SOJO University
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Develop as a leader who creates other leaders.
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Deploy your gifts and talents to bring glory to God and serve others.
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Build a solid biblical foundation in Scripture and theology to guide you on this journey.
What to Expect
Commitment
SOJO University is a 12-month program that begins in August and concludes in July. Weekly classes, practical assignments, retreats, and one-on-one mentoring create a comprehensive experience.
Structure
- Weekly Classes:
- Held one evening per week for two hours (48 weeks total).
- Mix of lectures, presentations, and team learning activities.
- Holiday breaks for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and Fourth of July.
- Retreats & Team Building:
- August: Kickoff Cookout and Storytelling.
- February: Mountain Getaway (2 nights, 3 days).
- July: Closing Cookout and celebration.
- Mentorship:
- You’ll be paired with a coach for monthly check-ins to provide encouragement, prayer, and guidance throughout the year.
- Homework:
- Reading assignments and practical projects to deepen your understanding and application of leadership principles.
- Four Learning Quarters:
- Q1: Biblical Foundations – Gain a deep understanding of the Old and New Testaments, core doctrines, and the theology of being a sojourner in God’s Kingdom.
- Q2: Discovering Your Calling – Explore your temperament, leadership strengths, spiritual gifts, and APEST profile to clarify your role in God’s mission.
- Q3: Developing Your Mission – Learn how to translate vision into action, identifying your personal mission and the tools God has given you to impact others.
- Q4: Deploying Your Mission – Activate your calling with training in storytelling, fundraising, organizational leadership, and disciple-making.
How to Join
Becoming a part of SOJO University involves a few simple steps:
- Express Interest: Let us know you’re ready to take the next step.
- Complete an Interview: Share your heart and learn more about the program.
- Sign the Agreement: Confirm alignment with our doctrinal positions.
- Submit Fees: $150 due in July and January.
- Complete Assessments: Participate in tools like Myers-Briggs, StrengthsFinder, and APEST to understand yourself better.
Expectations for Participants
- Be a faithful member of SOJO Church.
- Attend at least 80% of classes.
- Complete weekly assignments and participate in group discussions.
- Stay faithful, available, and teachable.
At SOJO University, we take this commitment seriously, and we encourage you to do the same. Your dedication will shape your growth and impact as a leader.
Hear from someone who attended SOJO University
On the first night of class I met a group of people who were strangers. Some I had never met while others I had only met or spoken to briefly. They knew very little about me and I knew very little about them.
As the weeks went by, these strangers were turning into friends. We shared stories about ourselves. Our trials, successes, failures and heartaches. Dan Conklin shared his knowledge of scripture, bringing the Bible to life in a way I’d never heard before. We listened intently, asked questions, cried and often laughed until our sides hurt. Especially Dan’s pronunciation of “dinosaurs.”
The friendships between us grew.. When one of us faced a life obstacle, we would lay hands upon them in prayer. These people were much more than friends, they were my prayer warriors and we had grown into a family.
A life changing moment for me came when we all discovered our spiritual gifts. To be honest, I had assumed my gift would be “teacher” as I had just ended a 25 year run of doing just that. Maybe “evangelist.” Talking is something I do a lot of.. When my test came up “prophet and shepherd” I thought there had to be a mistake. I’ll never forget the moment when Pastor Corey said, “I definitely see that. WHAT?!? ME?!?
I began to walk in this truth with God. My prayer life changed. My relationship with Jesus became stronger. I spent more and more time in scripture. I became more in tune to the voice of the Holy Spirit and sharing my faith with others. I discovered my dreams at night often have purpose and not just the result of bad pizza.
I watched my friends, who now felt like family, discover their own spiritual gift. Realizing that we are each uniquely designed by God, woven together to be disciples and grow the kingdom of Heaven.
Next came the process for how we were to achieve the dream we had originally talked about. For some the dream changed. My dream remained the same. What changed was my priorities. Writing a best seller no longer seemed all that important. Writing a book for my adult children to know the great love of Christ is now my dream. Writing a book of short stories of how God has spoken to me through animals or pets has filled me with excitement.
Being on this journey with a group of people whom I love and will forever be a part of my heart is a dream I didn’t even know I was searching for but greater than any best seller ever could be.
