From field to framework, discipleship in action
We offer month-long, two-week, week-long, and tailored trainings throughout the year. You can find a complete list of our upcoming training events below.
Learn at our Ministry Center in the beautiful Black Hills of Keystone, South Dakota (home of Mount Rushmore). We'll pick you up at the Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) and accommodate you at our hotel, the Rushmore Express Inn & Family Suites.
Our trainings are open to all Christians willing to be radically challenged by the Great Commission. Both church leaders and new believers will benefit from this paradigm-shifting training.
View our finance packet for more information on student contribution fees for each training event. The application fee for our in-person training is $25 USD (nonrefundable), and you are responsible for all travel expenses, including the cost of your visa and airfare. You can also view the value vs student contribution infographic here.
Learn from missionary veterans how to reach the fourth generation
Training Events
A visionary leader is an individual uniquely equipped to lead through the development and communication of a compelling vision. Such leaders view the world and the church through the lens of the vision they've received, playing a pivotal role in launching disciple-making movements. They are transformed by their vision, and they passionately convey this vision to others. Furthermore, visionary leaders not only hold onto their vision but also have the capability to reproduce and instill it in others, raising up subsequent generations of visionary leaders.
Missional disciple-making is about intentionally producing individuals who live the kingdom life daily, embodying the transformative essence of being "salt" and "light" in their communities. This approach goes beyond the conventional understanding of discipleship. While traditional methods might focus on the basics of Christianity, missional disciple-making emphasizes a life of full surrender, obedience, sacrifice, and mission-oriented living. It's not just about having a personal relationship with Jesus; it's about actively participating in the Great Commission, reaching out to those who haven't yet heard the message of Christ. This disciple-making process is rooted in the mission, ensuring that disciples see their role as inherently tied to the broader mission of spreading the gospel.
Multiplying to the 4th generation is a biblical principle emphasizing sustained discipleship. This approach ensures disciples make other disciples, creating a chain reaching four generations deep. The fourth generation signifies the completion of God’s work, where core values are firmly imparted. Leaders think beyond themselves, laying a foundation with the first generation and fostering a self-sustaining discipleship movement. This approach aims for exponential growth, impacting communities and nations.
The cost of discipleship is profound and demands unwavering commitment. Jesus set the standard, calling His disciples to total surrender and sacrifice, having paid the ultimate price Himself. Embracing discipleship means prioritizing Jesus above all else, even familial ties. It's about taking up one's cross, following Him, and understanding that true discipleship might mean losing one's life in this world to find it in Him. This cost, set by Jesus, is not to be diminished or altered by us; it's a testament to the depth of commitment required to truly follow Christ.
To launch a disciple-making movement is to ignite a transformative wave of discipleship that ripples outwards, touching countless lives. At its heart, this movement is driven by a profound commitment to the Great Commission. It's not about adhering to a single formula or method but about embracing organic disciple-making. The Keystone Project emphasizes the importance of vision, reproducibility, missional focus, and the mastery of basic ministry skills. Moreover, it underscores the significance of strategic planning and the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit. This approach is about more than just meetings or programs; it's about fostering transformational, missional disciple-making.
Organic Spirit-led ministry is a dynamic approach that emphasizes the spontaneous and natural growth of the life of Christ in believers. Drawing parallels with a fruit-bearing tree, this ministry approach underscores that just as a tree grows organically from a seed, so does the church emerge from the impartation of the life contained in the seed of the Word of the Kingdom. This ministry is not about constructing or manufacturing growth but about nurturing and facilitating the inherent life within the seed. As disciples interact and form missional relational connections, they give rise to redemptive communities, each carrying the same genetic code of the Kingdom. This organic emergence is rooted in the principles of Spirit-led leadership and ministry, ensuring that the growth is genuine, sustainable, and aligned with God's design.
Leadership is the backbone of any thriving movement. At The Keystone Project, we emphasize the importance of cultivating a leadership culture that is rooted in the principles of the Kingdom. This involves the identification, training, and strategic placement of spiritually gifted leaders. As these leaders function within the churches and redemptive communities of the movement, they play a pivotal role in maintaining the theological, visionary, and missionary integrity of the movement. Furthermore, our approach ensures that new leaders emerge from within, carrying the same DNA and vision forward. Through continuous training and equipping, we ensure that our leaders are not only visionaries but also effective in guiding their communities towards the mission of multiplying disciples.
