Go Deeper
Explore is a 1-year program for Canadian youth ages 18-20 years old to go deeper in their faith and explore ministry...
Without leaving their church community and while earning college credits.
2027 Applications Open!
Talk with Northwest
You Don’t Need to Leave Your Context to Go Deeper.
Graduating high school is an exciting time! New schools, new people, and new opportunities to grow.
But your youth don’t need to leave their context to have a deep and transformational experience outside of high school.
Imagine This
What If Your Youth Could...
- Explore taking on adult responsibilities while growing deeper in their faith? Growing up doesn’t have to mean growing out of their faith.
- Open up new opportunities without leaving their church community? As your youth leave high school, they’re likely open to trying new things. What if they can do so without having to leave their community?
- Learn and serve in the context where they’re already loved? Your youth have experienced a healthy, Christ-centered environment to learn and grow. And that doesn’t have to go away with going to college or exploring adulthood.
What If You as a Leader Could...
- Continue mentoring your youth: your mentorship doesn’t have to end when they grow out of youth group. You can continue accompanying your youth during the most formative years of their life.
- Partner with a school as invested in your youth as you are: you don’t have to spread yourself too thin. Northwest and your church can work out the next step for your youth, together.
- Provide a safe space for youth to explore their faith, in their context: you can offer a sense of direction for your older youth and prepare them as a formed adult walking with Christ.
What is the Explore Program?
The Explore Program is an accredited 1-year program that provides space for your youth to go deeper in their faith, explore ministry, and work toward the Certificate in Christian Foundations...
All without needing to leave their friends and church community.
From a Pastor’s Perspective
“This program is built and functions as the deepest and most practical way we can help students explore their gifting, calling, and where God is leading them in their early stages of adulthood”
“I really do believe that this way of training and education can not only develop pastors and ministry workers, but leaders across a variety of spaces who will serve and impact the Kingdom of God with a deep love and commitment to the local church and the Spirit’s work amongst the Body of Christ!”
—DAN STEENSON,
Pastor
- Starts On
- Aug 31, 2027
- Program Length
- 1 Year (30 credit hours)
- Program Type
- Outcome-based See outcomes
- Tuition
-
$8,450
*$100 application fee
*$200 graduation fee
For Youth Workers
Grow as a ministry mentor and pave a deeper formation pathway for your youth.
For Youth
Go deeper in your faith and explore a life of adventure with Christ.
Program Outcomes*
*The outlined outcomes are samples only. Outcomes are created collaboratively with the Youth Worker and Ministry Leaders.
- Be Prepared
- Know the Gospel
- Know God
- Study the Bible
- Be Discipled
- Be in Community
- Be Relational
- Consistently Worship God
- Know Your Context
- Know Who You Are
A Safe Space to Explore
-
Finish Your First Year of College
Get a full first-year of college credits to complete a bachelor’s degree at Northwest or transfer elsewhere!
-
Journey With Mentors
A year of mentorship under Northwest and your youth’s church community.
-
Learn Where You’re Known
Enroll in a program dedicated to whole-person formation rather than arbitrary grades.
-
Explore With God
Focused time baked into the program discovering how God has wired your youth for ministry wherever they go.
Student Testimonial
“I joined the program because I was juggling the idea of what I wanted to do next.”
I wasn’t sure if God was calling me to ministry or not, but either way, I knew that being here would be a good step towards getting training and exploring that call on my life.
—JORDAN M.
Student
Who is This For?
- High school graduates ages 18-20 years old
- Youth who belong to a church
- Graduated youth who want to explore their faith
Who is This NOT For?
- Youth who haven’t graduated high school or have graduated high school and are 21 years or older
- Youth who currently don’t belong to a church
- Youth who don’t feel interested in exploring their faith
Your Youth Has Three Options
Other College Programs
- Can feel overwhelming
- Might have some peer mentors available
- Might not reflect the faith foundations you’ve built through youth group
Typical Gap Year
- Can feel unstructured
- Can feel overwhelming with too many options
- Might feel stuck and isolated which might prevent them from growing in their faith
- A fun learning experience where they can earn college credits
- Current youth workers can be their mentor to continue growing in their faith
- Stay in their church community
Get in Touch
Have a Young Person in Mind?
Tell us a bit about your church and what you’re exploring. Someone from our team will be happy to get in touch with you personally.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for this program?
Explore is designed for Canadian youth ages 18-20 years old. Students must have graduated high school by the time they enter the program and belong to a church.
Do my youth have to live near campus?
Explore is remote-first, with course material delivered online, which means your youth can stay near your church community! Aside from two in-person retreats, your youth doesn’t have to leave the place they call home.
Is the college credit transferable to any other institution?
Please fill out the form so we can help you and/or your youth explore course transferability.
What if my youth isn’t sure they want to go into ministry?
Then Explore might be a great fit! Through the program, students grow deeper in their faith and they get to see ministry life lived through mentors like their youth leader or pastor.
Can I as a youth worker be involved with my youth if they enroll?
Absolutely! Please include this in your message to us.
What if I have more questions?
We welcome questions. Please send us a message and someone will be happy to help.
