Church-Based Seminary

Seminary level education designed for urban leaders

Our Church-Based Seminary equips urban church leaders with contextualized training, and it is designed for men and women in communities of poverty. World Impact’s Church-Based Seminary provides affordable, accessible, and effective training for church leaders and lay leaders.

First, we partner with churches, organizations, or denominations to identify emerging leaders. Then, we establish The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI) centers for learning. Graduates complete their training and certification and champion renewal and spiritual growth in their communities.

Together, we are wholly committed to revitalizing the urban church and empowering urban leaders in communities of poverty.

Urban leaders are empowered to lead their own ministry

When you partner with World Impact, you are ensuring that urban pastors get the resources and support they need to build and sustain healthy churches in communities of poverty.

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STORY

Jennifer’s calling was affirmed and activated through our Church-Based Seminary program

When Jennifer Chou was called to build a church on Skid Row, she knew she needed the training to make it happen. Her formal training as an accountant hadn’t prepared her for ministry at all, let alone ministry in an impoverished community. There are over 85,000 homeless people in Los Angeles alone, and block after block of Skid Row is covered in makeshift housing for them.

“Jesus Knows My Name Ministry began in 2014, soon after I began taking TUMI classes,” said Jennifer. “Since then, many people have visited us on Sunday mornings to receive food and hear the Gospel.”

Meeting A Need

One of those people was Denise, who like many people on Skid Row, was alone. Her husband and daughter had died, and her only remaining child was in rehab.

Denise became a regular attendee, and one Easter morning, she responded to the worship and message with many tears.

“How can I pray for you?” Jennifer asked her.

“I’m not sad,” she said, “I’m grateful for God’s grace and how He’s taken care of me.”

Denise left and soon returned with a bag of pennies and a cross. 

“I want you to have this,” she said to Jennifer. Jennifer refused the money at first, but Denise insisted. 

“God wants me to give this to you as the first payment to build his church.” Jen accepted her gift and, in doing so, forged a bond with Denise she wouldn’t soon forget.

Jesus is alive on skid row

Jennifer’s church was planted in the middle of Skid Row and is active today because she answered God’s call. Her ministry is simple–personify God’s love to those He loved most: the broken, the forgotten and the poor.

She said, “It is on Sunday mornings at Skid Row, however, that I learn how to live out the Word among those we minister to.”

Jennifer's Story Is Possible Because Of Your Generosity

To help more people like Jennifer through our church-based seminary programs, click below to give now.