FORMATION PROGRAMME

At St Paul’s Theological College (SPTC), students can grow in both knowledge and practice. Our Formation Programme is a separate track that complements academic theology by focusing on practical ministry, personal growth, and spiritual formation. Taken together, these two tracks offer a well-rounded, deeply enriching experience that equips students to lead with wisdom, character, and confidence. The programme runs alongside our academic theology programmes on Thursday afternoons. It’s specifically designed for those exploring ordination or active ministry, offering practical, spiritual, and personal formation.

Through the Formation programme, SPTC students can combine their theological studies with robust, practical training and workshops on all aspects of ministry and leadership, along with small group mentoring and supervision. Each student also serves in their local church, either full-time or in a volunteer role, grounding their development in real-world ministry contexts.

Alongside our degree programme, this provides a recognised form of preparation for lay and ordained leadership in a number of church denominations. But it is designed with everyone in mind, providing a way for all students to grow in the skills of preaching, pastoral care, leading teams, sharing faith, facilitating groups and doing ministry. Whether you are pursuing ordination or exploring how to serve more meaningfully in your context, Formation is for you!

WHAT MAKES FORMATION DISTINCT?

While the theology programmes focus on academic and biblical studies, the Formation Programme focuses on developing the person, not just the mind: equipping students with the habits, character development, and competencies needed for lifelong ministry and leadership.

Teaching and support in the Formation Programme is led by experienced practitioners from HTBB, the wider Alpha Asia Pacific Hub staff, and other ministry contexts. Alongside the courses, SPTC provides one-to-one and group support to each student, and we work with placement churches to facilitate ministry opportunities and review learning, to ensure practical learning is supported, reviewed, and contextualised.

THE FIVE C’S

The formation programme helps students to grow in five overlapping areas, laying foundations for a lifetime of ministry:

Calling

Growing in the sense of who God has made us to be, what he has called us to do, and the transformative relationship with God sustains both.

Focus Areas: Hearing God’s Voice, Humility, Identity, Presence, Purpose.

Character

Growing in love, holiness, self-awareness and integrity in the likeness of Christ.

Focus Areas: Trust, Strength, Courage, Honesty, Integrity, Commitment, Resilience, Moral Courage, Character Awareness, Humility, Being at Peace with One's Self, Biblical Exegesis and Character Study.

Competence

Growing in skills and competencies necessary for effective service and leadership.

Focus Areas: Decision Making, Constructive Feedback, Delegation, Management of Others, Managing Expectations, Ability to Influence, Ability to Present Confidently, Conflict Resolution, Forming Vision, Turning Vision into Action, Communication.

Charismata

Growing in our giftings, and in a sensitive and fruitful exercise of our gifts ministry in the Spirit, for the building up of the church.

Focus Areas: Spiritual Intelligence, Walking in the Power of God, Personal Discipline, Gifts of the Spirit, Biblical Overview, Ministry, Prophecy.

Chemistry

Growing in relational, emotional and cultural intelligence, and in the skills necessary to lead with empathy and effectiveness.

Focus Areas: Relational and Emotional Intelligence, Understanding Others, Empathy, Soft Skills, Increasing Your Leadership Impact.

Example Formation Sessions: