Are you trying to figure out what God might be saying to you about your vocation and calling?
Are you wrestling with a seeming clash between your identity and your current work?
Are you considering leaving the marketplace to enter vocational Christian ministry?
If your answer is yes to any of the above, ADVANCE might be for you.
What is ADVANCE?
“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.” Isaiah 54:2
ADVANCE is a journey of discernment — a space for you to listen to God, re–envision His Kingdom and calling, and consider what it means for your life. Beyond the programme, it is a sacred journey of growth, faith and obedience — a milestone in your pilgrimage as you seek God for His leading in your next season of life.
ADVANCE is grounded on these seven areas:
Abide in Christ
Discern His Voice and Calling
Value Kingdom Priorities
Act in Obedience through stretching faith
Nurture Disciplemakers and multiple leaders
Commit to stewardship
Expand His kingdom and advance His missions
About ADVANCE
Through ADVANCE, we want to enable Covenanters who are seeking to discern God’s call on their lives to deepen their formation, expand their leadership capacity, and explore the vocation God is leading them to. This may include a specific marketplace vocation and ministry, or the possibility of working as a full-time staff in church (in pastoral/ministry or operational/functional roles) or the missions field.
This journey comprises up to three integrated, but distinct phases — ENVISION, ENCOUNTER, and EXPERIENCE. Moving on to the next phase will involve a process of personal consolidation and discernment, alongside conversations with your pastors and/or course leaders to determine resonance and readiness to proceed further.
Phase 1: ENVISION
This phase aims to bring you through a journey of re-discovering who we are in God and re-envisioning His Kingdom and our place in His Kingdom.
The three months will be a personally directed but guided journey with structured daily devotions and weekly reflections. You will gather once a month for an online session to hear from teaching pastors, with opportunities to share and consolidate learnings, and hear stories of faith from one another. There will also be regular check-ins with recommending pastors/leaders. All these can be done at the your own time, apart from the monthly gathering, which means you are not required to take no pay leave or resign from your current career role.
After completing Phase 1, you have the flexibility to join Phases 2 and 3 at a later time, when you are ready.
Phase 2: ENCOUNTER
This is a structured 3–month in-person, full-time programme for individuals to grow in your faith, spiritual, and character formation. Through this, we aim to deepen the clarity of your calling. You will have the opportunity to dig deeper through cohort-based learning in retreats, classes, and workshops in a close community in an integrative, experiential way. In these three months, you will also have access to spiritual direction and coaching to further confirm your calling and explore next steps.
Phase 3: EXPERIENCE
Having affirmed their calling, participants may take one of three possible routes in Phase 3: Step In, Step Up or Step Out.
“Step In” involves customised internships and development tracks, with clear ministry assignments in church and intentional mentoring for culturation and churchmanship. This can be over a period of six months or more.
Participants will undergo a panel interview before confirming and determining how this would look like.
“Step Up” could mean taking up on a lay leadership role, whether within a ministry or in a Covenant Group in Covenant, as you plan your re-entry into the marketplace with a renewed vision of what God has called you to.
“Step Out” could mean serving in a Christian missions organisation or parachurch, or starting a marketplace ministry, as the Lord leads.
Who Is ADVANCE For?
ADVANCE is for adults who desire to seek and obey God’s calling in their lives — in the areas of vocation, full-time Christian ministry or missions work.
Those best fit this milestone journey are:
- Certain of their biblical allegiance and fully acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and have chosen to walk with the Lord
- Prepared to dedicate personal time and commitment with genuine desire to see what God has in store for their lives in the areas of calling and purpose, which includes discerning a call towards full-time capacity in church, parachurch, or in missions
- Working adults wrestling with a sense of holy discontent about where they are currently at in their vocation and who are seeking for more clarity
You are encouraged to join if you are:
- A Covenant constitutional member or regular worshipper who is baptised and has been worshipping in CEFC for at least three years
- A committed member or leader in a Covenant Group (CG)
- Already serving in a ministry
- Already or beginning to have conversations with your pastor/district mentor about discerning your next season
Why Should I Join ADVANCE?
Leave of Absence From Work Not Required in Phase 1
Discern without Disruption
In Phase 1: ENVISION, you don’t need to quit your job to begin seeking God’s direction.
You can remain status quo in your career while engaging in intentional discernment, daily devotional rhythms, weekly consolidation, virtual cohort learning, and encouragement. During the three months of ENVISION, participants are only required to gather once a month online, with the rest of the programme being asynchronous, ie. to be completed in your own time.
Go Deep in Discernment and Alignment to God’s Will for You
Grounded Preparation
When you are ready to take the next step and go deeper, you can then choose to take a structured pause of three months to move into Phase 2: ENCOUNTER, to further discern your calling, anchor your identity, refine your spiritual habits, and align your strengths with God’s assignment through cohort community and spiritual coaching. You can join any cohort in this phase once you have completed Phase 1.
See FAQ below for more information on cohorts.
Step Into God’s Assignment for You
Phase 3: EXPERIENCE focuses on getting you ready to venture further with God as you step to His assignment. Move into one of three distinct paths routes through hands-on, ministry experience:
Roadmap 1: Step-In
Take up an internship in Covenant EFC, with dedicated mentoring.
Roadmap 2: Step-Up
Take on lay leadership and ministry roles as you plan your re-entry to the marketplace.
Roadmap 3: Step-Out
Join missions outfit/parachurch organisations, and stewarding where you work as your primary mission field. This could mean starting a marketplace ministry, for eg. office Alpha.
Course Details
Phase 1: ENVISION has one run in 2026
2 Nov 2026 – 24 Jan 2027
We encourage participants to commit to the entire duration.
