Leadership Academy Preaching Institute
The Leadership Academy Preaching Institute (LAPI) is a hybrid continuing education program designed to cultivate compelling preaching that leads to congregational vitality. The program is not remedial; it is designed for preachers at any level who want to improve their preaching to their perceived “next” level. Read program background here: LAPI 2024 Conference Report
LAPI Certificate in Compelling Preaching
The 10-month certificate program runs February through November. As a LAPI fellow, your experience will include:
- In-person preaching summit, in March 2026
- Online cohorts of 10 preachers, each with a facilitator/coach
- Individual coaching and instruction (Zoom or in-person)
- Self-paced online classes, exclusive to LAPI fellows, offered through the Leadership Academy
- You engaging in a listener feedback group created in your preaching context
- A visit from a coach to your location with pre- and post-sermon consultation
The application for the LAPI Class of 2026 is now open.
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm August 31, 2025.
All Class of 2026 applicants will be notified of their status no later than September 30, 2025. Accepted applicants will submit a $75 fee to confirm participation.
LAPI Announcements
PREACHING GRANTS FOR LOCAL WORSHIPING COMMUNITIES Connect participants in your grant programs to smaller preaching grants: The Vital Worship, Vital Preaching grants program provides awards of up to $25,000 for one-year projects to strengthen preaching and worship in the U.S. and Canada. These grants aren't intended to supplement your Compelling Preaching grant but to promote preaching-related work in the local context. The next proposal deadline is April 25. More information: https://worship.calvin.edu/grants/info.
FESTIVAL OF HOMILETICS, “Preaching to Heal the Divide,” Atlanta, May 12–15, 2025. Thirty-three years ago, a few hundred pastors from around the country gathered to learn and converse about preaching in a contemporary context. Today, the Festival of Homiletics is a wide-reaching, four-day conference designed to inspire discourse about preaching and worship in the context of modern society among our thousands of participants. https://festivalofhomiletics.com/
Rev. Dr. Darryl Stephens
Director of Leadership Academy Preaching Institute
lapidirector@epagnj.org