SCHOOL OF PLANTING
One-Year Training Tract: Eight Courses
Application and School Requirements
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CERTIFICATE ROUTE
The School of Planting aims to train up church planters globally through education, training, mentoring and cohort-based learning. As a certificate student, you receive the mentoring attention of our course instructors. They come with a wealth of knowledge and decades of experiences in apostolic, prophetic and pastoral ministries that will enrich and equip you in your planting journey.
If you are interested in receiving certification in church planting, apply now to receive acceptance into the School. Certificate-pursuing students may enroll in courses after they have first submitted their application, but will not become eligible candidates until confirmation that their application was successful.
If you are interested in receiving certification in church planting, apply now to receive acceptance into the School. Certificate-pursuing students may enroll in courses after they have first submitted their application, but will not become eligible candidates until confirmation that their application was successful.
Eligible candidates are required to take both courses offered per term, thereby completing the one-year tract curriculum in one year. It is recommended that certificate students start the one-year tract in the fall term. However to not unduly delay someone's start, students can apply to the School and enroll in courses in any term. They then complete the entire curriculum by cycling through all four academic terms.
For any given course, the following requirements must be satisfied to receive course credit and tuition refund.
Certification will be granted upon satisfaction of the above course requirements for all eight courses.
For any given course, the following requirements must be satisfied to receive course credit and tuition refund.
- Completion of all course modules and learning activities within the ten-week term and all course deadlines.
- Obtaining a final course grade of a C (70% – 79%) or higher.
Certification will be granted upon satisfaction of the above course requirements for all eight courses.
NON-CERTIFICATE ROUTE
General students who are interested and just want to learn, or are looking to "test the waters" of planting can take any of our courses at any time, but will not receive prioritized mentoring attention from our instructors. General registration is required for course enrolment.
Those whose applications for the School of Planting were unsuccessful are also welcome to register as a general student, then enroll in any church planting course for their own learning and equipping.
All course activities and assignments must be completed by the end of term in order to receive course credit and tuition refund.
Those whose applications for the School of Planting were unsuccessful are also welcome to register as a general student, then enroll in any church planting course for their own learning and equipping.
All course activities and assignments must be completed by the end of term in order to receive course credit and tuition refund.
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Academic Calendar
Courses in the School of planting are offered in a synchronous format. Curriculum for the one-year tract consists of four academic terms, spanning ten weeks each. Dates for the 2025–2026 academic year are detailed below.
Fall 2025
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Last day to apply: October 10
(Certificate Route only) -
Term starts: October 13
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Last day to enroll in courses: October 19
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Term ends: December 19
Winter 2026
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Last day to apply: January 2(Certificate Route only)
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Term starts: January 5
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Last day to enroll in courses: January 11
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Term ends: March 13
Spring 2026
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Last day to apply: March 27(Certificate Route only)
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Term starts: March 30
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Last day to enroll in courses: April 5
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Term ends: June 5
Summer 2026
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Last day to apply: June 19(Certificate Route only)
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Term starts: June 22
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Last day to enroll in courses: June 28
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Term ends: August 28
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Fall Term Courses
1. FSI DNA: The Joy of Planting Churches & More
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. Various insights about apostolic ministry will also be highlighted.
Instructor: Pastor Rich Kao
2. Paul Apostle of Grace
Learn from one of the greatest church planters in history. In this class you will receive a panoramic view of Paul's ministry, life, and methods. It will inspire you in your personal walk as well as better equip you as a planter.
Instructor: Pastor Chuck Porta
Required textbook: Paul Apostle of Grace by Charles Porta
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Winter Term Courses
3. Church Planting: 12 Keys from the Life of Jesus
Jesus is the greatest disruptive leadership in history, and His church moves in that same spirit to impact the world. Drawing from the life of Jesus, 12 keys are given that help planters understand Jesus' model for establishing churches. You will then develop a strategic action plan (SAP) for your plant.
Instructor: Pastor Rich Kao
Required textbook: Caring Deeply About Church Planting: Twelve Keys from the Life of Jesus by Rich Kao
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
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Spring Term Courses
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
Israel is unique in history because of her call to be God's prophetic servant. This call continues to the Church, God's New Covenant (Testament) community. In this course, you will learn the heart and principles of becoming a church that treasures the presence of the Lord, worship, intercession, miracles, preaching, mission, prophetic lifestyle and more.
Instructors: Pastor Clem Ferris
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Summer Term Courses
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, and 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
School of Planting Courses
One-year tract for church planters