THE TRANSFORMATIVE GAP YEAR PROGRAM
OF COASTLINE CHURCH

What if you had a life-giving pause before what’s next? 

Dedicate one year to build a spiritual foundation to thrive through postsecondary studies and into your future career.

ASCEND

2025/26

Experience life at Coastline Church, located in Victoria B.C., one of Canada’s most diverse and adventurous mission fields.

Our 10-month program offers 30 hours per week of classroom teaching, cohort learning, mentorship, and ministry opportunities within Coastline Church and the broader community.

In the big picture, you'll spend a third of your time learning and will complete 18 credit hours, and the rest of your time gaining hands-on experience—that’s about 800 hours of practical experience!

Why? We believe you need time and opportunities to integrate what you learn into your daily life. Our goal isn’t just to inform you. We want to see you holistically formed into the person God is calling you to become so you can make a lasting impact in the world.

Class Overview

18 credit hours are divided into six classes across two semesters.

The Fall semester lays the groundwork for your calling through spiritual practices, learning to read the Bible well, and developing critical thinking skills.

In the Winter semester, you’ll build on this foundation by focusing on your calling and context. Explore who God has made you to be, discern your unique calling and next steps toward it, while gaining insight on how to navigate and engage with your cultural environment.

Experiences Overview

Our gap year includes three key experiences.

First, we kick off with a spiritual retreat in September, designed to build connections and prayerfully prepare for the year ahead.

Next, you’ll embark on an overseas mission trip to Thailand, where you’ll join with Coastline’s partners to gain hands-on ministry experience and see the global impact of the gospel.

Finally, the year culminates with a guided hike of the Juan de Fuca Trail—a challenging adventure that you’ll train for and conquer, celebrating all you’ve accomplished.

Ministry Opportunities

You’ll gain a wide range of ministry experience at Coastline.

You’ll have opportunities to serve in areas like youth, kids, and young adults ministries, as well as with First Impressions, Alpha, and Freedom ministries. You’ll also participate in local outreach initiatives such as our mini-markets, welcome wagon, and partnerships up island. We’ll provide you with real leadership opportunities, where you’ll take on meaningful responsibilities—helping to plan and execute events, and getting an inside look at the day-to-day workings of ministry.

Mentorship

Mentorship is essential to the Ascend program.

You’ll get connected to people like you in a supportive mentor-guided cohort. Each student will be paired with three dedicated mentors for the entire ten months: an academic mentor, a vocational mentor, and a personal mentor. These mentors will check in with you regularly to offer guidance, ensure you stay supported and engaged, and help you stay on track as you grow in your faith and calling.

ASCEND

2025/26

Tuition

$9,000 $6,500

We want the Ascend Program to be accessible and affordable for you, so we are offsetting the cost through Kingdom Builders (giving to our church above and beyond tithes). The tuition fee covers all costs for Coastline College, including books, the opening retreat, an international mission trip to Thailand, and hiking the Juan De Fuca trail.

Dates

September 2025 — June 2026

FAQs

  • The Ascend Gap Year Program will help you build a strong foundation in faith and life to prepare for the challenges of higher education or the workplace. If you already know your calling, you’ll be paired with mentors to guide and support you as you take your first steps toward that career.

  • The Ascend Gap Year Program is designed to help you discover your calling. Through mentorship and reflection, you'll explore your strengths and passions to discern what God is leading you to pursue. By the end of the program, you'll gain clarity on your next steps, whether in education or vocation.

  • Our program offers students invaluable mentorship from committed Christian leaders who will continue supporting them beyond the program. In addition to spiritual and vocational growth, the courses taken count toward a full semester of our accredited BA in Christian Thought and Practice should they continue their studies. Students will be well-equipped for both academic and personal success, grounded in their faith.

  • As part of Coastline Church, Coastline College (as a partner of Kairos University) offers accredited, cohort-based bachelor’s and master’s degrees designed to equip the Christian leaders of tomorrow. Our Ascend gap year program aims to help students build a solid foundation for success in their post-secondary education and future careers. For those who continue their studies with Coastline College, the 18 credits earned during the gap year are applied toward our BA in Christian Thought and Practice.

  • Our program has three main outcomes:

    • Develop a spiritual foundation to thrive throughout post secondary education and into their future careers.

    • They will gain clarity about who they are in Christ, discern their unique role within His Kingdom, and get equipped with the skills to critically engage culture.

    • Gain life experience through hands-on mentorship, local adventures, practical ministry, and overseas missions.

  • This learning experience is accredited through a partnership with Kairos University. You can read about their accreditation here.

  • Yes!  For students who discern church ministry as their future vocation, they can enroll with Coastline College to complete a BA in Christian Thought and Practice. The 18 credits of the gap year all apply toward this degree. This is the equivalent of one full-time semester.

  • Absolutely! We recommend up to 16 hours of part-time work where our program schedule can accommodate it.

  • You will likely spend 4-8 hours a week on homework.

  • Our program will take place at the Victoria campus of Coastline Church, 845 Caledonia Ave.

  • You are welcome to pay the full amount upfront or a 50% deposit with a subsequent monthly payment plan. If you are unable to afford the full tuition, please contact us to discuss bursary options. 

  • Yes! Kairos University is on the government of Canada’s International Master List of Designated Educational Institutions—EI Code: MPIM

    The course work for Ascend is the equivalent of part-time studies. Students using RESPs to fund their education must follow the withdrawal rules set by the government.