Dive into the power of multiplication in ministry, where leaders are encouraged to focus on preparing their members to reproduce. Understand the exponential potential of multiplication, which can lead to self-expanding movements. At the heart of these dynamics are the principles of equipping and sending. The Keystone Project emphasizes the importance of multiplying disciples up to the fourth generation, ensuring that the growth is not just about addition but about true multiplication: where 2 disciples become 4, then 8, then 16, and so on. This approach promotes a spontaneous and unprogrammed multiplication of the Church, allowing it to expand organically and dynamically.
Redemptive communities are the organic results of disciples embracing God's redemptive purposes together. These communities, whether in the form of local churches, mission teams, or other groupings, arise spontaneously from the interactions of disciples committed to fulfilling God's redemptive aims. The early Church serves as a prime example of such a community, emerging not from structured planning but from the life of the Holy Spirit within the disciples. These communities can take various forms, including local churches, cell churches, house churches, mission teams, and more. Their shared DNA ensures they are aligned with God's mission, regardless of their specific structure or method of operation.
To truly grasp the essence of God's mission and purpose, one must cultivate a Biblical and supernatural worldview. This perspective is rooted in the understanding that God's unimaginable majesty and power are evident throughout the Scriptures. By skillfully interpreting and applying the Bible, believers can discern God's mission as He intended, seeing His glory and purpose span across the pages of Scripture. This worldview emphasizes the importance of hermeneutics to avoid misinterpretations that can harm God's name and people. It's about recognizing the spiritual realm around us, which is as tangible as the natural, and understanding that faith allows us to "see" this spiritual dimension. Embracing this worldview equips believers to live in both the natural and spiritual realms, ensuring they walk in alignment with God's divine plan.
Spiritual warfare is a battle for truth, where God represents truth and Satan is the father of lies. This warfare is not waged in the flesh but in the spiritual realm, using divinely powerful weapons designed to dismantle the deceptive strongholds Satan builds on lies. These strongholds begin as thoughts and evolve into speculations, reasonings, and entire belief systems that stand against the knowledge of God. Through spiritual warfare, believers are equipped to destroy these speculations and bring every thought under the authority of Christ's teachings and the Word of God. The ultimate aim is to establish God's kingdom where truth prevails and the lies of the enemy are exposed and defeated.
To truly fulfill the Great Commission, one must be led by the Holy Spirit, transcending human effort and capabilities. Jesus emphasized the importance of being filled with the Spirit to empower His disciples as witnesses. Walking in the Spirit involves developing spiritual awareness, understanding the conflict between our fleshly desires and the Spirit, and prioritizing the Spirit's guidance. This spiritual journey requires us to be spiritually minded, free from condemnation, and to resist worldly entanglements. By embracing the Spirit's lead, believers can navigate life's challenges with divine insight and purpose.
Spiritual gifts are divine empowerments granted to every disciple, designed to manifest the presence, power, and purity of Christ. These gifts, described as the "manifestation of the Spirit," serve the collective body of Christ and individuals alike. Their operation openly showcases the Holy Spirit's ministry within the church, benefiting all. As disciples venture on their mission, these gifts play a pivotal role, ensuring that the message of Christ is conveyed with authenticity and impact.
Apostolically-gifted leaders are essential for the successful launch and growth of disciple-making movements. These leaders possess a unique blend of spiritual gifts, including a high apostolic anointing complemented by leadership, teaching, and evangelism skills. Their primary role is to keep teams mission-focused, ensuring that the mission remains paramount. Apostolic leaders also benefit from external coaching, which offers them fresh perspectives and accountability. Their gift mix allows them to cast kingdom visions, start new works, and lay foundational structures for emerging movements. Recognizing and nurturing these leaders is pivotal for the advancement of the Kingdom.
Oral Bible storying presents Bible truths in a captivating story format. These narratives are shared with enthusiasm and clarity, breathing life into characters and scenarios without adding personal commentary. Often, Bible stories are shared chronologically, setting the stage for understanding the gospel. Storytelling resonates deeply in many cultures, especially oral ones, making it a powerful tool for conveying biblical truths. Through this method, listeners engage with the story, discuss its implications, and are guided to discover its meaning, allowing them to embrace the gospel in a profound way.
