RESIDENCY PROGRAM
What’s A Residency Program?
Our residency program provides college graduates the experiential components of ministry, going beyond academic experience to provide a more practical application of ministry success.
The residency program helps shepherd aspiring ministry leaders by providing real ministry experience with oversight and guidance—personally, professionally, and spiritually.
You can check out the details below, or email our Pastor of College, Austin Arends, at [email protected].
What’s In It For You?
With Central Church’s Residency Program, you’ll have opportunities to:
- Grow as an individual
- Gain hands-on ministry experience
- Set your trajectory for a future in ministry
We’ll spend two years equipping you as an effective ministry leader with both the heart and skills to serve in a variety of contexts, and you’ll be developed and formed as a servant leader to confidently go wherever God calls you next.
Distinctives
Ministry Experience
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Hands-on ministry experience means you’re learning, serving, and leading in multiple ministry areas within the church, including (but not limited to):
- NextGen (children and youth)
- Worship
- Community Life
- Care/Recovery
- Downtown/Non-profit
- Outreach
- and more
Personal Development
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Our goal isn’t to just crank out pastors or worship leaders. We want to help you grow as a person during your two years with us. This includes mentoring, relationship-building, conflict resolution, and more. Personal growth is just as important as spiritual growth when it comes to ministry.
Academic Instruction
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People in ministry should always be growing and learning in the academic sense, not just spiritually, and our Residency Program embraces that mindset. We offer tuition assistance for residents pursuing a degree in ministry as well as host classes on-site for all of our residents.
Cohort Experience
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One of the best ways to grow is with others around you walking the same road you are. Our Residency Program provides a cohort experience so you can work with, learn from, and help teach other peers, leading to lasting relationships that will serve you after you begin your work in the ministry field.
Why Central?
For over 140 years, Central Church has strived to meet the changing ministry needs around us. That includes a commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.
Our staff is made up of several departments, which means you’ll get a diverse range of experience. While many residency programs rely on 1-2 people to develop residents in a few ministry areas—in some cases a single ministry area—Central’s Residency Program provides focused coaching from experts in numerous fields.
Bottom line? When you leave our program, you’ll have the skills to thrive as a solo pastor or within a larger ministry team.
Model for Development
1. Department Specialization
Residents will spend up to 75% of their time in a specialized role. This is where you’ll have the most responsibility and development. Those opportunities include:
- Outreach
- Worship
- Youth
- Children’s
- College/Young Adult
- Community Life
- Care/Recovery
2. Department Rotations
Residents will participate in multi-week department rotations to gain experience in a variety of skills necessary to be a well-rounded church leader. Those areas include:
- Care/Recovery
- Next Gen
- Non-Profit/Multi-Site Campus
- Worship Programming
- Community Life
- Outreach
3. Personal/Professional Development
Other topics vital to ministry may require a more traditional classroom setting and will be taught by experts from in and outside of the church. You’ll learn to better understand yourself, your discipleship, your peers and community, and other aspects of working in a church ministry setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’d love to answer any questions you have. If the answers below aren’t what you’re looking for, let us know by emailing our Pastor of College, Austin Arends, at [email protected].
What are the hours?
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25-29 hours per week
Can I have another part-time job while in the Residency Program?
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Yes. We encourage part-time work outside of the Residency Program. However, hours and ministry experiences related to the Residency Program must take priority.
Can I get school credit for being in the program?
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Yes. Through our partnership with Sioux Falls Seminary, residents are eligible to receive academic credit. Residents are also able to receive tuition assistance if they choose to enroll in another school in a ministry-related program.
When does the Residency Program start?
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Residents begin in August of each year.
Do I get paid?
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Yes, this is a paid opportunity. We will provide more details during the application process.
How do I apply?
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Click the button below to apply for the Residency Program, or email our College & Residency Director, Austin Arends, at [email protected] for more details.
Where can I learn more about Central Church?
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We exist to help you share the love of Jesus with your relational world. Learn more on our About Us page.