... to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ...
Ephesians 4:12
Equip is a partnership between regional conferences and North Park Theological Seminary to offer affordable and accessible seminary education.
Through this distance cohort model, students can earn a Master of Arts in Christian Formation in 4 years without having to relocate or incur significant expense.
Based on Ephesians 4:12, our vision is to equip missional leaders who can lead healthy missional churches.
“As a mom of four young kids and co-pastor of a Covenant church alongside my husband, the Equip pathway was the only way I could afford both the time and the finances to pursue seminary education. It is a ’too good to be true’ opportunity that I am humbled and grateful to be a part of!“
– Jael Boeschling, Co-pastor, Community Covenant, Omaha, NE
Equip is offered over 4 years through hybrid intensive and hybrid synchronous learning experiences
Students take three to seven credit hours of online coursework each fall, spring, and summer semester. In the fall (late August to mid-December) and spring (mid-January to mid-May) semesters, students meet virtually each Monday evening for 1.5 hours. One week of in-person time is required each fall and summer semester. First-year students also have a week of in-person classes at the Covenant’s Midwinter Conference in the spring semester.
Click here for application process and sample course pathway.
*48 academic hours, with an average of 4 academic courses per year. Additional cohort experiences, including field education, and student course work will be required outside of on-site intensives.
“I'm thankful for the Equip pathway. I've been serving in Urban ministry for 30 years. Through those years, God has used a variety of ways to help train me for when the opportunity came to be a part of Equip. I am excited and humbled. What a blessing! They have put together a pathway that is affordable, intense, and prepares the student at a high level in missions and ministry. I'm looking forward to being equipped to serve God, carrying the gospel to the Urban core in our city.“
– Melvin Cole, Co-Pastor, Freedom Covenant, Kansas City, MO
Affordable
North Park is discounting tuition by 50% (a savings of over $15,000 per four-year student).
The Midwest Conference is subsidizing nearly $2,000 per four-year student and covering administrative overhead.
The student and the church are encouraged to split the remaining cost of tuition and fees. Additional costs for travel, lodging and meals are covered by the student and/or shared with their sponsor church.
Based on the above assumptions, the price for a four-year Master’s in Christian Formation will be approx. $20,000 (tuition, fees, and meals/lodging for in-Conference and NPTS campus intensives). Our hope is that the student and their sponsor church will split this investment, so the expense to the student is $10,000 for their four-year degree! Students will also be responsible for books, travel to all intensives, and Midwinter travel, lodging, meals and a discounted registration.
An added benefit for degree seekers who complete the four-year program, is that the MACF program includes all Covenant Orientation classes required for ordination in the ECC (a savings of approx. $5,000).
Click here for additional cost details.
“I was very happy when the EQUIP opportunity came up because I had been thinking about seminary for years but I knew my responsibilities at church, with family, and with my primary vocation took up too much of my time to go forward with applying. EQUIP gives me the opportunity to not only take a pace that works with my busy life but also cuts the cost to something very affordable.”
– John Sandberg, Worship Pastor, Community Covenant, Kearney, MO
Equip Cohort 2 launching in 2025!
Registration to open January 15, 2025
Application deadline is June 1, 2025
Complete contact form for more information!