Always Forward
Church Plant Training Intensive

March 2nd - 5th, 2026
Hosted by Church of the Cross
Hopkins, MN

The Church Plant Training Intensive is for the purpose of preparing church planters, their teams, and their oversight. The training intensive focuses on the creation of a strategic plan for a successful beginning by mapping out its methodology, component parts, timeline, and benchmarks. The planter and his/her team members will be given the tools, not only for implementing these components of starting a new church, but also for training future team members in the work of starting new ministries within the church. The time together will include teaching, interaction, discussion, and outlining your church’s ministry plan.

Topics will include theological/Biblical foundations for Anglican planting, missional strategies, practical steps in reaching your community, organizational/logistical issues, financial issues such as fundraising and budgeting, polity and church planting, strategies for personal/marital health, communication strategies, etc. Spouses are included in the fee for the planter and we strongly recommend spouse attendance. 

This training is hands-on while we are in person together. We will be sending you pre-training videos and articles which participants should watch in preparation of the Training Intensive. 

We also offer a Coaching Cohort for continued training and coaching following the in-person Training Intensive. In the on-line cohorts, we will continue the work of preparing for a new church by meeting for 5 sessions with a coach/trainer. The cohorts will individualize what was started at the Intensive into a comprehensive ministry plan.

Presenters include Molly Ruch, Director - Always-Forward and fellow church plant practitioners.

Where:  
Church of the Cross

https://www.ofthecross.org/

201 9th Ave N, Hopkins, MN 55343

When: 
Monday Mar 2 - Thursday Mar 5 

Schedule:
Monday registration opens at 3:30 pm with a 4:00 pm start, ending at 8:00 pm with dinner included
Tuesday-Wednesday 8:45 am - 5:30 pm with lunch included
Thursday  9:00 am - 12 noon

Hotel Reccomendations:
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Eden Prairie - Minnetonka by IHG

Hilton Inn Minneapolis/Eden Prairie

AirBNB

Who do I register as?
It takes a village to plant a church and we want to be sure to have everyone who can be in the room for this valuable training!

Please select "Planter / Leader" if you are the point person for the church plant.
Please select "Spouse" if you are married to the one registering as Planter / Leader
Please select "Additional Team Member" if you are coming with your Planter or Lay Leader.

Contact: Feel free to reach out to Ashley on our Always Forward staff with any questions
                   [email protected].