Help Churches Get Healthy.
Become a Certified Strategic Envisioning Guide.
Get trained in the Strategic Envisioning process, developed by Dr. Aubrey Malphurs and refined over more than two decades, and bring real revitalization to the churches across your network or as an independent consultant.
Who Is Certification For?
Leaders With a Burden for Healthier Churches
You don't have to be an expert. You just have to care about seeing churches make more disciples.
Denominational & Network Staff
You're responsible for the health of many churches and need a proven way to help.
High-Capacity Pastors
You lead a healthy church and are ready to pour into others across your network.
Lay Leaders
You have the life experience, skills, and God-given calling to equip struggling churches.
A Proven Process to Revitalize Churches
Certification licenses you to lead churches through Strategic Envisioning, the process Dr. Aubrey Malphurs developed and refined over more than two decades. With this certification, you bring a best-in-class framework to churches that want healthy growth.
Dr. Malphurs has written more than 20 books, together selling over 375,000 copies, and The Malphurs Group has worked with hundreds of churches to help them get healthy and make disciples. Once certified, you're listed in our directory, where churches can contact you directly, and you carry the credibility of a name churches already trust.
Learn to Lead Churches
As a certified Guide, you'll navigate churches through six outcomes:
- Articulate Their Great Commission Mission
- Discover Their Discipleship & Unique Values
- Build an Effective Discipleship Pathway
- Discern God’s Future Vision
- Develop a Strategic Plan
- Follow a Proven Implementation Framework
Multiply Your Impact
Reach More Churches
The Strategic Envisioning process replicates in churches of every size and challenge at low cost. One or more trained Guides lets your own team bring it to every church you're called to serve.
A Trusted, Proven Process
Lead with the credibility of a name churches already know. The Malphurs Group has served churches for decades, built on the faithful ministry of Dr. Aubrey Malphurs, whose books remain seminary mainstays.
Long-Term Support
We host monthly live calls to support certified Guides, address common challenges, and build community with leaders across networks and independent consultants. We are all on mission together.
Clear Pricing
Offer consulting to your churches at no or reduced cost as part of your role, or work independently with clear pricing guidelines that ensure fairness with other Guides and a competitive rate for churches.
Three Phases From Called to Certified
Step 1: On-Demand Video
Learn at your own pace. Around 8 hours of video on the content and how to facilitate every workshop.
Step 2: Live Workshop
Two days, hands-on. Practice leading workshops with direct feedback, then learn the practical how-to.
Step 3: On the Job
A coach beside you. Lead your first church while an experienced Guide supervises, so you launch with confidence.
$2,500
one-time certification fee (+$1,500 to add Leadership Pipeline Certification)
Includes: training and your first-year Strategic Envisioning license, the Healthy Churches Toolkit & Guide Hub, and ongoing coaching and support.
No ongoing certification cost when you work with one church or more a year. Many denominations cover this fee for the leaders they certify.
Trusted by Hundreds of Churches
“Before I joined the leadership team at The Malphurs Group, I trained as a Guide. I immediately started working with churches across the United States, and after more than a decade in local-church ministry, I launched the next phase of my ministry as a consultant. I found my true calling. Even now, as Vice President, I still get excited every time I walk into a new engagement with a church.”
Scott Ball
Vice President & Lead Guide, The Malphurs Group
FAQ
What does certification cost?
$2,500 covers the two-day live training, your first year's license, and access to the Guide Hub. There is a $1,000 yearly recertification fee, waived if you work with at least one church per year. New Guides need a Platinum Certified Guide or TMG staff member present for their first church's workshops; travel costs (up to $1,500) are the new Guide's responsibility.
How does the training work?
Training has two phases: on-demand video training, followed by a two-day live training event.
How much can I earn?
We provide pricing guidelines during certification. Your earnings depend on your ability to network with churches; most Guides earn back their training cost after their first church.
Do churches pay The Malphurs Group directly?
No. Churches pay a registration fee for our training platform, but all consulting, coaching, and travel fees go directly to you. We teach you our pricing guidelines and how to build proposals.
Can I earn Gold or Platinum status?
Yes. Guides who work with at least 3 churches a year earn Gold Certification; 6 or more earns Platinum. Both receive premium directory placement and must be re-earned annually.
What does it take to maintain certification?
Attend at least four monthly team meetings a year. The $1,000 recertification fee is waived if you work with at least one church per year.
What does a church engagement look like?
Three phases: remote video training, a two-day on-site planning retreat with a Guide, and a year of monthly implementation coaching, about 15 months total.
What's in the Guide Hub?
All of our training and workshop videos, workbooks, templates, and a growing library of resources to help you serve churches well.
Upcoming Training Dates
Burleson, TX
Fall 2026 Dates TBA
Strategic Envisioning Certification: Day 1 & 2
Leadership Pipeline Certification: Day 3
Join us in Burleson, TX, a suburb of Fort Worth, to collaborate, practice workshops, and engage in deep training. Lunch is provided each day.
Certification Fee: $2,500, includes access to online training tools, the live training event, and your first-year license to use the Strategic Envisioning process with churches. Travel expenses are not included.
Schedule: 9am–3pm Central each day
Location: Hampton Inn & Suites, 13251 Jake Ct, Fort Worth, TX 76028, about 45 minutes from DFW Airport
Optional: Add Leadership Pipeline Certification, a second process focused on staffing and leadership development, on day three.
Apply Now
Ready to become a Certified Strategic Envisioning Guide? Start your application below.
Get Certified and Embrace Your Call
Give the churches you serve more than encouragement. Give them a proven path forward, led by you.