ABNWT YOUNG LEADERS ACCELERATOR

This one-year facilitated development pathway is designed to prepare high-potential, high-capacity young pastors and church leaders for long-term, effective ministry leadership.

 
 

CONTEXT

For years, we’ve heard about the leadership gap in our fellowship and beyond. The older generation is retiring, and the younger generation of leaders are feeling the weight of this gap.

There is an opportunity to invest in the young leaders in our network—to ensure they are continually forming their character and competence in their pursuit of God’s call on their lives.

 

THE BIG IDEA

This program is developing young leaders to strengthen the church in the PAOC ABNWT and Canada. We are investing in a select group of young pastors and leaders who have a clear calling to lead our fellowship toward the next century.

The ideal candidate is 20-30 years old and has completed a couple of years of ministry.

In the fall of 2025, we will be opening our third iteration of the Accelerator with 10-15 young pastors and leaders. They will take part in a one-year, formational journey designed to develop their:

  1. Spiritual Formation

  2. Strong Sense of Identity in Christ

  3. Formational Relationships

  4. Influential Leadership

  5. Ministry Competence

 

We’ll take these candidates through a one-year-long cohort focused on forming character and competence. They will be exposed to
effective practitioners
with content that will propel them forward in ministry and leadership.

HOW IT WORKS

In this program, young leaders will be propelled forward in their passion for God and his call on their lives. They will increase their resilience capacity and competencies that will accelerate their ministry development, optimize your team dynamics, and provide lift to your church family.

Throughout the next year, these leaders will:

  1. Participate in Monthly Cohort Meetings (virtual and in-person)

  2. Receive regular one-on-one and group coaching calls with mentors

  3. Take in three intensive retreats at various locations

  4. Develop a personalized formation pathway to guide their next months and years of effective ministry

  5. Gain a supportive network of other young ABNWT pastors and leaders

 

MENTORS & COACHES

Below is a sample of the ministry guests we’ve featured over the past couple of years. These are the kinds of people who are investing in our cohort.

SHAILA VISSER
National Director
Alpha Canada

DAVE WELLS
General Superintendent
PAOC

JESSICA DISABATINO
Lead Pastor
Journey Church Calgary

GARY TAITINGER
District Superintendent
ABNWT PAOC

 

KEVIN SHEPHERD
CEO
Crossroads Christian Communications

KAITLYN CEY
Pastor & Educator
Inspire our Nation

CODY MATCHETT
Scholar | Pastor | Writer
Calgary

DR. SUSAN WENDEL
Academic Director
Acts Seminary

 

JASON BALLARD
Pastor
The Way Church Vancouver

JOYCE REES
Co-Lead Pastor
Epic Vineyard Church Calgary

JONATHAN SMITH
Lead Pastor
One Church
Toronto

DR. VAN JOHNSON
Dean
Master’s Pentecostal Seminary

 
 

BRENT INGERSOLL
Senior Pastor
Kings Church, NB

PATTI MILLER
Lead Pastor
Evangel Pentecostal Church, QC

ROBIN WALLAR
Lead Pastor
LIFT Church, ON

EMMA NARAYANAN
Lead Pastor
Avant Life, BC

 
 

FACILITATORS

PAUL FRASER
Director
PAOC Multiply Network

MANDI GILLIS
Seton Campus Pastor
FA Church Calgary

HUNTER GILLIS
Seton Campus Pastor
FA Church Calgary

KATIE NGUYEN
Discipleship Pastor
Hope City Edmonton

 

KEVIN JANZEN
YLN Director
ABNWT District

 
 

RETREATS

Included in the admission fee are three in-person retreats. Logistics and cost for travel to and from the retreats are the responsibility of the individual’s supporting organization.

Fall 2025
TBA

Winter 2026
TBA

Spring 2026
TBA

 
 

WHAT oTHERS ARE SAYING

“I recommend the Accelerator to pastors who desire to learn because the program immerses you in an environment that fosters healthy habits foundational for anyone who wants to pastor sustainably in this secular age.”

— AFOPE SANYADE
Youth Pastor, BP Church

“You get to learn from a wide variety of faithful and gifted leaders alongside friends who are on the same journey.”

— DEVAN GREEN
Youth Pastor, Hope City Church

“Developing your leadership—when it comes to character, skills, and gifts—within community is pivotal. That’s exactly what the Accelerator gives you. There’s a depth of conversation, accountability, and encouragement to grow together that I haven’t found since College.”

— AMY LANG
Program & Ministry Coordinator, Vanguard College

 

FAQs

  • The fee is $1400 per person, which includes three retreats, coaching, materials, and other resources throughout the program. (An additional $1300 of program expenses have been subsidized by generous donors and the ABNWT Resource Centre, giving high value to this opportunity.) Scholarship applications may be available by request.

  • The fee includes three retreats and accommodations, coaching, materials, and other resources throughout the program. Participants will be responsible for the cost of travel to the retreats and some meals.

  • Please check back in Spring 2025 for updates on the monthly meeting schedule for the 2025-2026 intake.

  • Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we have subsidized the actual cost of the program by nearly half to all participants. If finances keep you from applying, please contact kevin@abnwt.com.

  • The ideal candidate is an ABNWT pastor, leader, or global worker in their 20s or early 30s. They have completed a couple of years of ministry but are not yet a lead pastor.

 

HOW TO APPLY

To start the application process, please begin by completing an Interest Form.

After that we’ll send you the application form and set up a time for one of our team to interview you.

For any inquiries on the program, please reach out to kevin@abnwt.com.