Phase 2: ENCOUNTER has only one run per year:
22 Feb – 14 May 2027
Participants who have completed Phase 1 may choose to join any Phase 2 batch down the line should they not be able to join the Phase 2 batch happening in the current year.
Click here to register for ADVANCE.
FAQ
Is the ADVANCE programme for people considering becoming pastors or entering full-time ministry?
No. ADVANCE journey is for anyone who wants to spend time hearing God, and to respond to where He calls, which may include full-time ministry, missions work, service in a particular ministry, or for more clarity of one’s purpose in the marketplace.
The purpose of the ADVANCE programme is to create space for you to discern God’s direction rather than begin with a predetermined answer.
If I have worshipped fewer than three years in CEFC, may I still attend ADVANCE?
The current guideline is approximately three years in CEFC.
However, individual circumstances may differ and can be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Is there a minimum age?
Instead of providing a minimum age criteria, consideration will be given to whether you have sufficient life and working experience to engage meaningfully with the questions about identity, calling, responsibility and obedience.
Must I currently be serving in a ministry?
Covenanters should either be currently serving or previously serving in a ministry.
More importantly, you should have a genuine desire and readiness to explore God’s calling and direction for your life.
What if I am interested but am not sure whether I meet the criteria?
Please speak with your pastor or leader who is your Recommender.
Individual circumstances can be considered, so you should not automatically assume that you are unsuitable for the programme.
A Recommender is a pastor or leader who knows you and can provide perspective as you consider joining the programme. We believe that while discernment is personal, it does not need to happen in isolation. Trusted spiritual leaders can help us recognise things about ourselves and our journey that we may not always see on our own.
About Phase 1: ENVISION
What happens if I am unable to complete Phase 1: ENVISION programme?
We encourage you to set aside the time required before signing up.
In the event you are not able to complete Phase 1 due to legitimate personal, work or other reasons, you will need to restart Phase 1 again when it is made available.
Does completing Phase 1 guarantee that I will progress to Phase 2?
No, completing Phase 1 does not mean that you will automatically progress to Phase 2.
At the end of Phase 1, you will have an opportunity to reflect on your journey and have a conversation with your pastor or Recommender about what you have discovered and what your next step may be.
Together, you can discern whether progressing to Phase 2 is the appropriate next step for you, or whether God may be leading you in another direction for this season.
Do I need to know my calling before joining?
No, you do not need to have figured out your calling before joining. Phase 1 is intended to help prepare you for the process of discernment and to practise hearing God to discern your call and purpose.
Does joining Phase 1 Envision means I am committing myself to full-time ministry?
No, you are committing yourself to a journey of listening, reflection and discernment.
The programme does not assume what God’s eventual direction for you will be.
What will I experience during Phase 1?
The main design of Envision is a structured and guided devotional journey intended to help you establish a consistent rhythm of Scripture, reflection, and listening and prayer. The devotionals are designed to be reflective rather than reading-heavy. You will be encouraged to slow down and engage honestly with God.
- Scripture and devotional reflection
- Listening to God
- Prayer
- Personal reflection
- Reflecting on your gifts and experiences
- Exploring questions of calling and obedience
The emphasis is not simply on completing material but on becoming increasingly attentive to what God may be revealing to you.
What if I’m struggling to hear God?
That is okay. You are not expected to begin the programme already knowing exactly how to hear or discern God’s direction. Part of the journey is learning to create space for Scripture, reflection, listening and prayer, and developing these practices consistently over time.
Will Phase 1 Envision tell me exactly what God’s calling for my life is?
While Envision guides you to discern God’s calling, God’s timing is not something we can direct. As such, we encourage you to come with full anticipation, seeking God, and invest your time in the guided journey and await His time.
For some participants, greater clarity may emerge. For others, the most important discovery may be a deeper understanding of their identity, gifts, fears, current season or next step of obedience.
What happens after Phase 1 – Envision?
Phase 1 – Envision is intended to provide foundations for deeper formation and discernment.
Your reflections and journaling can become important inputs into your own spiritual journey and can also prepare you for Phase 2 Encounter if you are ready.
About Phase 2: ENCOUNTER
Can I join Phase 2 without going through Phase 1?
No, the journey is designed as a build-up from Phase 1 to Phase 2.
Phase 1 helps establish the spiritual disciplines and foundations that prepare participants for the deeper learning, formation and discernment journey in Phase 2.
Do I have to quit my job to join the Phase 2 Programme?
Phase 2 requires a full-time commitment for the 3-month duration of the programme.
As the programme involves in-person structured learning sessions, group activities, retreats, spiritual formation and other shared experiences, participants will need to be available to participate fully in the programme.
If you are currently working, we encourage you to prayerfully consider and discuss with your pastor or Recommender how you can make the necessary arrangements before committing to Phase 2, such as taking a 3-month sabbatical from work, etc.
What if I complete the journey and am still unsure about my calling?
The purpose of discernment is not to expect certainty, but to expect God’s speaking at divine timing. Discernment does not always end with a job title or ministry position.
You may instead discover greater clarity about:
- Who you are in God;
- How God has shaped you;
- Your gifts and passions;
- Areas where God is asking you to grow;
- Your current season;
- A next step of obedience.
Sometimes the most important outcome is not knowing the entire road ahead, but becoming clearer about the next faithful step.
About Phase 3: EXPERIENCE
What are other options for participants who are not called to full–time ministry?
As part of Phase 3, participants can explore a missions/parachurch track, or step-up to serve as lay leaders with a ministry. Each participant who completes Phase 2: ENCOUNTER will have alignment discussion with their spiritual director or coach.
