KANSAS CITY, Mo—Midwestern Seminary is pleased to announce that the For the Church Cohorts residential graduate program has been extended for the 2026-27 academic year. Featuring 96 full-tuition scholarships for the first year of residential studies, For the Church Cohorts includes seven discipline-specific cohorts designed to equip like-minded residential students for ministry service through world-class faculty mentorship, focused study, and intentional community.
“I am very thankful for another year of full tuition scholarships for residential MDiv students through our FTC Cohort program,” said President Jason Allen. “Thanks to generous donors, students can receive intensive mentorship from our faculty and get a great head start on their degrees. There has never been a better time to study with us in Kansas City.”
For the Church Cohorts leverages Midwestern Seminary’s world-class faculty for the training of future pastors and ministry leaders. Allen shared, “Our world-class faculty is not just an institutional advantage to enjoy, it is an institutional stewardship to exercise.”
During their first year of residential studies through FTC Cohorts, students receive: real-world ministry experience for their ministry calling, first-hand knowledge of what a life in ministry requires, and regular conversations with faculty members on the most urgent needs for their ministry training.
Seven Cohorts For the Church
Prospective students of the For the Church Cohorts can choose from one of seven areas of focus for their first year of residential studies.
The Shepherds Fellowship cohort is the flagship cohort of Midwestern Seminary. Formerly called the Timothy Track, the Shepherds Fellowship cohort exists to equip future pastors with in-the-field ministry training and mentorship within the context of real-world ministry.
This cohort uniquely blends in-church pastoral mentorship with on-campus discussion and focused learning. The program leaders help incoming students choose a partner church in the Kansas City area where they will serve as an intern/apprentice during their first year of seminary.
Program Director Aaron Trent and Professor Jared Bumpers—both local church pastors—lead the on-campus weekly learning and guide the students individually through the experience. Through the in-the-field training and in-class discussion, students earn credit for two courses toward their M.Div. degree.
Commenting on his hopes for Shepherds Fellowship students, Bumpers said, “Our desire is for students to gain theological knowledge and practical experience so they will be prepared for a lifetime of faithful ministry.”
The Biblical Counseling cohort offers select first-year residential biblical counseling students the opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners while beginning their study in soul care. Led by professor and executive-director of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors Dale Johnson, Biblical Counseling cohort students will learn from experienced guest lecturers on a variety of subjects while being exposed to various opportunities for additional counseling training through the Center for Biblical Counseling.
Johnson said, “Discipleship happens in relationship. Time with students is a premium and knowing their stories helps me train them for church ministry with greater precision and purpose. These students will have the opportunity to build relationships with faculty that endure throughout their time in ministry.”
The Fusion Masters cohort is a missions-focused group designed to prepare students for long-term cross-cultural ministry. Led by professor and seasoned missionary Joe Allen III, Fusion Masters students wholistically prepare for the many practical challenges and opportunities of missionary life.
As an encouragement to prospective participants, Allen III shared, “My wife and I were part of a small group during seminary that proved to be one of the most formative spiritual experiences of that season and a great source of ongoing encouragement. I have a similar vision for members of my cohort, that through their participation, they will forge lifelong friendships that stimulate greater devotion to the Lord and passion for the lost.”
The Women in Ministry and Scholarship cohort exists to provide a place for deep conversation, authentic fellowship, and meaningful ministry preparation for women preparing for ministry and scholarship.
Cohort leaders and faculty members Christy Allen and Leslie Umstattd have a passion for investing in the next generation of women, offering students a place to tell their story, and providing mentorship throughout seminary.
C. Allen shared, “We want to enhance the academic experience of female students by providing mentorship and creating a safe community where they can connect with each other and connect the truth with life. My prayer is that the women in our cohort will feel seen, known, and loved, and in turn, have greater capacity to love others well.”
The Spurgeon Fellows cohorts exists to train seminary students interested in church history and theological studies. Led by scholars Geoff Chang and Thomas Kidd, Spurgeon Fellows students learn to utilize the riches of church history to better serve the church.
Expressing his anticipation for new students in the cohorts, Chang said, “As a former vocational pastor and current lay pastor, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to invest more intentionally in seminarians who are getting ready to launch into ministry. I’ve always believed that church history is the pastor’s best friend, and my goal for this cohort is that we would be able to learn from those who have come before us through focused reading and discussion.”
The Biblical Studies cohort equips students to think deeply about aspects of Old and New Testament theology, the New Testament use of the Old Testament, the importance of learning Greek and Hebrew, exegetical fallacies and best practices, and more. Led by professor Tyler Sykora, Biblical Studies cohort students receive a robust biblical education, and the cohort model allows students to study within the context of community.
Sykora said, “Understanding how to properly interpret God’s Word is one of the fundamental reasons why a seminary exists. Through our time together, we’ll get to the heart of some of the hardest questions that we can ask when it comes to biblical studies.”
The Theological Studies cohort focuses on the study of biblical and historic Christian doctrine, as well as its application to the Church and the world today. Led by Provost and Professor of Historical Theology Jason Duesing and other theological studies faculty, the cohort prioritizes study in the areas of systematic, historical, and applied theology.
Emphasizing the value of this cohort for students in theological studies, Duesing said, “The Theological Studies cohort will allow residential students interested in systematic and historical theology to build upon what they are learning in their classes and explore themes in greater detail. It is an ideal setting for students who want to ‘get all the theology and church history’ they can while completing their degree.
To learn more about For the Church Cohorts, visit mbts.edu/cohorts.
To secure your spot in the 2026-27 For the Church Cohorts class, apply for admission at mbts.edu/apply-now.
