future ministers for your church and region.
Pastoral Partner Requirements
1-2 hours per week on average are required by pastors during this 2-year program. However, it may take a bit more of your time in the beginning of the first year to get things started.
Your role as a Pastoral Partner is to mentor the student and provide them with real-world ministry experience at your church. During the 2 year program, you will meet biweekly with the student to mentor them as they train for full-time ministry. You will also connect the student with ministry opportunities within your church where they can gain valuable ministry experience.
Questions?
We love equipping leaders for full-time ministry. If you have any questions about Radiant School of Ministry, please contact us.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click the question to reveal the answer.
How much does the program cost?
During the first two years, the tuition for LAUNCH will be $3200 per year per student. This includes everything except their textbooks or their travel costs to attend the retreats. For 3 or more students from the same host church, we offer a discount applied directly to the student’s tuition.
Does my church pay anything to have a LAUNCH student?
Payment of tuition is the responsibility of the student. However, we do encourage you to sponsor the students in some way if your church can afford it.
Your church could:
- Pay for the student’s textbooks
- Pay for the student’s travel costs to attend the retreats (3 retreats per year)
- Pay some of their tuition.
What is my role as a Pastoral Partner?
Your role as a Pastoral Partner is to mentor the student and provide them with real-world ministry experience at your church. During the 2 year program, you will meet biweekly with the student to mentor them as they train for full-time ministry. You will also connect the student with ministry opportunities within your church where they can gain valuable ministry experience.
How long does this program last?
LAUNCH is a 2-year program. There will be breaks for holidays and the summer.
When are the retreats?
The retreats will be held in late September, early February and late April.
Am I committing to hire the student at my church after graduation if I commit to participate in LAUNCH?
No, neither the church nor the student are committing to employment at the end of the LAUNCH program by signing up for LAUNCH. However, we expect that there may be some cases where employment is beneficial to both the church and the student after graduation.
What do I talk about during our 1 on 1 meetings?
We will provide you with recommended resources to use in your 1 on 1 meetings, but you are free to customize the content of these meetings to fit your situation.
Am I required to meet 1 on 1 with the student if they are the opposite gender of me?
The mentoring meetings are essential, but you aren’t required to meet alone. If your student is the opposite gender, we recommend that you include another staff member or the student’s spouse in the meetings. You could also meet with them in a public place.
Can a pastor who isn’t a lead pastor be a pastoral partner for a LAUNCH student?
Yes! In medium to large size churches, it may be a better fit for another pastor on staff to be the pastoral partner for the LAUNCH student.
Is LAUNCH a good fit for a recent high school graduate?
LAUNCH is designed to train working adults for full-time ministry. Radiant School of Ministry’s full time program in Kalamazoo, MI would be a better fit for recent high school graduates who want to go into ministry. If you aren’t sure which program would be a better fit for a potential student from your church, please contact us.
What is the student's commitment?
LAUNCH students will spend 6-8 hours of their week serving in your church, and about 6 hours per week participating in online RSM classes and meetings. They will also attend 3 retreats per year in Kalamazoo, Michigan with RSM as part of their training.
I’m interested in being a pastoral partner for a LAUNCH student. What’s my next step?
Your next step is to have a conversation with the potential student about LAUNCH, if you haven’t already. If they apply to the program, you will be sent a link to a pastoral commitment form to fill out. You will also receive an initial phone call from us to get to know you, clarify expectations, and answer any questions you may have.