Pasadena, CA · Formation & Leadership

FRØNTIER DTS

Discipleship Training School · 2027 Cohort

12Sessions
2Conferences
14Weeks
+OutreachOverseas Trip
Vision
To ensure Frontier's expansion is rooted in spiritual depth and cultural integrity by cultivating a missionally engaged community that carries Frontier's DNA into every sphere of influence — locally and beyond. This vision calls for a deep bench of spiritually mature, capable leaders who preserve our values, multiply our culture, and faithfully steward growth.
Mission
To establish a localized Discipleship Training School that intentionally forms believers in the core essentials of faith, leadership, and mission. Through this DTS, we will equip individuals to walk in their calling, lead within Frontier, and birth new ministry and missional expressions. The DTS will serve as a leadership pipeline, developing current and emerging leaders who embody Frontier's theology, practices, and way of life.

"Renewing the beauty of Jesus on the frontiers of modern culture."

FRØNTIER Church · Pasadena

As Frontier grows, we must proactively preserve and transmit our DNA before growth outpaces formation.

Preserve Our DNA

Proactively transmit Frontier's theology, practices, and way of life to every person entering our community — not assuming it happens by proximity alone.

Build Leadership Capacity

Increase leadership readiness by developing current and emerging leaders from within our own community — people who already carry Frontier's culture.

Create Pathways

Open clear pathways for ministry expression and multiplication — from Community Group leadership to launching neighborhood missional expressions.

Sustain Long-Term Health

A deep roster of spiritually formed leaders protects against cultural drift and sustains faithfulness through every season of growth.

Formation Over Information

Teaching always serves formation. The DTS integrates theology, practice, and lived obedience — not producing knowledgeable spectators, but faithful participants.

A Scalable Model

A repeatable cohort model that grows with Frontier and can adapt for future seasons, new campuses, or multiplying communities.

A 14-week cohort journey combining weekly sessions, small groups, two activation conferences, and an optional overseas outreach trip.

Weekly Sessions

Saturday morning gatherings covering 12 core essentials spanning spiritual formation, leadership capacity, missional identity, and communal faithfulness.

Cohort Groups

Small relational groups meeting twice monthly for processing, accountability, coaching, and application — the classroom reinforced through community.

Two Conferences

Opening Activation Conference (Jan 22–23) launches the cohort. Closing Commissioning Conference (Apr 25–26) sends participants into their next season.

Practicum

Participants engage family, work, and neighborhood as the lived laboratory of formation. Obedience in ordinary life is the measure of what's been received.

Teaching Model

Internal leaders and staff serve as primary culture carriers. Select external voices who align with Frontier's DNA are invited for specific sessions.

Overseas Outreach

Optional 1–2 week mission trip in June–July 2027. Thailand runs through YWAM Chiang Mai. France and Philippines are independent trips.

Step Into Leadership

Community Group leaders, ministry team members, and servant roles throughout Frontier's existing structures and ministries.

Launch Ministry Expressions

Birth new local ministries, missional communities, or neighborhood expressions aligned with Frontier's vision for Pasadena and beyond.

Enter Advanced Pathways

Internships, staff residencies, or advanced leadership development tracks within or beyond Frontier.

Walk in Calling Clarity

Greater clarity around God-given gifting, calling, and responsibility in every domain — home, work, and neighborhood.

Format: Saturday morning sessions · Conferences run Friday evening through Saturday night · Cohort groups meet on alternating weeks · Easter weekend skipped (Good Friday Mar 26, Easter Mar 28) · MLK Day weekend avoided via late-January launch
Jan 22 – 23
Opening Activation Conference
Friday evening through Saturday night · Vision cast, community formation, worship, and activation
Foundational Topics · Sessions 1 – 6
Sat · Jan 30
1
Knowing God
A deep encounter with God's character, nature, and attributes — relational knowing, not doctrinal data. Participants walk away with a richer, truer understanding of who they're walking with.
Foundational
Sat · Feb 6
2
Hearing God's Voice
Learning to recognize and respond to God through Scripture, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. Practical exercises and testimonies that shape a lifetime habit of listening.
Foundational
Sat · Feb 13
3
The Father Heart of God
Experiencing God as a loving Father — addressing distorted views rooted in broken relationships or trauma. A healing, reorienting session that frees people for genuine discipleship.
Foundational
Sat · Feb 20
4
The Holy Spirit
Understanding the person, role, and gifts of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer and the body. Practical activation and theological grounding held together.
Foundational
Sat · Feb 27
5
Lordship of Christ
What it means to surrender every area — work, finances, relationships, ambitions — to Jesus' authority. Obedience as a total way of life, not a category or momentary decision.
Foundational
Sat · Mar 6
6
Identity in Christ
Discovering true value, worth, and purpose as defined by God's design — not performance, comparison, or cultural identity. The bedrock of sustainable ministry and healthy leadership.
Foundational
Mission & Ministry Focus · Sessions 7 – 11
Sat · Mar 13
7
The Biblical Christian Worldview
Developing a comprehensive Christian perspective on culture, truth, society, and vocation. Equipping participants to engage their world with theological clarity and missional confidence.
Mission & Ministry
Sat · Mar 20
8
Intercession and Worship
Learning prayer strategies — intercession, lament, petition, prophetic prayer — while entering authentic Spirit-led worship. Both as foundations for missional living.
Mission & Ministry
Sat · Apr 3
9
Spiritual Warfare
Understanding the believer's spiritual authority in Christ and how to engage battles wisely — clarity on the enemy, the armor of God, and the posture of those who live from victory.
Mission & Ministry
Sat · Apr 10
10
Evangelism
Sharing the Gospel naturally, boldly, and contextually — practical tools for narrative evangelism, relational witness, and the Great Commission as a lifestyle rather than an event.
Mission & Ministry
Sat · Apr 17
11
The Kingdom of God
Understanding God's rule and reign in all spheres — family, culture, work, and society. The theological framework that connects Sunday faith to the way we live on Monday morning.
Mission & Ministry
Relational Development · Session 12 · Capstone
Sat · Apr 24
12
Relationships and Community
Building healthy relationships, communication, and living in biblical community. This capstone synthesizes every prior theme into a vision of the covenantal, interdependent life of the body of Christ.
Relational
Apr 25 – 26
Closing Commissioning Conference
Friday evening through Saturday night · Celebration, commissioning, and sending
1 – 2 Weeks
Overseas Outreach Trip
France or Philippines (independent) · Thailand (YWAM Chiang Mai) · Timing confirmed per destination

