The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The Apprenticeship Journey | Aquila Theological Institute
THREE WAYS TO TRAIN
Missional Membership
For: Church members, discipled in the fundamentals of the faith
Format: A cohort of 2–10, led by a leader from your church
Covers: 6 learning outcomes
Time: Typically six months
Cost: Free for Network churches; €250 per cohort for others
Accredited: No
Starts: January 2027
1-Year Apprenticeship
For: Lay leaders
Format: One apprentice, three mentors
Covers: 11 learning outcomes
Time: About a year, 10–15 hours a week
Cost: Free for Network churches; €5,000 for others
Accredited: No, but it can count toward the MAMT
Starts: Open now
Master of Arts in Missional Theology
For: Elders, pastors and those preparing to pastor
Format: A cohort with three mentors per student, plus a five-day intensive in Aachen each semester
Covers: 12 courses, 36 units
Time: Two years (four semesters)
Cost: €2,500 per semester for Network churches; €4,000 for others
Accredited: Yes: Master of Arts awarded by PTS-CAS
Starts: September 2027 (apply by 15 July 2027), then every March and September
APPRENTICESHIP
What does it mean?
In the context of ministry training, an apprenticeship is a model for training that combines classroom education as well as hands-on experience. Unfortunately, most missionaries and church planters that come to Europe have been trained in a context that has not allowed them to gain practical experience.
Another much-needed advantage of this approach is that the local church is involved the entire time.
At the end of the training, the local church can affirm competency and send out people who have demonstrated their calling, whether as disciples, lay leaders or pastors.
COMPETENCY BASED EDUCATION
How does it work?
Like other competency-based programs, the ATI curriculum is designed with the end result in mind.
With the aid of fellow pastors and practitioners the development of the ATI curriculum began with the end goal in mind. Next, the Aquila team worked backwards to identify the full range of competencies necessary to achieve these goals. In this way the result of the curriculum can be more assured than through traditional approaches. The competencies themselves represent a unified body of knowledge, skills, and character traits that, when achieved, ensure the graduate is fully competent for church planting and marketplace missions.
Apprentices and their needs are at the heart of curriculum development, and the program supports and encourages personalisation in response to experience, personality, context, and pacing. The curricular design ensures that the level and complexity of the competencies are congruent with the achievements required.
The chart below explains the stages of development of the Aquila curriculum and how the various components fit together.
PROGRAM PURPOSE
ATI exists so that local churches in Europe can raise their own disciples and leaders: trained in the church, for the church, and measured by what they can do in real ministry.
THREE TRACKS
Missional Membership disciples church members, the 1-Year Apprenticeship trains lay leaders, and the Master of Arts in Missional Theology prepares elders and pastors. Each track stands on its own, and a completed 1-Year can count toward the MAMT.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Often known as classes or modules, these are the areas of study in each track. They summarise the knowledge, character traits and skills an apprentice will master. Each track has its own learning outcomes or courses: see the track pages.
Competency in each Learning Outcome is developed through the following process:
INPUTS
The tailored sources used to build knowledge in the apprentice.
OUTPUTS
The contextualised activities that give evidentiary support for the assessment of competency.
INDICATORS
The measurable criteria for evaluating competency.
COMPETENCY
The unchanging standards used to evaluate mastery of key areas within a Learning Outcome.
SO HOW DO YOU PROGRESS?
Moving through the 1-Year Apprenticeship
Pick a Learning Outcome
Look through the Learning Outcomes and pick one that is strategic and interesting for you.
Mentor Team Confirms
Inputs / Outputs
Mentor team meets to determine the most strategic inputs and outputs for the apprentice.
Do Inputs
Turn in Outputs
Work through the inputs and outputs at your own pace.
Receive Assessment
(Improve if Necessary)
Mentors assess outputs and offer feedback. If necessary, work is redone or inputs are added to grow in competency.
Pick another Learning Outcome
Look through the Learning Outcomes and pick one that is strategic and interesting for you.
Achieve Competency
Once competency is demonstrated through outputs done in the context of ministry, it is awarded.
