Advanced Certification of Local Church Ministry

What the Advanced Certification of Local Church Ministry includes

• Certification
• 8 specifically designed courses
• 54.5 hours on-demand teaching videos
• 214 lessons
• Full lifetime access
• Access on computer, mobile devices and TV
• All learning resources, handouts and E-library at no extra cost
• Personalised Certificate of Graduation

Who is the Advanced Certification of Local Church Ministry for

• The Advanced Certification of Local Church Ministry is the perfect qualification for those looking to enter into local church ministry full-time. 
• It is also ideal for those who seek to lead a ministry team such as associate pastor, youth pastor, children’s pastor or worship pastor.
• It also provides a great foundation for key ministry roles, for those primarily using their highly developed administrative, ministry, pastoral and creative gifts.

What you’ll learn

• Formation of Self
  • How to reflect on past personal experience and present core principles, in order to devise a health and wholeness plan for Christian living and continuing personal formation.
• Jesus. Kingdom. Gospel.
  • How to understand the life and ministry of Jesus as described by the four gospel narratives.
• God’s Call Your Response
  • How to move towards what God is calling you to do and become the person God is calling you to be.
• Authentic Leadership
  • How to become an authentic leader, who recruits and develops a highly motivated team in pursuit of kingdom objectives whilst always making time for spiritual reflection.
• Theology: Ministry in the Spirit
  • How to discern insights, revelation and promptings given by the Holy Spirit and when they are for private edification or the edification of others. You will grow in the expressions of gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit and when to act on promptings of the Holy Spirit in accordance with biblical guidelines.
• Emotional Intelligence & Productive Teams
  • How to integrate concepts of self, and the principles and skills required to work effectively with people in a workplace or ministry context.
• Pastoral Care: Certified
  • How to care for people pastorally, and be equipped with tools and teaching within good pastoral care systems.
• Sermon Design & Delivery
  • How to develop and deliver engaging sermons that build audience rapport in a contemporary ministry setting. You will develop clear and coherent sermon outlines ensuring biblical accuracy with your authentic style.

Axx Requirements

• Students should have completed the Certification of Local Church Ministry
  • If you have relevant ministry experience or previous training then you can commence this qualification immediately.
  • If you would like to course advice on this qualification please contact us on [email protected] or book a phone call
• This qualification requires a desire to learn about full-time ministry and how to prepare for it.
• Students should have an introductory understanding of the concepts of the Bible, theology, spiritual formation and pastoral ministry.
• A love of God and people.
• A love of the local church.
• Learners are welcome to commence this qualification at any time.
• A computer, tablet or smartphone is required.
• No additional software is required.
• Internet connection is required.
• Lessons are presented in English.

Advanced Certification of Local Church Ministry Courses

Formation of Self: Certified

This course is designed to equip students with the skills & knowledge to critically reflect on past personal experience and present core principles, in order to devise a health and wholeness plan for Christian living and continuing personal formation

Curriculum Covered

1. Course Description
2. Formations of Self – Course Introduction
3. A Transformational Approach to Life
4. Two Processes: Self Discovery & God Discovery
5. Spiritual Disciplines – Personal & Corporate
6. Spiritual Disciplines – Practicalities
7. 7Retrospective Reflections
8. Retrospective Analysis
9. Power of Retrospective Reflection & Analysis – Personal testimony of Grant Buchanan (Part 1)
10. Introduction to Identity
11. Building a Healthy Self
12. Your Personal Identity
13. Moment of Distinction & Impact on Identity
14. Values
15. Christian Values
16. Personal Values
17. Events that have impacted my spirituality – Personal testimony of Grant Buchanan (Part 2)
18. A Personal Mission Statement
19. Examples of Mission Statements
20. Moment of Distinction & Impact – Testimony of Adrian Dennian
21. Your Health & Wholeness
22. Health & Wholeness Practice
23. Dealing with Disappointment
24. Dealing with Failure
25. Finding Strength in Disappointment – Interview with Tex Houston regarding chronic pain
26. A Defining Moment Signified by Pain or Joy – Testimony of Bianca Cumin-Groza
27. It Is NOT About You (Revision)

About your instructor

Amelia Pickering

Amelia has had a diverse career thus far, one dedicated to working towards building a better world and empowering others to do the same. Over the past 25 years, her passion for leadership, academia and social justice has led her to pioneer an adult literacy and numeracy school for the disadvantaged, assume the role of university VP and run a social enterprise focused on increasing EQ within corporations and NFPs. This, along with her interest and acumen for social impact and investment strategy, has afforded her the opportunity to work with various NPFs in creating holistic frameworks for change and mobilise capital for impact.

God’s Call Your Response: Certified

This course is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to investigate and integrate biblical principles of the call of God for ministry into a personal ministry development strategy.

