Waypoint Leadership Institute

waypoint leadership institute



WLI is a structured approach to leadership development for anyone who desires to be more faithful and fruitful as they serve in the local church. The curriculum and scope of Waypoint Leadership Institute will provide a theological foundation, a deep evaluation of spiritual gifting, expose you to leadership environments, practical ministry opportunities, and access to mentorship. WLI will prepare you for deep service and help build confidence to take the next step as a disciple who is making other disciples.

The journey begins with an assessment to clarify what pathway would be most beneficial for your development!

All WLI years run on a semester based calendar. We start the WLI year in late January or early February. The graduation is in October of the same year. All assessments will be reviewed that fall after graduation. Please know that you may fill out the assessment at anytime of the year, but please understand that we will not be reaching out until the fall.

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WHO IS THIS FOR?

Waypoint Leadership Institute is designed to help you discover, develop, and deploy your gifts for service in the church. Whether you desire to be equipped for deeper involvement in a volunteer capacity or you feel a call to vocational ministry, we have a place for you. There are three specific tracks: Leadership, Internship and Residency. Each of these tracks are intentionally designed to help you affirm the unique ways that God has created you and give you a foundation to take the next step.

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Leadership

Leadership Track is designed to inspire and prepare those who are actively serving in the church to go beyond “filling a need” to “equipping others” to follow their example. Over the course of a year, Leadership Track will expose you to a breadth of others who are serving across a variety of ministry contexts. The curriculum will also engage intentional resources and gather in a cohort style environment. The goal of Leadership Track is to produce a culture of multiplication by deploying those who are already doing the work of the ministry with increased confidence, a network of support and increased practical experience.

Internship

Internship Track is designed to nurture and empower ministry leaders for a lifetime of service. The Internship Track is for those who are exploring vocational ministry. Interns will be challenged and mentored in the day-to-day context of local church leadership. Each internship includes a chosen specialization that will grant exposure to your specific areas of calling and proximity to pastors/leaders who are experts in that area. The scope of an internship is typically 12 months and requires some time availability during typical work hours. The goal of Internship Track is to fortify theological foundations, provide practical ministry experience and introduce specialized training for the next generation of church leaders.

Residency

Residency Track is designed to prepare pastors, church planters and missionaries to launch into vocational ministry. The Residency Track is for those who have confirmed a call to ministry and desire a “finishing school” to refine their gifts and skills for fruitfulness. Residents will work alongside our pastoral staff and be mentored to develop a personal, contextual pathway to the field. The scope of a residency is typically between 12 and 18 months and at least 20 hours a week of dedicated time to the program. The goal of Residency Track is to prepare biblically qualified leaders to step into leadership of God's Church across the street, states and seas. 

Frequently Asked Questions

WLI offers leadership development for the whole church. The central prerequisite is a desire to grow in their God-given purpose. WLI is open to anyone who is an active member of Waypoint Church. Additionally, the Residency Track is open to those who are pursuing vocational ministry and are members of a church other than Waypoint.

No worries. Just take the assessment. We will help you find the best fit!

The assessment is the starting place for entrance into all three tracks of WLI. The assessment is built to guide you towards the appropriate track. There is no commitment for those who take the assessment so we encourage you to check it out.

We have a team of leaders who review every assessment. You can expect to hear from a member of the Waypoint team with an invitation to a meeting to discuss your goals, gifts and results. You can expect to leave the meeting with clear next steps.

Yes and No. The Leadership Track and Internship Track have required courses that run on a specific schedule. Each year we launch a new cohort together. The Residency Track is more personalized and can begin at any time. The first step for all tracks is to fill out the assessment. 

The assessment is free. You can expect minimal costs associated with resources and books for certain courses in the program. The total cost is $100 for Leadership Track and Internship Track. The Residency Track is free, however, a residency operates as an unpaid, high-level internship. We can assist Residents in raising support, if necessary, but there are no required fees.

Church membership at Waypoint is a requirement for the Leadership and Internship Tracks. Membership at a local church is required for the Residency Track, however, we accept residents from other partnering churches.

Yes. Each track is unique. The Leadership Track is open to a maximum of 20 people per cohort. Internships and Residencies are dependent upon staff mentorship availability, however, we desire to have multiple interns and residents per year.

Waypoint Leadership Institute is designed for each track to stand alone with clear goals and outcomes, however, the pipeline is also designed to facilitate a progression. Don’t be intimidated, just take the assessment and we will help you take a simple next step!

Yes. There is a place for women in all three tracks of WLI. Although we do have certain specializations within our residency track for pastoral ministry and church planting that are reserved for called and qualified men, we desire to train women for a lifetime of fruitful ministry!

Meet the Team

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Scott Grossenbacher

St. Charles Campus Pastor

Matt Hess

Wentzville Campus Pastor

Max Eisenberg

Pastoral Assistant

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