See the Outreach Trip tab for full destination details, partnership information, and preparation process.

Important: Only Thailand is in official partnership with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) — Chiang Mai base. France and Philippines are independent trips, not YWAM-affiliated, operating through separate local ministry partnerships to be confirmed. · Timing: June – July 2027 · Duration: 1–2 weeks
Independent Trip · Paris, Île-de-France Independent · Not YWAM

France is one of the least-evangelized nations in the Western world — deeply secular, post-Christian, and spiritually searching. Paris is a global crossroads of culture, philosophy, and unreached peoples, with large North African and Middle Eastern immigrant communities. Outreach here means engaging a world that has heard of Jesus but has rarely encountered Him.

Post-Christian CultureStreet EvangelismArts & Café MinistryMuslim OutreachPrayer Walking
ContextLess than 2% evangelical Christian; deeply secular urban culture
MinistryStreet evangelism, prayer walking historic sites, café outreach, local church partnership
Duration1–2 weeks · June or July 2027
Best ForThose called to Europe, secular culture engagement, or arts-based ministry
Independent Trip · Metro Manila Independent · Not YWAM

The Philippines is the heart of Christianity in Asia — a majority-Christian nation with deep faith and a strong sending culture. Manila and surrounding communities are rich in vibrant local church partnerships, urban poverty ministry, and island evangelism opportunities. This is a context where the Gospel is welcomed and participants experience the joy of laboring alongside Filipino believers.

Urban PovertyChildren's MinistryCommunity DevelopmentChurch PartnershipIsland Outreach
Context80%+ Catholic; significant unreached Muslim minority on southern islands
MinistryCommunity outreach, children's and youth programs, local church partnership, feeding ministries
Duration1–2 weeks · June or July 2027
Best ForThose called to Asia, compassion ministry, or collaborative church-based mission
YWAM Chiang Mai · Northern Thailand ✦ Official YWAM Partnership

Thailand is a Buddhist nation with one of the most active YWAM presences in all of Asia. The Chiang Mai base is a major hub for regional mission, hill tribe ministry, and anti-human trafficking work. Less than 1% of Thais are evangelical Christians — making this one of the most spiritually unreached nations on earth. This trip is for those willing to step into hard, long-term kingdom ground.

Buddhist ContextUnreached PeoplesHill Tribe MinistryAnti-TraffickingPrayer & Intercession
ContextLess than 1% evangelical; majority Theravada Buddhist; numerous unreached hill tribes
MinistryYWAM base ministry, village outreach, prayer walks, anti-trafficking awareness, hill tribe visits
Duration1–2 weeks · June or July 2027
Best ForThose called to unreached peoples, intercession, Southeast Asia, or justice ministry
01
Choose a Destination
Participants prayerfully select from France, Philippines, or Thailand. Decision made during the DTS — ideally by March 2027.
02
Apply & Register
Thailand participants apply through YWAM Chiang Mai. France and Philippines register through local ministry partners (TBD). Early registration ensures housing and team placement.
03
Raise Support
Trip costs covered through personal support raising. Estimated cost: $2,000–$4,000 per participant depending on destination.
04
Pre-Trip Briefing
Dedicated preparation session at the April Closing Conference covers cultural context, spiritual posture, logistics, and team formation for each destination group.
05
Depart & Serve
1–2 weeks on the ground — engaging evangelism, community ministry, prayer, and the joy of living out the Great Commission in a cross-cultural context.
06
Return & Debrief
A community debrief upon return — sharing testimonies, processing what was learned, and discerning how the experience shapes next steps in calling and leadership.
Why Outreach
The DTS forms people in the truth. The outreach trip tests and deepens that formation in the fire of real mission. Nothing cements identity, calling, and the reality of spiritual warfare quite like standing in an unreached place and proclaiming the goodness of Jesus. This trip is not an add-on — it is the completion of what began in January.

