I was tremendously blessed, encouraged and edified to attend our very first Chicago Incubator session held at the downtown facility of Holy Trinity Church last September 9.

Chicago Incubator Urban Planter training is based on time-tested, gospel-centered curriculum developed over the last 15 years by leaders at Redeemer City to City in New York and adapted for Chicago’s specific context.

[It is] a 2-year… program that focuses on process, relationship and reflective practice instead of merely understanding new content. Each of the 16 Incubator learning module includes time for sharing issues, personal spiritual formation, and hands-on training that combines both theology, church planting theory and insights from adult learning theory.

Each learning module addresses the specific needs of urban planters, including skills in thinking theologically about ministry and growth in the various areas of urban ministry. Church planters go through the program during the critical phase of launching their congregations. They get practical help on writing their action plan, the philosophy of ministry, crucial ministry development and preaching, among other topics. Ideally, this training is accompanied by coaching to encourage the planters to reach the maximum extent of their giftedness.

Our model is to train ‘IN’ ministry, not ‘FOR’ ministry. To be invited into the Incubator program, each Chicago participant is involved in actual urban church planting ministry so that the learning can be applied immediately and be ‘proven’ in real situations. Instead of saying, “This material will be on your next exam,” we say, “You will find out how you are doing next week when you lead or face this issue.”

– https://www.chicagoincubator.net

Looking forward to our next training session with great excitement and eagerness.

Praise the Lord!