Practical Missions Cohort

The Missions Academia

In the School of Christ, At God's Service

Thanks to the generosity of our ministry partners who give to PMc, Members Access is now available to all. If you find this content encouraging, we humbly ask that you prayerfully consider making a financial contribution to support the church-planting ministry in Italy.

Courses Currently Available

Foundations
Doctrines of Grace
Biblical Missions

Courses in Development

Equipped for the Mission
Evangelism
Roman Catholicism
Discipleship
Winning Souls with Spurgeon
Apostolic Church Planting
Preaching
Apologetics

About the Missions Academia

The Missions Academia equips missionaries with pre-field and ongoing training. It is a unique form of missionary discipleship but also serves any Christian who desires to grow in grace and become more useful to the Lord.

PMc Academia

: A means for training in the specialized skill and service known as Missionary Church Planting

: An on-the-go training model, conducted in the ‘piazza’ rather than in the classroom

Jesus didn’t teach in a traditional classroom. Instead, He taught personally while doing the Father’s work. His classroom was the mission field, and His lectures were given as He evangelized and discipled others. His apostles walked with Him, ate with Him, traveled with Him, and learned by doing.

At PMc, we follow this same hands-on approach, teaching through the practical work of planting Biblical churches. This includes evangelism, discipleship, and elder training.

What is the Idea Behind the Academia?

Many bright and talented American Christians who study “missions” are often given a perspective rooted in Third World missions. While this perspective is important, the time has come for new missionaries to also receive a solid education in missions within First World countries. Today, Europe is considered the darkest continent.

When it comes to missions, nothing compares to on-field training. In a very real sense, when a missionary arrives on the field, they must set aside much of what they previously learned and enter the ‘school of Christ’ to rediscover what it truly means to be a Christian. New missionaries quickly realize that much of their understanding of Christianity has been shaped by their culture—it is, in fact, American Christianity. Some of it may align well with Biblical truth, while other parts may not be Christian at all. Only in the ‘school of Christ’ can missionaries fully embrace their calling and bear fruit for God’s Kingdom in another land among a different people.

All Christ-followers are enrolled in the ‘school of Christ,’ but the PMc Academia exists to help missionaries grow in their knowledge of God and their personal calling. It equips them to thrive in God’s mission, particularly in spiritually dark places like Italy.

The best theological and missionary education, in our view, combines hands-on ministry with rigorous study—blending learning with real-life experience and service in missionary church planting. Italy presents unique challenges, as does the broader work of church planting in a mission field context. Each of God’s laborers is uniquely gifted, and they have specific needs to grow according to their calling. The PMc Academia allows us to address these individual needs, helping new missionaries not only survive in the so-called ‘missionary graveyard’ of Italy but flourish in their calling, whether with us or wherever God may later lead them.

Far too often, new missionaries are left without solid guidance or are used to advance personal agendas. This is a tragic loss because every person God sends to the mission field has something valuable to offer. At the same time, new missionaries need time to adapt, learn from more experienced workers, and develop the necessary skills—starting with language acquisition. They must slow down, adopt a humble and teachable spirit, and allow God to shape them through the challenges of the mission field.

When a new missionary joins PMc, they also enter the PMc Academia. Regardless of their prior knowledge or experience, they join others in the ‘school of Christ at His service.’ Together, they grow, sharpen one another, and become stronger, bearing fruit that lasts—all for God’s glory.

For Whom is the Academia Designed?

All missionaries participating with PMc in Italy are part of the PMc Academia to some extent:

PMc Short-Termers (10–15 days): Short-term missionaries are immersed in the ‘school of Christ’ while actively evangelizing. They also engage in daily Bible devotionals led by long-term PMc Missionary Church Planters.
PMc Missionary Interns (1–3 months): Interns participate in weekly one-on-one discipleship and group gatherings with Missionary Church Planters and Cohort Leaders, fostering deeper growth during their stay.
Long-Term Missionaries: Missionaries on the Church Plant Cohort engage in regular one-on-one discipleship with their Cohort Leader and attend group gatherings alongside their cohort. They also collaborate with short-termers and interns during overlapping periods.
Aspiring Missionaries: Those preparing for a missionary career can join preparatory courses through The Italian Cohort. These courses are designed to equip individuals with foundational knowledge, practical skills in evangelism, and cultural understanding of Italy. Aspiring missionaries benefit from mentorship by experienced church planters and can participate in short-term missionary activities to gain real-world experience before committing to longer terms.

How Does the Academia Work?

The PMc Academia operates through regular discipleship meetings—both one-on-one and in group settings within the cohort. Based on the needs identified, participants are given a reading list from the PMc recommended resources.

Short-Term Missionaries: Receive coaching and missionary counsel before and during their trip.
Interns: Follow a customized reading list appropriate for their 1–3-month term.
Long-Term Missionaries: Those seeking to become recognized PMc church planters or cohort leaders follow a specialized and highly focused reading list tailored to their unique role.

For each assigned reading, the missionary disciple takes notes on:

Key takeaways from each chapter
Concepts that were challenging to understand
Personal reflections and applications
Relevance to their life and the current mission context

These insights are then shared during discipleship sessions, fostering deeper discussion and practical application.

In addition to reading assignments, long-term missionaries may follow a personalized training path, including supplementary courses that align with their specific calling and goals.

Examples of Training Resources

Simeon Trust
Institute for Church Leadership
Bahnsen U
Ligonier Connect
School of Biblical Evangelism
Apologia Academy
Answers Education (AIG)

Where is the Academia Located?

The PMc Academia is based on the mission field in Italy. Participants can complete their assigned readings either during scheduled times throughout the week or at their own pace. Meetings take place in various settings:

In Homes: Providing a private, focused environment for discipleship.

Public Spaces: Such as Italian piazzas or coffee bars, allowing participants to learn and grow while engaging with the local community through evangelism.

Online: We offer courses through The Italian Cohort, which include video teachings, comprehension quizzes, and supplemental articles.

Our approach mirrors that of Jesus' teaching. At times, we retreat to quiet places for reflection and instruction, while at other times, we teach amidst active outreach—bringing lessons to life on the go.

What is the Desired Outcome?

The desired outcome for the missionaries participating in the PMc Academia is to receive necessary and valuable guidance for all areas of life and in ministry while living and serving on the mission field. They will come to know their role within the missionary cohort and fulfill it joyfully. Through their time spent in the Academia, missionaries will grow in God's grace and in the knowledge of God and His will, both on a personal level and as part of a group. This growth will include a better understanding of themselves, including their strengths, weaknesses, callings, and gifts. Additionally, they will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges of missions, particularly in the context of postmodern Italy. Ultimately, the goal is to better equip the missionaries to bear fruit that lasts for the Kingdom and to fight the good fight of the faith.

Lord willing, all the missionaries who participate in the PMc Academia will feel truly a part of God's work in Italy. As a result, we pray some will continue to serve the Lord in Italy either with PMc or any partner ministries with which PMc is associated. For those who do not feel called to continue serving Jesus in Italy, we pray they will never see Italy the same again and that their love for God increases, and that they will always be personally involved in Jesus' worldwide mission - the great commission.

Online Courses Available

Here are our already available courses. As a small but growing ministry, we are rapidly producing courses as soon as we can, and they are already available. If you would like to join our team and you have experience with video editing or podcast producing, reach out and let us know. Alternatively, you can check out the PMc Job Opportunity: Podcast Producer to learn more about the position and apply.