Formation

EXPERIENCE COMMUNITY. EXPERIENCE FORMATION. EXPERIENCE ASBURY.

Discipleship Groups

Covenant Groups. During the Fall 2024 term, both the Global Formation Team and the Community Formation Team are partnering with the E. Stanley Jones School of Mission and Ministry. We will be collaborating with Dr. Brad Johnson, who will be teaching a section of CD501 Vocation of Ministry (VOM). As part of the VOM course assignments, students are required to participate in “Covenant Discipleship Groups.” Through our partnership with Dr. Johnson this Fall, we hope to develop a pipeline for students who wish to continue participating in the covenant group format beyond the requirements of their course. If this collaboration proves to be fruitful, our goal is to expand our strategy to all sections of VOM in the Spring 2025 term.

Discipleship Bands. A discipleship band is a group of 3 to 6 men or 3 to 6 women. Many of the earliest Methodists participated in band meetings in addition to the required class meetings. The structure of bands allowed members to provide additional accountability and care for one another. The seminary’s current format for bands closely resembles Seedbed’s discipleship banding structure. Please note that we do not automatically assign students to bands. Participation at this time is purely voluntary. Also note that we no longer refer to our discipleship bands as “DNA groups.”

Next Steps. If you would like to join or start a group or if you are simply interested in learning more, please follow the instructions below:

Pastoral Care

The pastoral care team is available as needed and serves in a variety of capacities. These include making referrals to appropriate resources for counseling and professional coaching when requested, offering pastoral care and prayer, and supporting and caring for you throughout your time at Asbury. If you would like to request pastoral care or submit a prayer request, please follow the instructions below:

Community Formation

The Office of Community Formation, located on the Wilmore, KY, campus, offers a variety of community events to help you thrive as you grow in relationship with God and others. Through men’s and women’s events, marriage enrichment opportunities, children and youth activities, the community garden, and spiritual care offerings, you’re invited into an experience that fosters intentional spiritual growth within community. We look forward to welcoming you as you enter into this time of spiritual formation and academic study at Asbury Theological Seminary.

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Global Formation

Whether you take online courses or hybrid courses at any of our extension sites or at our main campus, the Office of Global Formation is here to serve all of our non-residential students. Our core belief is that formation is a lifelong journey, and we are glad to be on that journey with you as you answer God’s call. As a Global Student, you will have opportunities to worship in community at our extension sites, join a discipleship group, engage in a variety of fellowship opportunities, and receive pastoral care and prayer. As we partner in this journey together, we ask that God would richly bless you, as you continue the process of deep, abiding formation that will last a lifetime.

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Chapel

We desire for our worship to be an encounter with the living God through the risen Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. Worship is the heartbeat of our Asbury Seminary community. We gather together as one body across our various Asbury communities to worship one Lord in one spirit. A variety of preachers, teachers, and leaders from around the world add to the richness of our worship experiences.

Wilmore campus Chapel services are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 11am in Estes Chapel. Daily Eucharist services are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at noon.

Not on campus? You can still experience Asbury Seminary’s chapel services through our online live streaming.  Previous chapel services online here or on Spotify.

Live Stream Chapel Archive

Meet the Team

The Office of Formation at Asbury Seminary is led by Vice President Rev. J. Matthew Barnes, Ph.D. and consists of the Asbury Seminary Chapel office, Community Formation (Kentucky Campus), and Asbury Global Formation (Global Sites). Our desire in Formation is that each one of us is formed inwardly by the Holy Spirit for a life of service outwardly throughout the world.

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Career and Calling

The Career and Calling Center helps Asbury Seminary students clarify, prepare for, and find placement in their vocation by providing career coaching, mentor connection, and assistance in searching for internship and employment opportunities. Please click the link below to learn more about these and other services designed to help students thrive in their calling.

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