Arrow Leadership International Ministries

1. Should I apply for the Emerging or Executive Stream?
The Emerging Stream of the Arrow Leadership Program is designed for proven Christian leaders between the ages of 25-40 years old who are serving in Christian churches, ministries, or the not-for-profit arena. This stream focuses primarily on personal, pastoral and ministry leadership. Understanding God's unique call for your life and ministry, cultivating depth of character for a lifetime and developing critical competencies for missional leadership are all key elements of this stream.

The Executive Stream of the Arrow Leadership Program is designed specifically to meet the unique needs of Christian leaders serving in executive roles within the church, not-for-profit, ministry or marketplace organizations. This stream provides practical, personal, and organizational leadership training. This is more the "business" side of organizational leadership with training built around strategic organizational leadership and effective Christian management themes, without ignoring the critical role that character and resiliency plays in the life of every truly effective leader.

2. When is the next class scheduled to begin?
Generally, there are several new classes launched annually. Please see Classes Currently Accepting Applications for information regarding the specific dates and locations of upcoming classes. If you would like to be informed of future classes please send us an e-mail at admissions(at)arrowleadership.org.

3. Does the Arrow Leadership Program provide transferable academic credit with Christian graduate schools?
Emerging Stream - Significant academic credit towards a Doctor of Ministry degree is offered by Gordon-Conwell Seminary and Acadia Divinity College. In addition, Wheaton College Graduate School offers significant transfer credit and tuition discount toward their Master of Arts in Evangelism and Leadership. Masters-level transfer credit is also available through many other seminaries across North America.

Executive Stream - Arrow has an on-going partnership with the Doctor of Ministry Program at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. Significant credit transfer is possible for Executive leaders with the appropriate academic pre-requisites. Similarly, Arrow alumni from both the Emerging and Executive Streams are granted advanced standing in Canada’s largest D.Min. Program at Acadia Divinity College.

Please contact the Arrow office for more information regarding any of these opportunities.

4. What is the time commitment required for participation in the Arrow Leadership Program?
Participation in the Arrow Leadership Program allows leaders to remain serving in a leadership role but does require a significant investment of time: mandatory five-day residential learning experiences every six months--over a duration of 24 months for Emerging Stream participants and 18 months for Executive Stream participants--preparation and follow-up readings and assignments (approximately 4-5 books and assignments per residential), monthly mentoring meetings (2-3 hours per month) and quarterly small group meetings (3-4 hours per quarter).

5. Will I be able to communicate with my organization during residential seminars?
The Arrow Leadership Program is a comprehensive and intense personal and group experience. Therefore, by nature of the program, leaders will have limited time available for outside communications during the 5-day residentials. Although some outside communication may be necessary and is understandable, we strongly encourage leaders to focus on the learning and experience. Specific communication and contact information will be available prior to each residential.

6. What is the financial commitment?
The total cost of the Emerging Stream is $16,000. However, Arrow Leadership is committed to raising 50% of the program cost, bringing the participant cost to $8000. There are flexible payment options available which allow leaders to make payments in full (prior to the start of the program), in quarterly installments, or via regular monthly payments.

The current cost for the Executive Stream is $15,000 billed quarterly over the 15 month process.

7. What suggestions do you have for seeking financial assistance for my tuition and expenses?
While our goal is to make the Executive stream accessible to Christian executives and organizations, we understand that some executives may need financial assistance in order to meet the program costs. Financial assistance for the program costs can be sought through a variety of sources, including the following:

Your Ministry Organization: The Executive stream is designed not only to develop executives in personal and organizational leadership but with the expectation that executives will apply the learning to their organization. Therefore, we anticipate that each ‘sending’ organization will seriously consider a significant financial commitment to underwrite their executive’s participation. We would be pleased to provide promotional materials for your organization’s leadership.

Your Board Team: Another key potential investor in your Executive stream experience could be individual board members. Consider inviting individual board members to join you in your leadership development.

Others: Many ministry leaders find their churches, denominations, ministry organizations, family and friends to be excellent sources of support. There are many who are concerned about developing the next generation of Christian leaders.

Continuing Education Budgets: You may wish to apply your annual Continuing Education budget allocation toward your leadership development expenses.

Private Grants and Scholarships: Many private Christian foundations offer financial assistance to offset leadership education costs. Reference books and aids can be found in most libraries. Your librarian can help you locate these and other related books or you may write to the specific foundations to request application information.

8. Is the Executive Stream suitable for Emerging Stream (Arrow Leadership Program) alumni?
Yes. The Executive Stream was developed with the same framework as the Emerging Stream of the Arrow Leadership Program and the two programs are very similar in terms of how they develop Christian leaders. (The main differences are the type of Christian leader and the focus of learning in the two programs.) So, just like many other educational programs that have one program but different majors, Arrow is transitioning to one program – the Arrow Leadership Program – with two majors: the Emerging Stream and the Executive Stream.