Curriculum Covered

1. Course Description
2. Introduction to the Course
3. What is a Call?
4. Defining Ministry
5. Understanding Mission
6. General & Specific Call
7. Obedience
8. Unique Aspects of Ministry (Interview)
9. Reclaiming the Discipleship Call
10. Allowing Scripture to Define & Direct
11. Historical Look at Ministry
12. Church-Based Ministry
13. Marketplace Ministry
14. Community-Based Ministry
15. Platforms for the Call
16. OT Example: Nehemiah
17. NT Example: Peter
18. Unusual Callings
19. The Ministry Zone (Part 1)
20. The Ministry Zone (Part 2)
21. The Ministry Zone (Part 3)
22. The Ministry Zone (Part 4)
23. Hearing the Voice of God
24. Recognising the Voice of God
25. How to Hear the Voice of God
26. Processing Moments of Call
27. Gifts & Calling
28. Involving & Aligning
29. A Kingdom Perspective
30. Called to Go

About your instructor

Dr Brendan Roach

Founder and CEO of Axx

Dr Brendan Roach has been involved in professional development and training of pastors and leaders globally for over 25 years. His Biblical expertise is Biblical Archaeology, Leadership Development, First Century History and the Call to Ministry.

Regan Perry

Regan firmly believes that you never stop learning and enjoys creating pathways for others to discover their full potential. He has lead & served on church staff, coordinating teams & interns, and overseen ministry programs and campus facilities.

Jesus. Kingdom. Gospel: Certified

This course gives an overview of the life and ministry of Jesus as described by four gospel narratives. The aim of the course is to bring an understanding of the cultural and historical environment of the day within its literary setting.

Curriculum Covered

1. Course Description
2. Introduction to Course
3. Concept of Audience
4. Context of the Internal Narrative Audience (1)
5. Context of the Internal Narrative Audience (2)
6. Context of the Internal Narrative Audience (3)
7. Interpretation
8. What are the Gospels?
9. Why Four Different Accounts?
10. Structure of Gospel Accounts (1)
11. Structure of Gospel Accounts (2)
12. Structure of Gospel Accounts (3)
13. Structure of Gospel Accounts (4)
14. What is the Gospel? (1)
15. What is the Gospel? (2)
16. History of the Birth of Jesus
17. The Passion Week
18. Jesus & the Fulfilment of the Old Testament (1)
19. Jesus & the Fulfilment of the Old Testament (2)
20. Jesus & the Fulfilment of the Old Testament (3)
21. Jesus is the Breather of Life
22. Putting it all Together
23. What does the Kingdom look like? (Mark)
24. Abstracting Principles
25. Application
26. What Does the Kingdom Look Like? (Matthew & Luke)
27. What Does the Kingdom Look Like? (John)
28. Jesus Kingdom Gospel Today?
29. Jesus’ Commissioning

About your instructor

Matthew Jarlett

Following the completion of his Bachelor of Arts (Biblical Studies), Matthew assumed Vocational Education Course Supervisor role with Harvest Bible College.

Theology – Ministry in the Spirit: Certified

The lessons in this series are presented by a number of experienced ministry leaders, with the emphasis on the Holy Spirit – who He is and what He loves to do, the Spirit’s work with and through believers, and Holy Spirit empowered outreach.

Curriculum Covered

1. Course Description
2. Introduction to Course
3. The Spirit the Life-Giver
4. The Person of the Holy Spirit
5. Holy Spirit Baptism
6. Relating to the Holy Spirit
7. The Work of the Spirit
8. Community of the Spirit
9. The Gifts of the Spirit
10. Experiences of the Holy Spirit at Work
11. The Fruit of the Spirit (1)
12. The Fruit of the Spirit (2)
13. Jesus & Ministry of the Holy Spirit
14. What Does Ministry in the Spirit Look Like?
15. When Prayer Doesn’t Work
16. Evangelism in the Gospel: Jesus
17. Evangelism with Paul & the Apostles
18. The Breath of the Gospel
19. Different Approaches to Evangelism
20. Sharing Your Testimony
21. The Missional Discussion
22. Talking to Non-Christians
23. Spirit Led Ministry
24. Discipleship & Follow Up
25. Following People Up
26. Developing an Understanding of the History of the Holy Spirit

About your instructors

Tex Houston

Tex (Gary) became a successful pub musician in 1980’s, from there began working with large church & community organisations in media and music production. He has travelled to many places in the world, usually with a video camera and tripod, either doing documentaries on Australians working in other lands, or filming his own works on Anzac history in the First World War. In addition to being an avid steam engine enthusiast with YouTube channel ‘symphony of steam’, Tex is an authority on Christian worship.

Matthew Jarlett

Following the completion of his Bachelor of Arts (Biblical Studies), Matthew assumed Vocational Education Course Supervisor role with Harvest Bible College.

Authentic Leadership: Certified

This course is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to lead others effectively in a manner that is shaped by a Christian understanding of leadership.

