Journey: International applicants
鈥淭he Journey program is opening a new door for my life now. I kept thinking, 鈥榊es, God is calling me, but where am I going to start?鈥� But now God is putting it all together. Journey is like a journey with God. It鈥檚 not just a name; it鈥檚 a real-life story for me.鈥� 鈥� Rebecca Riek (Journey student, 2017 to 2020)
Read more about Rebecca鈥檚 real-life story >>
Journey is for participants from all over the world!
We welcome pastors, lay leaders and church planters from any church affiliated with . If this is you, learn more by reading through the questions and answers below.
Cultivate your spiritual formation. Nurture your leadership abilities. Deepen your theological perspectives.
Throughout the two-and-a-half year international Journey program, you will find a rhythm of group and individual learning that includes a combination of online classes, bi-weekly meetings with a pastoral mentor in person or online, and viewing and responding to video sessions. Your congregation or community ministry setting will be an important place to try new ideas, test new skills and deepen the self-understanding you will gain.
Through Journey, you鈥檒l name and develop strengths in six Transformation Areas:
- Spiritual disciplines, especially prayer and inner work
- Bible study and theology from an Anabaptist perspective
- Personal character, including courage, consistency, love and self-discipline
- Mentoring and community, as you mentor others and are mentored yourself
- Recognizing spiritual gifts in yourself and your congregation
- Leadership skills, including preaching, worship, conflict transformation, time management and more
Table of contents
Financial assistance now available
Financial assistance is available and takes into account the applicant鈥檚 country of citizenship and resources on hand. For more information, see the “Costs” section below.
The Journey curriculum
The Journey curriculum consists of a combination of online classes, regular meetings with a pastoral mentor and video teachings and written reflections on them.
Online classes
Five online classes introduce the following themes:
- The Biblical Story
- The Mission of God and the Witness of the Church
- Anabaptism: Foundations and Future鈥擜 Way of Being Church
- Leadership: The Ministry of Reconciliation
- Announcement and Celebration: Proclamation and Worship that Participate in the Mission of God
Pastoral mentors
As a student in the international Journey program, you will work with a pastoral mentor who is recommended by a bishop or other suitable official.
Your mentor-mentee pair is expected to meet every two weeks for one-to-two hours, in person or online. In addition, your mentor commit to regularly reading your learning journal and to viewing several teaching videos each year.
Qualified mentors typically have experience as a pastor, church planter, missionary or have served in another relevant church role. Ideally, your mentor also has a seminary degree or has completed the Journey program. Journey mentors may have up to three mentees simultaneously. Mentors do not receive remuneration.
Video teachings and reflections
Twice each year, you and your mentor will receive links to three or four teaching videos by bg真人 professors and other pastoral instructors. You are asked to view these videos together in your mentor-mentee pair and discuss them. You are required to submit brief reflection papers in response to your learning from the videos.
Ready to begin your application?
U.S. and Canadian applicants
Interested in studying from the U.S. or Canada? We welcome pastors, those exploring a call to ministry, church planters and other congregational lay leaders to visit the U.S. and Canada page.
Program requirements
In order to participate in Journey, you鈥檒l need:
- To be a member of a congregation affiliated with Mennonite World Conference
- Fluency in English at the level of early university study
- Reliable high speed internet and ability to work online
- Adequate time to devote to participation in online classes, mentor meetings and viewing and responding to videos in a timely way
- A pastoral mentor recommended by your pastor, bishop or other suitable church official
- Availability to meet with your mentor in person or online every two weeks for one-to-two hours
Please email us at churchleadership@ambs.edu if you have questions about these requirements or want to know more about finding a pastoral mentor.
How much time will this take?
- Plan to spend approximately 10 hours each week in online classes
- Each online class session lasts 20 weeks
- The total amount of time to complete the international Journey program is 2 陆 years
Journey follows a typical annual schedule:
- Early September: Video teaching
- Mid-September to mid-February: Online class
- February or Early March: Video teaching
- Mid-February to mid-July: Online class
Will I have to come to the United States to participate in Journey?
No. You can complete the entire Journey program in your home country, without ever coming to the United States.
Journey program certificate of completion
Once you have met all the requirements for the Journey program, you will receive a certificate of completion from bg真人. Journey is primarily seen as a way to deepen your understanding of Christian leadership in the Anabaptist tradition, in order to better serve your church or community. Completing the Journey program is beneficial to those who want to continue their studies and apply to a degree program at bg真人.
If you are interested in receiving undergraduate level credit for Journey, please enquire about this option before the start of your first semester (additional fees apply).
More information
2025-26 important dates
Fall 2024:
- Feb. 11, 2025 鈥� Online classes end
Spring 2025:
- Jan. 24 鈥� Final tuition due
- Jan. 24-26 鈥� Weekend Learning Event at bg真人
- Feb. 26 鈥� Online classes begin
- July 22 鈥� Online classes end
Fall 2025:
- July 9 鈥� Early application deadline
- Aug. 8 鈥� Final application deadline
- Aug. 14 鈥� Tuition deposit and Weekend Learning Event fees due
- Sept. 5 鈥� Final tuition due
- Sept. 5 鈥� Unit reflection papers due
- Sept. 5-7 鈥� Weekend Learning Event
- Sept. 10 鈥� Online classes begin
- Feb. 10, 2026 鈥� Online classes end
Winter 2026:
- Nov. 14, 2025 鈥� Early application deadline
- Dec. 12 鈥� Final application deadline
- Dec. 30 鈥� Tuition deposit and Weekend Learning Event fees due
- Jan. 23, 2026 鈥� Final tuition due
- Jan. 23 鈥� Unit reflection papers due
- Jan. 23-25 鈥� Weekend Learning Event
- Feb. 25 鈥� Online classes begin
- July 21 鈥� Online classes end
2025-26 costs
Although online classes cost $700 USD each for U.S. and Canadian students, substantial financial assistance is available for international Journey applicants which takes into account the applicant’s country of citizenship and resources on hand. Applicant’s country is understood according to the Mennonite World Conference category rate. .
Other costs
The fees listed above cover the cost of tuition. Any other costs you might incur, such as the cost of travel to meet with your pastoral mentor, are not covered. In addition, your pastoral mentor will not receive remuneration.
If you have questions, email us at churchleadership@ambs.edu.
Refund policy
- A non-refundable deposit of 50% of tuition is due upon acceptance.
- The remaining tuition payment is due prior to the start of the session (see dates above).
- No refunds will be granted after the first week of the online class.
If you have questions, email us at churchleadership@ambs.edu or call 574-296-6269.
