Through far-sighted vision and a generous grant by the Mid America District of the Christian & Missionary Alliance, the KC SENTRAL House became a reality in the summer of 2010. District Superintendent, Rodger Peck, launched the initiative by inviting Lance and Sherri Ford to relocate from the St. Louis area to Kansas City in order to bring the vision to reality.

SENTRAL House is a beautifully restored home in the historically picturesque Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City. Built in 1920, it is within walking distance of nearby college campuses, restaurants, and shops. We believe that true training happens all the time; not just in the classroom. A vital component of our training centers on the opportunity to live in a vibrant missional community while rubbing shoulders with staff, peers, and leaders who will encourage and assist you in your development.

Incarnational- i.e. move into the neighborhood

SENTRAL House is a base camp in the heart of the university area and its immediate community. This will be in the form of a residency apprenticeship, based in a large house that has been purchased by the Mid America District, with suitable living space for approximately 12-15 students. This historic home has positioned us to train students and couples while developing ministries utilizing skills in art, medical, education, and justice, while living in rich and constant Christian community.

Start with disciple making and move toward “church”

Jesus could not have made it any plainer: “(You) Go, make disciples...I will build my church...” We are not called to build churches. We are commissioned to make disciples and as we do so Jesus will make those disciples into a church.

9 Month Training Circuit: runs September-May each year

Training in: Spiritual Formation, Community Transformation, Missional Living, and Leadership Development

Training Highlights

Bi-Weekly Class

2 hour mid-week class will meet in the evening. *Once per month we will have a guest trainer that is a practitioner in missional living/ leading.

Bi-Weekly Mentoring Group

Interns will be assigned in a group of “Three” for accountability and mentoring. These groups will meet weekly for breakfast or lunch with Lance Ford. Females will be in mentoring groups with Sherri Ford.

Community Transformation Project

As a key training component each internship class will be tasked with determining a mission project for the surrounding community. They will prayerfully determine where and what to do by asking missionary questions and what incarnational answers are needed to bring good news to the situation.

 Intensives

We will host a training weekend (Missional Intensive) with a major author/thought leader.

Guest trainers will be from the following group: Alan Hirsch, Neil Cole, Michael Frost, Hugh Halter, Dan Kimball, Mike Breen, Pete Scazzero, many others.

The typical training weekend will run:

Friday Evening & Saturday Morning Seminar: Open to public

Saturday Afternoon-Evening: Interns and Guest Speaker only