
Midwestern Seminary
For the Church
Cohorts
For the Church Cohorts is Midwestern Seminary’s one-year residential ministry training program in Kansas City, preparing students for faithful ministry through faculty mentorship, community discipleship, and full tuition scholarships provided to every student in the program.
100% Tuition Scholarship for 96 Students
Train Together For the Church
For the Church Cohorts is a one-year program designed to equip like-minded residential seminary students through enhanced discipleship, focused study, and intentional community. Cohort participants will gather weekly with members of their cohort to fellowship, discuss topics related to their subject, and learn from world-class faculty and ministry leaders. Participants receive a 100% tuition discount for up to 18 on-campus credit hours at the SBC rate during the first year in their degree.
Shepherds Fellowship
This cohort offers select residential Master of Divinity students in-the-field ministry training and mentorship within the context of the local church. In addition to their classroom studies, students in Shepherds Fellowship will spend their first calendar year at Midwestern as an intern/apprentice within a local partner church.
Focus: Local church ministry, including planting and replanting
Leaders: Dr. Jared Bumpers and local ministry leaders


Women in Ministry and Scholarship
Women in Ministry and Scholarship is a cohort for select first-year master’s–level female students. This cohort goes beyond the classroom to provide a place for deep conversation, authentic fellowship, and meaningful ministry preparation.
Focus: Women in ministry, scholarship
Leaders: Christy Allen and Dr. Leslie Umstattd
Biblical Counseling
The Biblical Counseling cohort offers select first-year residential biblical counseling students the opportunity to learn from experienced practitioners while beginning their study of biblical soul care.
Focus: Biblical Counseling
Leaders: Dr. Dale Johnson and ACBC staff


Fusion Masters
The Fusion Masters cohort is a mission-focused group designed to prepare students for long-term cross-cultural ministry. The cohort cultivates a close-knit community by reading through the New Testament, completing the Deepen Discipleship curriculum, and studying theology together. The cohort also prepares participants to face many practical challenges of missionary life.
Focus: Missions
Leader: Dr. Joe Allen
Spurgeon Fellows
Students interested in Church history and theological studies can now gain valuable ministry experience at Midwestern Seminary—under the guidance of two key scholars—while pursuing their studies.
Focus: Church history and historical theology
Leaders: Drs. Geoff Chang and Thomas Kidd


Theological Studies
Interested in systematic or applied theology? Midwestern Seminary now offers an FTC Cohort dedicated to these areas of study. The Theological Studies Cohort will provide students with the opportunity to study under leading scholars in theological studies scholars at MBTS.
Focus: Systematic and Applied Theology
Leaders: Dr. Jason Duesing
Biblical Studies
This cohort will 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. Each of these topics is fundamental to a robust biblical education, and the cohort model will allow students to study this area within the context of community.
Focus: Old and New Testament and biblical theology
Leader: Dr. Tyler Sykora

Why FTC Cohorts?
Next Steps and Requirements
Refer a Student
Know of a prospective student who is considering seminary education? Refer them to Midwestern Seminary and one of our For the Church Cohorts below.