"For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God."

Romans 8:19

Before Transition
Primary Face of Youth Ministry
Day-to-day presence, teaching, and relational leadership with students
Full Youth Operations Management
All administrative, relational, and programmatic youth ministry oversight
External Consulting Work
Time and energy directed toward consulting engagements outside Frontier
DTS as Future Vision Only
Discipleship Training School remains an idea without dedicated development capacity
After Transition
DTS Director & Developer
Primary architect of the Frontier DTS — design, build, and execute the program
Youth Strategic Oversight
Boyoon takes the face of youth ministry; Abraham retains operations and strategic direction
Friday Nights & Sunday Oversight
Continued oversight of young adults Friday nights, Sunday worship, and leader development
Support-Funded Kingdom Work
Consulting reprioritized; personal support raising offsets financial need during startup
Boyoon's Role
Boyoon will increasingly serve as the face of Frontier's youth ministry — the primary relational presence, teaching voice, and pastoral touchpoint for students. This is not a sudden handoff but a gradual, supported transition that honors continuity for youth and families, while freeing Abraham to fulfill his calling as a formation leader for the broader Frontier community.
1
Phase 1 · Now – July 2026
Foundation & Support Raising
Begin transition of youth ministry face to Boyoon. Abraham initiates personal support raising — targeting Phase 1 funds by July/August 2026 to seed DTS development. Consulting begins to wind down. Preliminary curriculum conversations with Sue, Phil, and Christian.
2
Phase 2 · Sep – Dec 2026
Preparation & Mobilization
Dedicated DTS development time — curriculum architecture, teaching schedule, cohort structure, and speaker lineup. Boyoon is the primary face of youth ministry. Abraham's DTS Director role is active and resourced. Phase 2 support targeted by end of 2026.
3
Phase 3 · Jan – Apr 2027
DTS Cohort 1 Launch & Execution
The 2027 DTS is live. Abraham leads weekly sessions, manages cohort facilitators, shepherds participants, and iterates in real time. Youth ministry runs smoothly under Boyoon. Abraham available for strategic questions and major events.
4
Phase 4 · Jun – Jul 2027
Outreach Trip & Post-Cohort Evaluation
Graduating participants depart on the optional overseas outreach trip. Simultaneously, Abraham and leadership conduct post-cohort evaluation. Planning begins for Cohort 2, and graduates are deployed into Frontier's leadership infrastructure.
Phase 1 Support
Seed Funding
First-phase personal support raised by July–August 2026 to fund DTS development work through the preparation period (Sep–Dec 2026).
Target: August 2026
Purpose: Development capacity (Sep–Dec 2026)
Source: Personal support network
Offsets reduction in consulting income
Phase 2 Support
Launch Funding
Second-phase support secured by Q4 2026 – Q1 2027 to sustain Abraham's full DTS Director capacity through the 2027 cohort and beyond.
Target: Q4 2026 – Q1 2027
Enables full-time DTS focus
Consulting fully wound down
Purpose: Cohort 1 execution (Jan–Apr 2027)
Phase 3 & Beyond
Sustainable Support
If Frontier sees fruit from the DTS initiative, future salary subsidization from the church becomes a natural next step — recognizing the DTS as core infrastructure.
Dependent on Cohort 1 evaluation
Potential salary subsidization from Frontier
Scalable for future cohorts
Long-term: DTS as fully funded church ministry

Strategic Leadership Time

Abraham's capacity concentrated toward designing, building, and executing the DTS — not distributed across youth, young adults, and consulting.

Consulting Reprioritized

External consulting deprioritized as support funding comes in — creating focused, uninterrupted bandwidth to build a formation program with excellence.

Youth Ministry Transfer

Day-to-day weight transfers to Boyoon — freeing Abraham for the DTS while ensuring youth are well-led and spiritually cared for.

Shared DNA
A community formed by shared language, convictions, and values — reproduced across every new generation at Frontier.
Leadership Depth
A deeper roster of prepared, faithful leaders ready to step into Community Groups, ministry teams, and beyond.
Ministry Fruitfulness
Increased fruitfulness as graduates launch expressions and serve as faithful ambassadors in Pasadena and beyond.
Scalable Model
A repeatable formation engine that grows with Frontier and can multiply for future seasons and campuses.

"This Discipleship Training School is not a program, but a formation engine. It ensures that as Frontier expands, our leadership and spiritual bench grows deeper without growing thinner — remaining faithful to who God has called us to be while equipping people to lead boldly and serve faithfully."

FRØNTIER DTS Proposal · January 2026