Organic ministry growth emphasizes the natural and spontaneous expansion of the gospel through relationships, communities, and networks. Rather than relying heavily on structured programs or rigid methodologies, organic growth taps into the inherent dynamics of human interaction and the Holy Spirit's guidance. This approach fosters genuine relationships, encourages discipleship at a grassroots level, and allows the gospel to spread in a way that is adaptable and relevant to various cultural contexts. By facilitating organic ministry, leaders empower believers to be active participants in the Great Commission, leading to sustainable and impactful kingdom expansion.
A movement thrives on connectivity and collaboration. Establishing a robust network within a movement ensures that resources, knowledge, and best practices are shared efficiently among its members. This interconnectedness fosters unity, accelerates the spread of ideas, and strengthens the collective impact of the movement. By building a well-structured network, leaders can harness the collective strength of diverse groups, ensuring that the movement remains resilient, adaptive, and poised for sustained growth. This approach not only amplifies the movement's reach but also fortifies its foundation, ensuring longevity and continued influence.
The Keystone Project training focuses on launching disciple-making movements and the emergence of healthy, multiplying churches from the lives of committed disciples. It emphasizes a reliance on prayer, the empowering of the Holy Spirit, and multiplication at every level. It is universal in application and can be implemented in any cultural setting, regardless of financial resources or ministry position.
During the training, you will learn how to make disciples (fully committed followers of Jesus Christ) as you go out on the mission and meet the needs of your community. As you learn about this kingdom life, you’ll also learn how to help your disciples make disciples, how to multiply disciples to the 4thgeneration, and ultimately how to launch disciple-making movements. The training will also cover topics such as how to target an unreached people group near you, how to refocus your church to make disciples, how to launch mission teams, how to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, and how to operate effectively in your spiritual gifts.
Yes! Usually once a week, we will send the students out in their coaching groups to practice what they are learning on the mission field. On these missional activities, you’ll walk side-by-side with your fellow students and an experienced coach, learning first-hand how to reach the lost, how to walk in the Spirit, and how to begin making disciples. This is an exciting opportunity for you to experience the kingdom life of a disciple and to begin practicing what you are learning in the training, so that you are ready to launch a disciple-making movement when you return home!
Our trainings are open to all Christians who are willing to be radically challenged by the Great Commission, whether they are church leaders or new believers. We are looking for Christians who want to be missionaries, regardless of ministry position. This training is for those who are willing to reach outside the comfort and security of their churches and lay down their lives for the unreached.
Yes, each training is open to applicants from the US and from other countries. The “Native American and US Leaders Trainings” are specifically tailored for Native American participants and ministries, but they are open to US, Canadian, and international participants as well. For students who would require Spanish or French translation, they will need to attend an “International Leaders Training” when the translation they need is offered (as indicated on the list of Training Events).
View our finance packet for more information on student contribution fees for each training event. The application fee for our in-person training is $25 USD (nonrefundable), and you are responsible for all travel expenses, including the cost of your visa and airfare. You can also view the value vs student contribution infographic here.
During the training, you will be staying at our hotel, the Rushmore Express Inn &Family Suites, and the training will take place at the nearby Keystone Project Ministry Center. Both properties are located in the beautiful Black Hills of Keystone, South Dakota (home of Mount Rushmore). Transportation between the hotel and the Ministry Center will be provided each day.
We start serving breakfast in the Ministry Center at 7:00 AM, and the training begins with prayer for the day at 8:00 AM. There is a devotional message and a training session before lunch at noon, and there are one or two more training sessions after lunch. Training sessions are classroom style and usually last an hour to an hour and a half. After the last session, students will break up into small groups for a coaching session to review and contextualize what they covered that day. Dinner is at 5:30 PM with free time in the evening.
Saturday is a free day; weather permitting, we will take the students on optional trips each Saturday to go sightseeing in the scenic Black Hills and to go shopping in Rapid City for essentials and souvenirs. Sunday will include a mandatory worship service in the morning; on some Sundays, there will be an additional activity and assignment for the training in the afternoon. Other than that, you will have free time on Sunday afternoons and evenings as well.
