Most Christians have been taught about Jesus. Sermons, small groups, Bible studies — we have no shortage of content.
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Very few have ever been trained to make disciples who make disciples. There's a difference between knowing the Great Commission and actually living it out in a way that multiplies.
JDU exists for that gap — the space between knowledge and movement.
about JDU
A training institution, built by practitioners.
Jesus Disciple University is an educational training institution that prepares individuals, ministry leaders, and churches to live out, teach, and multiply disciple-making in their own communities.
We offer certificate programs built around a simple conviction: training should produce practitioners, not just graduates. Every program includes a real-world practicum — students don't just study disciple-making, they do it before they finish.
A word on the entities you may have heard about. JDU is the training institution. The Jesus Disciple app is the movement tool. Different jobs, same direction. JDU trains the people. The movement moves on its own.
Make Disciples Who Make Disciples
We don't teach what we used to do. We teach what we're still doing.
133
133 ministry leaders around the world have started their own disciple-making networks through the Jesus Disciple app — real groups, real leaders, real communities.
4th
Within the first Jesus Disciple network, called The Rock Network, multiple streams of disciple-making have reached the 4th generation — past the threshold missiologists call self-sustaining. Real multiplication, still going.
FMI
Foursquare Missions International (FMI) has designated JDU and The Rock as a training site for cross-cultural missionary preparation. Our inaugural cohort launches Fall 2026.
DMM
The disciple-making movement methodology at the core of JDU is the same model driving church multiplication across India, China, Africa, and Latin America. We didn't invent it. We've adapted it.
100%
JDU teachers have led discipleship groups, multiplied them, coached other leaders, and are still doing it today. There's no gap between what we teach and how we live.
Certificate Programs
Where JDU can take you
Every JDU certificate begins with the Disciplemaker's Certificate.
Our first certificate
The Disciplemaker's Certificate
If you're serious about multiplying disciples — not just learning about it, but doing it — this is where you start.
track 1
Non-Degree Track
Personal discipleship formation. Designed for individuals who want deep training without academic requirements.
$495
total for the full two-semester program
what's included
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Both Foundation studies (F1 + F2) walked through with your cohort
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Weekly cohort session with your JDU Coach
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Doing What Jesus Did (Semester 2) + coaching development
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Live practicum — you'll lead a real discipleship group
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Progress-marker completion (no letter grade)
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Certificate of completion
for those building toward a degree
track 2
Degree Track
Everything in Non-Degree, plus academic assignments that build toward credit in future JDU degree programs.
$995
total for the full two-semester program
everything in non-degree, plus
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Weekly reflection papers (500–750 words)
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Integrative papers at the end of F1, F2, and Semester 2
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Letter-graded academic record on your JDU transcript
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Credit toward future JDU Bachelor's / Master's / Doctoral programs
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Faculty rubric feedback on every submission
Specialized certificates
Training for the disciple-maker
Every JDU certificate begins with the Disciplemaker's Certificate. From there, students specialize — in missions, in leadership, in what God is calling them to next. The certificates below are being developed. Start your journey today by registering for the Disciplemaker's Certificate.
Missions
In partnership with FMI. Start with the Disciplemaker's Certificate this Fall.
Movement Maker
For network leaders ready to lead a disciple-making movement
Church-to-Movement
For church leaders ready to become a disciple-making movement
Leadership
Ministry leaders + pastors + house church leaders
Scripture & Doctrine
Rightly handling the Word of Truth
Worship
For worship leaders and teams
Apologetics
For believers ready to give an answer
where we are headed
Build toward a degree
in development
Bachelor of Arts
in Ministry
in development
Master's Degree
in Ministry/ Missions
in development
Doctoral Degree
in Ministry/ Missions
We are pursuing accreditation through an evangelical accreditation network Launching within 18-24 Months
who's behind jdu
Practitioners. Not theorists.
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jdu chancellor
Jerry Dirmann
Jerry is the senior pastor of The Rock, a Foursquare church in Anaheim, and leads The Rock Network — the first Jesus Disciple network — where the disciple-making model behind JDU has multiplied to the fourth generation through multiple streams. He's spent years building the practical disciple-making framework JDU now trains others in — and he still leads groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
what does it cost?
Non-Degree Track is $495 total for the full two-semester program. Degree Track is $995 total. Both cover Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 — no additional per-semester fees.
when do i pay?
At the point of enrollment. Once you complete the enrollment application, you'll receive a secure Stripe payment link for the track you selected. Your seat is confirmed when payment clears.
is financial aid available?
JDU is not accredited for state or federal financial aid.
what's the refund policy?
Full refund up to the start of Session 2. Partial refund up to Session 4. See the
Withdrawal & Refund Policy (linked in the enrollment application) for full details.
can i swITch tracks after enrolling?
Upgrading from Non-Degree to Degree Track is available only through the end of Session 2 of the Fall semester (approximately the second week of October). To upgrade, you'll pay the $500 difference and complete any weekly reflection papers already assigned within a one-week catch-up window; the Degree Track designation is applied to your record once the missed work is graded. After Session 2, upgrades are not available for the current cohort — you'd enroll fresh at Degree Track pricing in the next cohort. Downgrading from Degree to Non-Degree is not supported once the semester begins.
