Follow Jesus. Know your true identity. Grow in freedom. Go live with purpose.

 

The Free Church Leadership College exists to form redemptive leaders who may go on to plant churches or make a difference through kingdom-shaped business leadership.

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Reckless leaders make selfish, unwise decisions. Responsible leaders do what is right. Redemptive leaders go beyond, following the way of Jesus: they sacrifice so others can win. 

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Our three-year journey brings together Theology, Leadership, Practical Ministry and Spiritual Formation. Each year has eight modules—two in each pillar. Every module brings the four pillars together, with one primary focus. Students learn in community, practise what they are learning, and receive feedback along the way.

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Year 1 — FOLLOW

 

Build foundations in the Gospel and the story of Scripture. Explore identity, calling, character, spiritual practices and healthy relationships. Begin serving with humility, learning how teams work and connecting your gifts with work, mission and community life.

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Year 1 is for anyone who wants to grow as a follower of Jesus and develop as a leader. You do not need a leadership title or previous leadership experience to apply.

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Modules include:

• Essential Theology

• Prayer, Worship and Spiritual Practices

• Identity, Calling and Self-Leadership

• Serving Well: Hospitality and Ministry Foundations

• Scripture Narrative

• Character, Emotional and Relational Health

• Redemptive Leadership and Collaborative Teams

• Vocation, Mission, Evangelism and Disciple-Making

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Students begin learning to read Scripture in context, practise sustainable spiritual rhythms, serve safely and respectfully, listen to community, and lead under supervision.

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Year 2 — LEAD

Take on growing responsibility with support and accountability. Explore biblical foundations, Christian ethics, leadership under pressure, stewardship of power and resources, coaching, mission, ministry gifts, pastoral presence, conflict and communication.

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Modules Include:

• Biblical Foundations for Leaders and Christian Ethics

• Jesus-Shaped Leadership and Stewarding Power

• The Inner Life of a Leader: Rhythms, Prayer and Resilience

• Developing Others and Redemptive Teams

• Mission, the Holy Spirit, Gifts and Ministry Roles

• Pastoral Presence, Facilitation and Care Boundaries

• Integrity, Conflict, Accountability and Repair

• Preaching, Service-Leading and Ministry Communication

 

Students practise delegation, coaching, team communication and supervised ministry leadership. They are introduced to basic ministry-budget accountability through a bounded, supervised exercise. 

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Year 3 — MULTIPLY

 

Connect biblical mission and responsible Scripture interpretation with community listening, strategy and healthy ministry systems. Learn how to design a sustainable initiative, lead through complexity, develop others, and prepare a responsible handover.

 

Modules include:

• Biblical Theology of Mission and the Church

• Discernment, Calling and a Sustainable Life of Service

• Healthy Teams, Systems, Governance and Stewardship

• Community Listening, Ministry Initiation and Enterprise Design

• Hermeneutics and Vocation in Public Life

• Faithfulness in Complexity: Character, Care and Resilience

• Mentoring, Apprenticeship and Succession

• Redemptive Capstone and Community Practice

 

Students complete a supervised capstone shaped with a partner or mentor. It may focus on a church, ministry or church-planting context, marketplace/business initiative, mission, or community project. The work includes feedback, appropriate safeguards, evaluation, and a handover or next-step plan.

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Choose your learning pathway

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• In-Person (±20hrs/week)

The in-person pathway offers learning and formation in community, alongside supervised ministry practice and community-based application.

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The draft 2027 rhythm is:

• Monday: 10:00–14:00 — learning, formation and application

• Tuesday: 10:00–14:00 — learning, formation and application

• Wednesday: 08:00–12:00 — community outing; venue and transport arrangements to be confirmed

• Thursday: 10:00–14:00 — learning, formation and application

• Sunday: supervised ministry practice with a Serve Team; roster and service times vary

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In-Person Skills Studio

Each week, in-person students will join a Skills Studio. This is a practical learning lab that connects learning with real ministry, work and community life. Through short workshops, clinics, guest conversations and peer practice, students develop skills in areas such as:

• Communication, listening, public speaking and feedback

• Teamwork, facilitation, delegation and conflict practice

• CVs, interviews, professional communication and personal budgeting

• Community listening, project design, enterprise thinking and pitching

• Ministry planning, budgeting basics, evaluation and handover

• Digital responsibility, wellbeing and sustainable work habits​

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Supervised ministry practice

In-person students learn through supervised service with Free Church teams and community partners. Students have opportunities to observe, practise appropriate tasks and receive feedback. Responsibility grows over time—from learning and serving, to leading a bounded task, to developing others and planning handovers.

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• Online Asynchronous Learning (±3hrs/week)

The online pathway is for students who cannot attend in person but want to follow the same core learning journey. It combines recorded teaching and online resources with cohort discussion and practical application in a local church.

Online students should connect with a local church and identify a pastor or ministry leader to support and supervise their learning and ministry practice. Local placements and feedback arrangements must be agreed before practice begins.

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What we ask of students

Students are expected to:

• Participate in a Life Group and Serve Team in a local church

• Engage with scheduled learning or online cohort discussions

• Attend Sunday services in a local church

• Complete preparation, practical activities and assignments

• Take part in supervised ministry practice and receive feedback

• -Respect safeguarding, confidentiality and team guidelines

 

We assess learning through evidence, practice, feedback and reflection.

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2027 Term Dates

• Term 1:  Monday 25 January – Thursday 25 March

• Term 2: Monday 19 April – Thursday 17 June

• Term 3: Monday 19 July – Thursday 16 September

• Term 4: Monday 4 October – Thursday 2 December

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2027 Fees

• In Person: R6,000 per year (R1,500 per term)

• Online: R2,000 per year (R500 per term)

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Term fees must be paid before the start of each term. In-person fees include relevant books, study materials and required resources. Online fees include administration and selected relevant digital resources.

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About the programme

The Free Church Leadership College is a church-based formation and ministry-development programme. It is **not an accredited qualification** and currently carries no NQF credits or nationally accredited award.

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