SCHOOL OF PLANTING
Church Planting Tract: Eight Courses

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Courses and Requirements

The School of Planting aims to train up church planters globally through education, training, mentoring and cohort-based learning. Our instructors come with a wealth of knowledge and decades of experiences in apostolic, prophetic, and pastoral ministries that will enrich and equip students in their ministry and church planting journey.

The Church Planting Tract consists of eight total courses offered at various times across four 10-week terms.
  • Students who are interested in pursuing a certificate in church planting are required to complete all eight courses, after which they may apply to become a certified church planter with FSI.
  • General students who are not interested in pursuing certification, but simply want to learn or wish to "test the waters" of planting can also enroll in any course.


All prospective students can enroll in courses in any given term. Register below and then create a student account to enroll.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Certificate students must satisfy both course requirements below to receive course credit. 
  1. Completion of all course modules, learning activities and assignments within term deadlines.
  2. Obtaining a final course grade of a C (70% – 79%) or higher.

Note: Under extenuating circumstances where a student cannot complete a course within the 10-week term, and they have completed at least 50% of the coursework, they may request for an extension for up to a maximum of an additional 10 weeks to complete their coursework. After the extension period expires, if the student still has not completed their course, they will lose access to the course, and will be required to retake it.

Non-certificate students need only to satisfy requirement #1 above to receive course credit.
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Academic Calendar

Courses in the School of Planting are offered in a quarterly system. A calendar year consists of four academic terms, spanning ten weeks each. Dates for the 2025–2026 academic year are detailed below.

Fall 2025

  • Term starts: October 13
  • Last day to enroll in courses: October 26
  • Term ends: December 19
Courses offered:
  • FSI DNA: The Joy of Planting Churches
  • Paul Apostle of Grace


Winter 2026

  • Term starts: January 5
  • Last day to enroll in courses: January 21
  • Term ends: March 13
Courses offered:
  • FSI DNA: The Joy of Planting Churches
  • Church Planting: Twelve Keys from the Life of Jesus
  • Paul Apostle of Grace

Spring 2026

  • Term starts: March 30
  • Last day to enroll in courses: April 8
  • Term ends: June 5
Courses offered:
  • To be announced.

Summer 2026

  • Term starts: June 22
  • Last day to enroll in courses: July 1
  • Term ends: August 28
Courses offered:
  • To be announced.
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1.  FSI DNA: The Joy of Planting Churches

Find out about our mission to plant churches anywhere and everywhere and how we see church planting as "scaling joy" in the earth. Learn the strategy, philosophy, and biblical framework of how we approach planting and our church planting system. We equip you to plant a church from Day 1 and customize the plant to your callings and planting scenario. Click here to view course.
Instructor: Pastor Rich Kao
Required reading: The Church Planting DNA of Five Stones Impact by Rich Kao
Offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

2.  Paul Apostle of Grace

The great Apostle Paul gave his life to protect and defend the gospel message; we are all beneficiaries of his zeal and faithfulness. Through this course, you will learn from one of the greatest church planters in history, and receive a panoramic view of Paul's life, ministry and methods. It will inspire you in your personal walk, as well as better equip you as a minister or church planter. Click here to view course.
Instructor: Pastor Chuck Porta
Required textbook: Paul Apostle of Grace: The Story of His Life, Letters, and Ministry by Charles Porta
Offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026

3.  Church Planting: Twelve Keys from the Life of Jesus

Jesus is the greatest disruptive leader in history, and His Church moves in that same spirit to impact the world. Drawing from the life of Jesus, twelve keys are given that help planters understand Jesus' model for establishing churches. You will then develop a strategic action plan for your plant. Click here to view course.
Instructor: Pastor Rich Kao
Required textbook: Caring Deeply About Church Planting: Twelve Keys from the Life of Jesus by Rich Kao
Note: A copy of the textbook is provided in the course for viewing only. 
Offered: Winter 2026

4.  The FSI Church Planting Engine

In this course, we will take you in-depth into FSI's church planting engine and teach you how to establish a church using our system. This engine is a comprehensive, front-to-back strategy from winning the lost, to making disciples, to training leaders and multiplying more churches. Further customization to your planting call and giftings are developed.
Instructors: Pastors Rich Kao, and Luke & Lillian Huang 

5.  Ministry of the Word: Learning to Preach

The pulpit is one of the most essential ministries in planting. Nothing is more important than declaring the message of salvation and building up believers to become passionate followers of Jesus. In this course, you will learn the principles of preaching and gain tools to be an outstanding preacher.
Instructor: Pastor Luke Huang

6.  The Prophetic Church

God's people have always been called to be a prophetic company. This was true in the Old Testament and its call continues in the New Testament through the Church.  The church in Antioch as given in Acts 13 displays for us the foundational elements of a prophetic church—leadership that made worship, obedience, mission, and moving in the word of the Lord a supreme priority.  In this class, you will learn the exciting dynamic of planting churches in the tradition of Acts 13 and Eph. 2:20. 
Instructors: Pastor Clem Ferris 

7.  Pastoral Keys for Church Planting

Jesus is the Great Shepherd, and in this class you'll learn the foundations of being a planter-shepherd. More than ever the world is hungering for a caring, transformative touch from God. This course will equip you to understand the role of pastoring in the arena of planting.
Instructor: Pastor Mark Spencer

8.  21 Steps to Ordination

In this last class, you will learn the 21-steps of ordination FSI takes each planter through before the laying on of hands and commissioning. This is our process for sending out the "best of the best" (Acts 13:2) and to do our part for sending out the highest quality planters that we can. 
Please note that there is no requirement or implied obligation for students to become planters with FSI (unless you desire to do so) as some students may already be working or ordained within their own network.
Instructors: Pastor Rich Kao and/or team 
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Certification

After successful completion of all eight courses under the Church Planting Tract, and obtaining a final course grade of a C (70% – 79%) or higher per course, prospective certificate students may apply to become a certified church planter with FSI.

You will be asked to provide the following in your certificate application:
  1. Personal, educational, ministry, and career profile.
  2. Personal statement of interest.
  3. Spousal statement of support (if married).
  4. Two pastoral references: known you for at least two years.
  5. One personal reference: known you for at least five years.

Called to church planting?

Enroll now to become a certified church planter with us!

School of Planting Courses

Church Planting Tract for prospective planters