Find your role
in the Kingdom.

The Ministry Discernment Lab is a nine-month experiential training program designed to help individuals clarify their calling and develop essential ministry skills through hands-on church residency, expert-led training, and spiritual formation. Through mentorship, community, and practical experience, participants grow in confidence, leadership, and spiritual depth, preparing them for impactful service in God’s Kingdom.

Clarify Your Calling

Develop Leadership Skills

Create an Action Plan

CAN YOU RELATE?

This Course Is
For You If…

  • You are trying to figure out your role in God’s mission and how your gifts fit into ministry.

  • You’ve learned a lot, but you’re looking for practical ways to apply it in real ministry settings.

  • You want to grow in ministry, but it’s hard to fit training into your already full life.

Everyone has a role in God’s Kingdom. Let us help you find yours

Whether you’re a church planter, pastor, counselor, student or worship minister, missionary, or gospel-centered, disciple-making accountant, we all have something in common. It can be really hard to discover your gifting and your fit for ministry. It takes time and coaching. We often have stereotypes of specific roles, and, if we’re honest, no one feels fully adequate for spiritual leadership. While classroom learning is necessary in any field, it’s in "the lab" that you get to put theory into practice, experiment in controlled environments, and truly gain hands-on experience in the roles and tasks for which you’re being trained.

Introducing

The Ministry Discernment Lab!

This is a collaborative, experiential nine-month training that considers aspects of spiritual life and family, personal leadership, and giftings through the lens of God’s mission and your specific fit for the kingdom.

Once you’ve finished the course, you’ll have:

  • Spiritual Growth & Formation

    • Deepened personal faith through prayer and reflection.
    • Opportunities for spiritual renewal and discernment

  • Ministry Training & Hands-On Experience

    • A local church residency (3-4 hours/week of practical ministry)

    • Exposure to different areas of church leadership (preaching, discipleship, pastoral care, etc.)

  • Lifelong Resources

    • Strengthened leadership and communication skills
    • A ministry action plan outlining next steps for service
    • Lifelong connections with mentors, trainers, and peers
    • Greater confidence, spiritual depth, and readiness for ministry

Meet Your Coach

Ben Connelly

Pastor, author, & equipper.

He is honored to serve everyday disciples, ministry leaders, and church planters across the world through The Equipping Group, and to help lead Salt+Light Community and Plant Fort Worth in Fort Worth, TX.

Ben has written/contributed to several books, workbooks, articles, and publications, has overseen church planting efforts for multiple organizations, and has also taught university and seminary classes. He and Jess have three children and at times, host short-term foster kids too.

Embark on a journey of emotional, spiritual, and practical growth to gain confidence in your calling.

By the end, you are equipped, self-aware, and spiritually grounded, ready to step into your unique role in God’s Kingdom.

Are you ready to get started? 

Resident Success Stories

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    - Erica D.

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    - Erica D.

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    - Erica D.

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    - Erica D.

Here’s what we’ll cover in
The Ministry Discernment Lab:

  • SEPT - NOV

    (Lab Week: During the week of Oct. 14)


    We get to know each other and lay the right foundations for any ministry/mission: no matter your role/vocation, all we do starts with gospel-centrality and kingdom-focus.

  • DEC - JAN

    (Lab Week: During the Week of Dec. 9)


    Each child of God is gifted to lead in unique ways; no one’s gifted in every way. We'll celebrate gifts and discuss needs.

  • APRIL - MID-MAY


    (Lab Week: During the Week of Apr. 7)


    Ministries vary depending on your mission field and people groups. We’ll discuss angles of engaging yours well.

  • FEB - MAR

    (Lab Week: During the Week of Feb. 10)


    We consider and navigate the vitality of relationships with God and self, and relationships in ministry and on mission.

  • MID-MAY - MID-JUNE

    Wrap Up

    Personalized Next Steps.

BONUSES

PLUS, you’ll get all these bonuses on top of all that learning… 

  • Weekly Q&A with trainers to answer all your questions 

  • Learning in a private group setting

  • Resources and printouts related to the course 

Course Pricing

The Ministry Discernment Lab

6 monthly payments of

$450* USD

*$4,050
Total

That Includes

✓ Online and print materials

✓ Administrative and coaching costs

✓ Lab expenses (food, trainers, activities, etc.)

Additional Costs

-Travel costs to Lab Weeks (covered by residents/churches)
- Local church internship expenses (covered by residents/churches)
- Assessment costs (varies per sending organization)

Notes:
As part of the training, we encourage students to raise 100% of tuition and costs, and scholarships may be available

Resident stipends/salaries vary per sending church, and are worked out between a resident and church. We are happy to discuss funding and support options.
Contact Us.

The Course Includes

  • Video Modules

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  • One-on-One Coaching

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  • Private Community Group

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  • Downloadable Exercises

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  • Weekly Group Coaching Calls

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Apply Today

Still have some questions? We’ve got you covered.

  • The Ministry Discernment Lab is not general leader training; it’s for group leaders, lay leaders, and ministry staff who feel compelled toward a further vocation in gospel-centered, Spirit-led, missional ministry. Your “raw materials” must be affirmed by your wife and by ministry leaders; you want help discerning your calling and fit on a ministry team. The process is designed for the “working man/woman,” to fit within ~6-8 hrs/wk, plus Lab Weeks.

    Applicants should be at least 22 years-old, with confirmed leadership experience, who is looking to lead/serve within a ministry organization the future.

  • We are working on academic credit through Western Seminary (Portland, OR), which would transfer variably by institution. We are also coordinating with Grimké Seminary (Richmond, VA) on receiving course credit for your Lab work. Email hi@equippinggroup.com for more info. Academic credit incurs institutional charges.

  • Tuition covers online and print materials, administrative and coaching costs, and all Lab expenses (incl. food, trainers, trainers, activities, etc.).
    Residents/churches cover travel costs to Lab Weeks, and any expenses for your local church internship. As part of the training, we encourage you to raise 100% of tuition and costs, and scholarships may be available

    Assessment costs exist separate from the Lab process, and vary per sending organization. And resident stipends/salaries vary per sending church, and are worked out between a resident and church. We are happy to discuss funding and support options with you.


  • Most Lab Weeks begin at 9:30am Day 1 and end at 4pm Day 2; exceptions are communicated in advance. You must be present the whole time. Participants stay overnight together. A sample Lab Week schedule looks like this:

    Day 1

    You arrive for intentional coffee & catch-up. Then you spend time in scripture & prayer together, before discussing your prep work then having lunch. A regional or national expert in that class’s topics leads an afternoon training, which includes Q&A & exercises. Then we leave for dinner, a little fun, & hanging out together. 

    Day 2

    Day 2 begins with a resident’s sermon & peer feedback, then a morning of experiential learning & lunch. The afternoon involves more discussion, training, & exercises. Then you’re sent out with prayer and assignments.

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ARE YOU READY?

Let’s Do This – Together!

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