Greenhouse is a summer program in downtown Toronto designed for accelerated spiritual growth. We believe that the highest pursuit in our lives is becoming the kind of people who characteristically resemble Jesus in all kinds of situations. The earliest Jesus followers called this “maturity,” and it does not happen by accident. Like any remarkable ability, it is cultivated over time via intentional investment and focused effort (training). We consistently see God move powerfully as we make ourselves available to him to be spiritually formed into mature disciples in community.

This is what Greenhouse is for: training as Jesus’s disciples. In Greenhouse, we devote our summer to intentionally communing with God, investing in deep and loving relationships, and training to live as agents of redemption and transformation in a hurting world.

2024 Program Details

DATES & DEADLINES

Program dates: June 7 - July 27

Participant Application Deadline: Wednesday, May 15th at 11:59:59 p.m.

COST

Early Bird: $275 (available until March 31st)

Standard Rate: $350 (April 1st and after)

Bursaries are available! (see application below)

CORE PROGRAM ELEMENTS

The following are essential components of the Greenhouse program that every participant commits to participate in, except by express permission otherwise.

  • Two Bookend Retreats

    • 48-hour Kickoff Retreat

    • 27-hour Send-off Retreat

  • Two Spiritual Discipline Commitments

    • Scripture Immersion Plan

    • Daily Prayer/Journal of Examen

  • Two Weekly Gatherings

OPTIONAL PROGRAM ELEMENTS

Check out our summer Training Tracks (see last summer’s Tracks)! These run in parallel to Greenhouse but are open to anyone, including non-participants in Greenhouse.

 

Interested in Interning for the Greenhouse program?

 

Testimonials

"At Greenhouse, I found life-long friendships and a place of belonging. I was mentored, inspired, and challenged to grow in ways I just couldn't on my own. I was met with a deeper revelation of my need for Jesus, and He was faithful to heal and transform my heart again and again. Now, I am more joyful, more mature, more refined, and more healed than ever." - TC ‘23

“Greenhouse revolutionized the vision in my head of what it meant to be a follower of Jesus in my context, propelled me for a lifelong trajectory of spiritual growth, and ignited my fervency for the Lord.” - RA ‘22

"Greenhouse was a space where idols were smashed and love abounded. It showed me a whole new level of discipleship and brought me back into complete surrender to God." - SD ‘23

“Through Greenhouse, God has been able to strengthen, restore, and plant me in a community of equally as passionate (and just as crazy) like-minded individuals who love Him and all His people. I feel affirmed and thoroughly equipped to live out my calling well and help others as we continue to discover how to follow Jesus.” - GK ‘22

“I learned, got inspired, cried, laughed and experienced what life looks like when living it for not myself but for a greater purpose. It helped me realign my desires with those that our on God’s heart.” - HA ‘22

"Greenhouse was the most transformative experience of my spiritual life and I’m really looking forward to seeing what God is going to do next. From the teachings to the community to the activities to the self-reflection, everything was so necessary and just amazing." - MN ‘23


FAQ

Who is this program for?

Greenhouse is a program in downtown Toronto for anyone who wants to practice what it means to follow and become like Jesus in a focused and intentional way. Our program is catered to people living and serving in Toronto, but anyone may apply. This is not just a program for the Zoe Toronto community. It’s for everyone!


How will I get to know other participants?

Your primary community throughout the program will be your Greenhouse Team (~8-16 people). You will be serving alongside and building the closest relationships with your Team members. We generally form these teams along lines of existing relationships and shared proximity and/or mission. Within our teams, we host smaller same-gender discipleship groups (3-6 people) where we process together more deeply what God is doing in our lives throughout the program.


Is this program in-person or virtual?

The entire program will take place in person.


Can I participate in a portion of the program?

Wednesday night Main Sessions (excluding small groups) and some Ministry Training Tracks will be open to non-participants. All other program components (core elements and Greenhouse-only training tracks) are reserved for program participants. If you are unsure whether Greenhouse can accommodate your various commitments, we recommend applying to the program as a way to start a conversation about it.


What are the main sessions about?

Main sessions are where we address the core elements of Christian faithfulness in our world today, laying a foundation of understanding for how to become mature in Christ. Due to the depth and complexity of these matters, we provide processing time for program participants afterwards in Greenhouse discipleship groups.


What are the retreats like?

Greenhouse retreats are weekend events with food and lodging included. Our kickoff retreat will lay the biblical and relational groundwork for the topics we will study and disciplines that we will practice the rest of the summer to grow deeper together in our faith. Our send-off retreat is a place to seal the good things God has done over the summer, bless one another, and commission our participants to serve Jesus faithfully in their journey ahead.


Who should I ask to fill out my spiritual mentor reference?

Ask someone who you look up to as more mature in Christ than you, and who has observed your life closely and recently. We are asking them to offer a wise and discerning perspective about whether Greenhouse is a good fit for you at this time. They may be a pastor, elder, Bible study leader, ministry team leader, co-worker, family member, or close friend. They do not need to have any formal title or credential.