Kaleo – Ministry Council of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church

What is Kaleo?

The word Kaleo is a Greek word meaning to call.

Kaleo is a year-long mentoring program designed to help young people explore God’s call on their life.

The program is for young people ages 15-20 years old in the CPC and CPCA.

Applying for Kaleo

Participant must be 15 – 20 years old by January 1, 2024
Participant must be active in their church or denomination
Participant must commit to meeting with their assigned mentor regularly
Participant must work alongside a mentor in accomplishing goals and project assigned during Kaleo.
Participant must attend four-day immersion experience held summer of 2024.
The participant will submit an application, have two references complete online reference form, have parent/guardian and pastor acknowledgment form signed as part of the application process.

Kaleo 2022 Timeline

June 1st – Fall, 2023

Accepting Applications, reference forms, parental and pastoral acknowledgment form.

Fall 2023

Applicants screened and notified of acceptance into the program, assigned a mentor, meet online with program directors (Nathan Wheeler & Melissa Malinoski) and mentor.

January 2024

Kaleo program begins, meet with mentor regularly

Summer 2024

Kaleo immersion experience is scheduled for July 15-19 2022 (required attendance for all Kaleo participants).

November 2024

Last meeting with mentor, projects completed, evaluation of Kaleo completed

Kaleo 2022 Timeline

Who is Kaleo for?

Kaleo is for any young person (15-20 years old by January 1, 2024) who wants to discern and discover more about God’s call on their life.

I’m feeling called but not sure what that means?

That’s what Kaleo is for! It doesn’t matter if you know exactly where God is calling you or have no clue this program is for you.

What types of call is Kaleo for?

We know some young people are experiencing calls to be Pastors, youth and children ministers, missionaries, etc but Kaleo is not only for young people feeling called to ministry in the church but also those who are feeling called to be teachers, doctors, engineers, coaches, etc. We want to give you the tools no matter where God is calling you to help you discover more about that call and discern how best to live it out.

What does Kaleo cost?

This year-long mentoring program costs $500 per participant. This money covers program materials and all activities, meals, and lodging during immersion experience summer of 2024. This money does not cover travel to/from the immersion experience or travel to meet with a mentor.

WOW, that’s a lot of money

Kaleo is a partnership between the Discipleship Ministry Team and local presbyteries. Many presbyteries have donated/budgeted money so young people from there presbyteries can participate in Kaleo free of charge. If accepted into the Kaleo program we will be in contact with you and your presbytery about payment for the program.

What if my presbytery hasn’t budgeted funds for Kaleo?

All are welcome to apply for Kaleo but if your presbytery hasn’t budgeted/sponsored scholarships you will have to seek alternative funding for Kaleo. You could ask your local congregation, or do a fundraiser or personally ask your presbytery to support your Kaleo experience.

If you have additional questions about Kaleo contact Nathan Wheeler nwheeler@cumberland.org

Kaleo Online Application

Kaleo 2024

Kaleo Applicant Information

Name(Required)

First Last

Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

What is your Date of Birth(Required)

What is the name of your church?(Required)

Pastor's Name(Required)

First Last

Name of senior pastor at the church you attend. If you don't have a pastor put in name of associate or youth pastor. If none of those apply put name of church elder.

Pastor's Email(Required)

What presbytery is your church in?(Required)

Emergency Contact Information

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

References

Please list two references. One of the two needs to be a member of your congregation or Presbytery, they must be at least 25 years old and can be a pastor, minister, elder, teacher, coach, lawyer, mentor, etc. The other adult can be any adult over 25 years old. None of your references should be related to you.

Name(Required)

First Last

Occupation/Vocation(Required)

Relationship to Reference(Required)

example: teacher, coach, minister, elder, etc

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Name(Required)

First Last

Occupation/Vocation(Required)

Relationship to Reference(Required)

example: teacher, coach, minister, elder, etc

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Application Questions

Why do you want to participate in Kaleo?(Required)

What do you hope to get out of your experience in Kaleo?(Required)

Briefly tell us about your spiritual journey so far and how you see yourself as a child of God?(Required)

How are you participating in your church? In your presbytery? In your denomination?(Required)

In your own words, how is God calling you to live out your faith in the world?(Required)

What are your passions? What are your hopes/dreams?(Required)

Kaleo Applicant Acknowledgment

It is the applicant's responsibility to contact their references to fill out the reference forms needed to complete the application process. Applicant will also download Parental/Guardian and Pastoral Acknowledgment forms to be read, signed and returned by October 1 2023*(Required)

I understand and will direct all three of my references to cpcmc.org/kaleo to fill out the reference form needed and download forms to be read and signed by Parent/Guardian and Pastor.