Men's Development Program

Men's Development Program

The Men's Development Program is a church-based higher-education program built to train men for biblically qualified leadership in the home, church, city and world.
The program offers the education, experience and accountability necessary to transform students into biblically qualified leaders.

About the Program

The program consists of one or more years of training for men who aspire to lead their family and to lead God's church in God's mission to redeem and restore creation. Training includes intense theological study, cohort-style development, regular coaching, experiential learning and content-specific teaching. Students will sit under the teaching of Austin Stone pastors and visiting church leaders from across the nation in weekly classroom training, all-day seminars and retreats. Outside the classroom students will gather to process course material, share ministry experience and sharpen one another in their coach-led learning cohorts.

What past participants have to say:

This program has greatly pushed me to love God more with my mind and set more disciplines in my life to at all times be learning more about God through His Word – far beyond when this program ends.

Brad Dunn, MDP Class of 2011

To begin the Men's Development Program we were told, “If we are to be men of God, we must be men of the Word.” From my time in the program, the living and active Word of God has forever taught me to treasure the perfections, promises and purposes of our God, who is and always will be exactly who he says he is.

Brendan Bell, MDP Class of 2011

This is a program built by practitioners for practitioners to entrust the future of the church to “faithful men who will be able to teach others also” and I couldn't recommend it more highly.

Scott Frazier, MDP Class of 2011

Through the program I have developed a heart to want to love like Christ, and not based on my own personal gain. God has given me a passion for wanting to know the depths of Him. I now feel like I'm headed in the right direction to being equipped to help others see how supremely valuable He really is.

Bobby Kailing, MDP Class of 2011

Anyone desiring to look more like Jesus would be remiss not to look into the program. It will be one of the hardest things you'll ever do, but the spiritual fruit that God will grow in you far outweighs the sacrifice.

Brandon Crosby, MDP Class of 2011

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

The Austin Stone Institute (ASI ) is excited to announce that in partnership with the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Southern) in Louisville, Kentucky, ASI can now offer graduate-level hours for training in our program.

So for those trying to decide between enrolling in seminary or interning with a church, we are proud to announce that through the Austin Stone Institute, you have the opportunity to do both at the same time.

There are currently two ways to obtain seminary credit through the Austin Stone Institute:

Intern and Resident Program:

Through ASI’s Intern and Resident Program, students may obtain up to 18 hours of credit from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Students must enroll at Southern to obtain these credits.

Men’s and Women’s Development Programs:

By participating in ASI’s Men’s Development Program and Women’s Development Program, students may obtain up to 18 hours of graduate-level credit over the course of the year. These credit hours are not hours received from Southern, but Southern has preapproved a transfer of these hours into their degree programs.

For more information about obtaining seminary credit for your time with Austin Stone Institute, please visit our FAQ page.