African American Church Evangelism Institute
Cohort Experience
Over a 1 year period, with an opportunity for a second year culture change approach, you'll walk a clear path with us — from ReImagining Your Mission, to raising up Leaders On Mission, to building a An Effective Mission-Driven Congregation, to becoming a true Conversion Community where the lost are found and disciples are made.
Missional Imagination
Missional Leaders
Missional Congregation
Conversion Community
Cohorts will focus on challenges facing African American congregations such as effectively reaching the next generation, fruitfully navigating shifting contexts and demographic changes occurring around their churches.
Also key is developing team ministry approaches and leadership pipelines in congregations
to launch new ministries, and creating new evangelism models that work effectively in a new era.
Cohort Year One
Finding Your Voice, Building Your Team
- You Model a Witness Your People Can Follow
- You Partner with a Leader Who Sharpens You
- You Pour into a Core Leadership Team
- Your Leaders Pour into Their Teams
Cohort Year Two
Becoming a Church Your Community Can't Ignore
- Your Church Belongs to the Whole Community, Not Just Its Members
- You Bless the World Before You Ask It to Come In
- You Bring the Community Through Your Doors
- You Build a Family Where Everyone Belongs
Program Outcomes
By the end of this journey, you won’t just have new strategies — you’ll have a congregation that’s ALIVE AGAIN!
A place where people who’ve never known Christ meet Him for the first time, and people who drifted from the church find their way home.
Participation Requirements
Here’s what it takes to walk this journey — and why it’s worth it:
- Your Lead or Senior Pastor commits to walking this journey personally — this isn’t something you delegate
- A 1-year commitment, though most churches see the fullest fruit over 3 to 5 years, with a second year for congregational culture change
- One 2-hour Zoom gathering a month, nine months a year, with pastors who get it
- Up to 2 absences allowed to graduate — we’re asking for real commitment, not perfection
- $3,600 per year per church (or $1,800/year with grant support) — an investment in your church’s future, not just a line item
Participation Requirements
Every year, we launch a new cohort — and we ask every church to bring more than just the pastor. Bring your outreach leaders. Bring the people developing your next generation of leaders. And bring at least one leader under 40, because the future of your church needs a voice at the table now.
