We think of our regions in four phases: Exploring Regions, Emerging Regions, Maturing Regions, and Multiplying Regions. Integral to the development of each region is the establishment of Mature Training Churches (MTCs). These hub churches are identified as having a long-history of developing leaders. The MTC is crucial to the Neopolis approach.

But long before a church becomes an MTC, it’s already passing the torch to future leaders. Twenty-seven years ago, when Holy Trinity Church Chicago was yet to launch, a high school senior started meeting with the core group that would become Holy Trinity. The pastors invited him to train: at men’s gatherings, at small group leader trainings, entrusting responsibilities to him. As the church launched, he co-led a small group, he led in public prayer, he helped coordinate the university ministry. He eventually served as an intern. Four years later, the church sent him out to serve as a resident at another church. That young man - who sometimes overslept meetings, who botched leading prayer in the service, who wrote his small group notes on his hand - went on to help revitalize a church in Texas and a church in Ontario.

Fastforward 26 years. Holy Trinity Church is now a Mature Training Church. And that intern, James Seward, is now the Director of Ministry for Neopolis (as of August 2023). A church doesn’t become an MTC overnight. But it can start passing the torch overnight - and so often, long roots cultivated over time prove the most fruitful.