ACADEMIC BOARD OF ADVISORS
What is it and what do they do?
Every trade has a guild.
The guild is made up of leaders and experts of their trade who together set the standards and chart the trajectory of that trade. Our trade is marketplace missions, church planting, and leadership development. We have created what we believe is a unique approach to church planting in the post-Christian west that is sustainable, local church minded, and strategic. We are engaging in this manner of church planting ourselves because we believe in it.
In our context (western Germany) modern accreditation makes less sense than the apprenticeship model, which is more traditional and, we believe, more biblical.
At this point, all our current apprentices have a greater desire for church-based training than for an accredited theological degree. As a guild of sorts, the Academic Board of Advisors work together to help sharpen our curriculum to ensure that the training we provide is relevant, up-to-date, and directly transferrable to ministry in the twenty-first century. This approach helps protect us and our apprentices from a curriculum created in an echo chamber.
The members of the Academic Board of Advisors serve as necessary correctives, wise counsellors, seasoned practitioners, and godly examples. Together they review our curriculum and provide feedback that will help us ensure our apprentices will be thoroughly prepared and equipped for marketplace missions and church planting.
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE
What does it cost?
For Aquila Network churches, Missional Membership and the 1-Year Apprenticeship are free, and the MAMT is €2,500 per semester. For other churches: €250 per Missional Membership cohort, €5,000 for the 1-Year Apprenticeship, and €4,000 per semester for the MAMT.
Which track is right for us?
Missional Membership disciples church members in the fundamentals of the faith, the 1-Year Apprenticeship is for lay leaders, and the MAMT is for elders, pastors and those preparing to pastor. Compare them in the three cards above.
Do we need to be in the Aquila Network?
No, but Network churches don't pay, with the exception of the MAMT. Every track is open to churches outside the Network.
Can someone take more than one track?
Each track stands on its own. If you have completed the 1-Year Apprenticeship, you can be grandfathered into the MAMT, so your work counts toward the master’s.
Does our apprentice have to leave the church to train?
No. In every track, training happens in your own church and ministry. The MAMT adds a five-day intensive at Aquila’s building in Aachen once each semester.
How long does it take?
Missional Membership typically runs for about six months. The 1-Year Apprenticeship takes about a year, at 10–15 hours a week. The MAMT takes two years.
What does "competency-based" mean?
Progress is measured by what an apprentice can show in ministry, not by credit hours. For each Learning Outcome, the apprentice works through set inputs, produces outputs in their ministry context, and is assessed against clear indicators until competency is awarded.
Who are the mentors?
In the 1-Year Apprenticeship and the MAMT, each apprentice has three mentors: a Ministry Mentor from their church, an Academic Mentor from ATI, and a Network Mentor from the wider Aquila network. In Missional Membership, a leader from your own church leads the cohort.
Do we need to be a large church?
No. A Missional Membership cohort can start with two people. For the apprenticeships, you need a person with a genuine calling toward leadership and a willingness to invest in them.
Is it only for church planters?
No. Missional Membership disciples church members in the fundamentals, the 1-Year is for lay leaders, and the MAMT is for elders, pastors and those preparing to pastor.
Church planting is the inevitable fruit of a healthy church.
Is it accredited?
Missional Membership and the 1-Year Apprenticeship are not accredited; competency is affirmed by the sending church. The MAMT is an accredited Master of Arts awarded by PTS-CAS.
Where does the learning happen?
In your church, and online through ATI’s learning platform (Pathwright). Missional Membership cohorts meet when and where your church leader decides. The MAMT adds a five-day intensive in Aachen each semester, attended in person.
In which language is the training offered?
English, for every track including the MAMT. German-language training is in development.
Who is behind ATI?
ATI is the apprenticeship programme of Aquila Initiative e.V. in Aachen, Germany. Aquila Initiative is a network of churches committed to multiplying leaders and churches across Europe.
How do we start?
Let’s have a conversation. Tell us about your church and the person you have in mind, and we will help you find the right track. You can also sign up directly on each track page.