Discipleship & Training
The Trilogy Program: Training a New Generation of Leaders
Register Here for our 2024 Winter Semester
What is Trilogy?
The Trilogy Program is our church-based discipleship, training and leadership development initiative. We believe equipping men and women for leadership is best forged on the front lines of church mission. That’s why we develop leaders directly in our local churches.
Our mission is to make disciples, plant churches, and reach the nations, so fulfilling Jesus’ great commission. To accomplish this we aim to equip people to serve in a variety of leadership roles - in the church and in the community, in our culture and in other cultures.
The Trilogy Program consists of three training tracks that work together around a core curriculum. This enables students to study in the context of a learning community, while having the room to focus on specific areas related to their personal call. These tracks have been designed to make training accessible to a wide range of people with a variety of callings, including those who may be called to full-time, bi-vocational, or cross-cultural ministry.
The Trilogy Program is much more than classroom learning. Trilogy combines practical biblical theology, on-the-job discipleship & coaching, cross-cultural service, and interactive discussion with rigorous college-level study, to ensure leaders are equipped holistically to lead well in every aspect of church life.
“The Residency and all it entailed was what I looked forward to most each week, and it really felt like we were a family together on mission. My residency year was a time of so much growth, encouragement, mentorship, challenge, and teamwork! I loved the healthy cycle built in of trying things that scare me (i.e. leading a Sunday meeting), working in teams for input and accountability, receiving feedback, and being encouraged in my gifting and challenged to keep trying new things. There was such a healthy balance of introspection and emotional care (we each had mentors) but also serving the church body and helping out wherever it was needed.
It was definitely a time commitment and learning curve to juggle the complexities of being a new mom, work, and the different activities of church life, but I felt like the training I received was so helpful and actually indispensable - I am so much more equipped! ”
— Bev
GRADUATES FROM OUR 2021 TRILOGY RESIDENCY: ISAAC MOORE, AUKE MEIJERS, BEV MEIJERS, REBEKAH FORSEY & “RES BABY” SIEM MIEJERS
Track 1: Biblical Theology
The Biblical Theology Track is a semester-based theological training track for anyone in the church who wants to strengthen their theological foundations. Each semester different classes are offered on a range of biblical theology and Christian leadership subjects such as, Introduction to Hermeneutics, Homiletics, Foundations of Christian Leadership, Life & Ministry of Jesus, History of Christian Theology, Kingdom of God. These college-level classes include a combination of classroom instruction, personal reading, written assignments and assessed discussion groups.
For 2023/24, two Biblical Theology classes are being offered:
Foundations of Christian Leadership - A thoroughly revised & updated 12-week class, meeting on Thursday evenings from September 7, 2023, through November 30, 2023, to study the biblical model and practice of leadership with a focus on the life and development of the leader.
Students will acquire a clear understanding of the spiritual life of a leader with a focus on character and the practice of self leadership. They will learn how leaders are called and shaped b God, and will understand the vital role that vision & values have for leading and shaping the church.
The class consists of four lessons, each of which is completed over a period of three weeks. The class also includes a number of assignments and exercises, a significant majority of which can be completed during the second hour of class time each week.
History of Christian Theology - Part 1 - A five-month discussion-group facilitated class, commencing in January 2024, that surveys the major doctrines that, taken together, constitute the core of the Christian faith. The class begins in the second century and ends on the eve of the Reformation. It examines the key personalities, themes and periods that gave rise to and shaped the doctrines essential to the study of biblical doctrine today.
Track 2: Ministry Development
The Ministry Development Track is a training track for those who feel called to lead in specific areas of church ministry. Students join an appropriate ministry team in the church under the mentorship of a senior ministry leader and, once trained, have opportunity to lead in that area of ministry in the church. Core ministry training is provided through a series of regular weekend “Intensives” at New Frontiers Church. These “Intensives” cover practical leadership training from recognized ministry leaders in areas such as: prophetic ministry, evangelism & apologetics, church administration, worship ministry, mercy ministry, cross-cultural ministry and pastoral ministry. Students are also expected to take relevant Biblical Theology classes.
For 2023/24, four “Intensives” are being offered:
Theology of Worship: Led by Evan Rogers, this Intensive explores the theology underpinning worship. Areas such as the following will be covered: What is worship? “Talking temples”; The priesthood of believers; “Presence”; and The tools of the trade (song selection). In addition, the ingredients of effective corporate praise will be examined, as well as the roles and responsibilities in corporate worship.
Prophetic Ministry: Led by Sam Poe, this Intensive considers the nature of prophecy in New Testament times. The great value of prophetic ministry in and through the local church is discussed. This includes who should prophesy and the weighing and evaluation of prophecy. The class will also consider the significant ways that prophetic ministry can help shape the church for the work God has called it to do. Biblical wisdom will be sought regarding how genuine prophetic words should be embraced.
Pastoral Ministry: Led by Ian Ashby, this Intensive is by invitation only for students moving into active pastoral positions in the local church. It examines the practical elements of pastoral ministry including leading gatherings, the theology of the sacraments, counseling, marriage & divorce, ministering to the marginalized, bereavements & funerals
Church Administration: Led by Gareth Forsey, this Intensive explores the practical elements of church administration, examining areas such as the church’s foundational documents & bylaws; operational policies & procedures (e.g., child protection, security, conflicts of interest, pastoral ministry etc.), financial controls & administration, and employment policies & procedures.
Track 3: Church Leadership Residency
The Church Leadership Residency Program is is a full-time/bi-vocational residency track for those called to be part of a church plant team or into senior ministry leadership, here or overseas. The Residency track is designed to equip and release a new generation of church leaders. It is focused on the practical skills required to lead in the church, underpinned by training in core biblical leadership principles.
Limited to a maximum of five participants, Residency track students join the leadership team on staff at New Frontiers Church and are directly engaged in ministry (both locally and in church planting situations) serving alongside and mentored by senior church leaders. For those students seeking to serve in a cross-cultural context, the practicum component can be completed at one of our churches in Boston, New York City, or at one of our international church locations.
Through a combination of specifically tailored “on the job” training, mentoring, and participation in classes and monthly training Intensives, Residency track students are trained in and have opportunity to lead in all of the core functions of church leadership as well as in real church-planting situations. The Residency track is intended for individuals (men and women) and married couples with a demonstrated and recognized call from God to take on significant leadership roles and cross cultural mission in the church. These individuals will be actively orienting all aspects of their lives around taking up that call. Applicants must be members in good-standing at a Newfrontiers church, be recommended in writing by their senior pastor, and have actual experience (current or past) operating in some form of church ministry leadership (e.g. pastoral/teaching, evangelism, worship, prophetic ministry, ministry to the poor, administration etc.) In addition to completing the online application required for all Trilogy students, all applicants for the Residency track are personally interviewed by the Trilogy Program leaders before being accepted for the program.