What is Forge?

Group of nine young people, boys and girls, standing together outside in front of a modern building, smiling for a photo.

Forge is Nextwave’s immersive nine-month training and sending program for young adults ages 17–26. Students spend one semester in Nashville and one semester overseas, gaining deep formation, practical ministry experience, and exposure to life among the nations.

Forge shapes students spiritually, academically, and missiologically so they are equipped to serve God wherever He leads.

How does Forge work?

A young woman with brown hair smiling at someone off camera, sitting at a table in a softly lit dining room with other people in the background.

4 Months Stateside

Semester 1

Live in Nextwave community housing with your Forge cohort.

Engage in classroom training on missions, discipleship, and cross-cultural ministry.

Gain hands-on experience serving among refugee and immigrant communities in Nashville.

Grow in leadership, spiritual disciplines, and team life.

A view of a historic cemetery with a stone wall and a tower, filled with numerous gravestones, overlooking the ocean under a clear sky, with seagulls flying overhead.

4 Months Overseas

Semester 2

Be placed with one of Nextwave’s global ministry partners.

Participate in language learning, cultural immersion, and cross-cultural ministry.

Experience long-term missions work up close, developing a clearer sense of calling.

Locations vary by year depending on ministry partnerships.

Training Content

ALPHA TRACK

Christian Character & Calling

BETA TRACK

Evangelism & Discipleship

GAMMA TRACK

Cross-Cultural Engagement

DELTA TRACK

Leadership & Team Dynamics

Benefits of the Forge program

Reliable research has shown that, on average, students who take a gap year tend to:

  • Achieve a higher GPA in post-secondary education than the average student.

  • Graduate from college in less time than the average student.

  • Become more likely to land a job after college than the average student.

  • Become more involved in on-campus extracurricular activities than the average student.

  • Make better decisions about their post-secondary education than the average student.

High school graduates (17+) taking a purposeful gap year.

College students or recent grads who want to gain credit while exploring God’s global mission.

Young adults discerning calling to long-term ministry or simply seeking to be deeply formed in Christ.

Who is Forge for?

  1. Deep Spiritual Formation

    Learn to root your life in Scripture, prayer, and community.

  2. Leadership Development

    Grow in confidence, cross-cultural awareness, and servant leadership.

  3. Global Perspective

    See the nations up close, and discover how God is working through the global church.

  4. Academic Credit

    Earn up to 15 hours of transferable college credit through select partner schools.

  5. Life Direction

    Walk away with clarity and conviction about where God may be leading you next.

Why Forge?

Length:

9 months (2 academic semesters)

Locations:

Nashville (semester 1), Athens (prior to overseas internship), Overseas with a ministry partner (semester 2)

Age Range:

17–26

Cost:

$18,875 (includes housing, flights, insurance, training and overseas stipend)

Academic Track:

Up to 15 hours of transferable college credit available

Housing:

Provided by Nextwave in Nashville and with partners overseas

Program Details

*Full packing list, visa details, and daily schedule are included in the program info packet once accepted.

What You’ll Gain

A stronger relationship with God and a clearer sense of calling.

Experience living cross-culturally and working with unreached communities.

A network of mentors, peers, and ministry leaders.

Practical tools to serve both locally and globally.

Ready to get in touch?

Request more infomation by using the link below.