If you are coming here from another country and would like to do any additional traveling or sightseeing in the US, we ask that you do that before the training begins, so that you can return to your home country and begin implementing what you have learned at the training right away. We have found that the longer a student waits to put the training into action the less effective it will be. We want this training to bear much fruit in your life for the kingdom! If you have friends or family in the area, they can visit you while you are here, as long as you do not miss any of the training or coaching sessions or Sunday activities.
Spouses are encouraged to attend the training together whenever possible. If you are bringing your spouse or any other adult family members or friends, they will each need to fill out the application, complete the registration process on their own, and be approved individually to attend the training. Please refer to our finance packet for the cost of each additional household member. Since we do not have any childcare available, it is best for students to avoid bringing children to the training, in order to prevent any distractions.
Students are not permitted to arrive late for any training event. The early lessons in the first few days are extremely important and foundational for the rest of the training, and the sessions build on each other progressively. It is very difficult for students to properly process the training content without that context and foundation. Both new and returning students should plan to attend the full training from beginning to end.
Your first step will be to fill out the “Training Application Form” here on our website. This will allow you to create your own personal account, which you can log back into and update at any time. Once you have paid the $25 USD application fee by credit card, you will then fill out the entire application form and complete the registration assignment. After reviewing your application, we will send you an email with your Invitation Letter and more information. Once you’ve been approved, your final steps will be to apply for a visa online, attend your visa interview at the nearest US Embassy, book your airline tickets for the travel dates we give you (if your visa is granted), send us confirmation of your visa and airfare, and submit student contribution fee payment via your online account. See finance packet for more info the student contribution fee.
If you do not have a credit card, an alternative way to pay the application fee is through MoneyGram. The directions and information you need to pay the fee through MoneyGram can be found on the Checkout form in your account.
You will need to apply for a Tourist/Visitor Visa, also known as a B1-B2 (or justB2) Visa. In your interview, you will need to show that you are traveling to the US for this training conference, that you are financially able to pay for your trip, and that you have strong ties to your country. We will send you more guidelines and advice for your visa interview when we send your Invitation Letter.
Many US Embassies are very busy and may not have an available interview date for several weeks or even months. If your visa interview is scheduled too late for you to arrive on time for the training you selected, please let us know, and we will send you a new Invitation Letter for the next international training after your interview. Even if your visa is granted, you are still not permitted to arrive late for the original training you selected.
Unfortunately, we are not allowed to send a copy of someone’s Invitation Letter or any other documents directly to the US Embassy. We have been informed that it is illegal for us to contact the Embassy on behalf of an applicant. All documents must be presented by the applicant directly in their interview. In general, the interviewer at the Embassy is much more focused on the individual applicant and their personal documents than they are on us and our documents. You’ll be able to read more about this in the guidelines that we’ll send with your Invitation Letter.
Unfortunately, we are not able to help cover travel expenses for any students. We also cannot state on your Invitation Letter that we are going to pay for your airfare. When you apply for your visa, you will need to indicate that you are paying for your trip, and when you attend your visa interview, you will want to bring a bank statement showing that you are financially able to pay for your trip. We will still provide the training conference, meals, lodging, and ground transportation at no additional cost.
If you are not able to travel to the US at this time, we would highly encourage you to enroll in our Online Academy to engage in this training. This self-paced program features recorded lessons from our training, accompanying chapters from our manual, online coaching support, and regional training opportunities within our network. You can also subscribe to our blog and podcast for devotional content and inspiring testimonies from the mission field, and you can follow our newsletter and Facebook page to watch for other training events held around the world.
The Great Commission was given over 2,000 years ago, and yet 42% of the world’s population remains unreached with the gospel of the kingdom. The remaining unreached people groups are unreached because they are the most resistant to the gospel and the most difficult to engage. The time has come to embrace a strategy that is biblical, Spirit-led, self-sustaining, and unstoppable, and that strategy is the launching of movements of multiplying disciples. We pray that God will use you mightily to reach the unreached around you, and we hope you will take advantage of this training to equip yourself for the work of the Great Commission.