Curriculum Covered

1. Course Description
2. Introduction to Authentic Leadership
3. Introduction to Leadership
4. Christian Leadership
5. Mission & Vision
6. Values
7. Organisational Behaviour
8. Preparing a Vision Document
9. Motivation & Inspiring Others
10. Credibility & Earning Trust
11. Communication & Obtaining Favour
12. Recruitment
13. Building a Team
14. Evaluation of Performance
15. Morale
16. Making Decisions
17. Leading Change
18. Dealing with Conflict
19. Dealing with Criticism
20. The Leader’s Character
21. Inner Challenges of a Leader
22. Flexible Leadership
23. Critical Thinking & Learning from Experience
24. Critical Thinking & Evaluating Yourself
25. Sustainable Leadership

About your instructor

Pastor Andrew Groza

Andrew is an experienced Pastor with a demonstrated history of working in the e-learning industry. Skilled in non-profit organizations, E-Learning, coaching, organizational development, and instructional design. Andrew holds a Master of Arts in Ministry from Harvest Bible College.

Emotional Intelligence & Productive Teams: Certified

This course is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to integrate concepts of self, and the principles and skills required to work effectively with people in a workplace or ministry context.

Curriculum Covered

1. Introduction to Course 
2. Theory of Emotional Intelligence 
3. Application of Emotional Intelligence 
4. Biblical & Theological Foundations of E.I. 
5. Biblical & Theological Foundations of Teams 
6. Understanding Yourself & Understanding Others 
7. Temperaments & DISC 
8. DISC & Temperaments – Weaknesses 
9. DISC & Temperaments – Strengths 
10. Dysfunction & what it looks like 
11. Maintaining Relational Health 
12. You as the Team Player 
13. Introduction to Productive Teams 
14. Qualities for an Effective Team 
15. Values & Care within a Team 
16. Unity & Goals within a Team 
17. Communication & Teams 
18. Collaboration 
19. Chemistry 
20. Celebrations 
21. Why Teams Fail 
22. When things go wrong 
23. Review of Course 
24. Driving Forward 

About your instructor

Pastor Andrew Groza

Andrew is an experienced Pastor with a demonstrated history of working in the e-learning industry. Skilled in non-profit organizations, E-Learning, coaching, organizational development, and instructional design. Andrew holds a Master of Arts in Ministry from Harvest Bible College.

Pastoral Care: Certified

This course will equip individuals to care for people pastorally, providing them with tools and teaching them to work within good pastoral care systems.

Curriculum Covered

1. What is Pastoral Care?  
2. Biblical & Historical Perspectives  
3. The Gift & the Role  
4. Discipleship vs Pastoral Care  
5. Pastoral Care in the Church  
6. Pastoral Care in the Community  
7. Pastoral Care Skills  
8. Systems  
9. Legislation  
10.  Confidentiality  
11.  Records  
12.  Referrals  
13.  Team-based Pastoral Care  
14.  Understanding Others – Uniquely Created  
15.  Understanding Others -Worldview  
16.  Strengths Finder  
17.  Spiritual Gifts  
18.  Self-Care  
19.  Boundaries  
20.  Relationship Health  
21.  Communication  
22.  Conflict  
23.  Solutions Focused  
24.  Social Media  
25.  Crisis Care  
26.  Practical PC Meetings  
27.  Millennials  

Curriculum Covered

Regan Perry

Regan firmly believes that you never stop learning and enjoys creating pathways for others to discover their full potential. He has lead & served on church staff, coordinating teams & interns, and overseen ministry programs and campus facilities.

Sermon Delivery and Design: Certified

This course is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to understand the basics of communication theory and to use those, along with solid biblical exegesis to develop and deliver a sermon within a ministry context.

Curriculum Covered

1. Course Description
2. Introduction to Preaching
3. What is Preaching?
4. Preaching Foundations
5. Understanding the Text: Exegesis
6. Hermeneutics: Understanding the World
7. Ethics of Communication
8. Types of Sermons
9. Story, Illustration & Metaphor
10. Preparation
11. Structure & Flow
12. ‘Grabbing People by the Ears’
13. Sermon Application
14. Sermon Conclusion
15. From Design to Delivery
16. Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication
17. Taking Your Audience Seriously
18. Establishing Rapport
19. Sermon Notes
20. Story & Imagination
21. Using Our Voice Well
22. Body Language
23. Audience Engagement
24. Creative Presentations
25. Personality & Style
26. Dealing with Anxiety
27. Sermon Evaluation
28. Wisdom from our Mistakes
29. Difficult Topics
30. Preaching & the Future

About your instructor

Pastor Andrew Groza

Andrew is an experienced Pastor with a demonstrated history of working in the e-learning industry. Skilled in non-profit organizations, E-Learning, coaching, organizational development, and instructional design. Andrew holds a Master of Arts in Ministry from Harvest Bible College.