WHY RESIDENCY?

FOR Us, IT’s PERSONAL.

My early days in the pastorate were guided by the tutelage of my then Pastor and Grandfather, the Reverend Willie Jenkins, Jr. Upon the culmination of my training and just before he released me to my first charge in Oakland, my grandfather’s commissioning words were, “You now know where the landmark is. And you understand how to talk to the old and how to talk to the young and bring them together. So, go now and serve the Lord.”

Those few short years invested by my Pastor’s side, coupled with the wisdom garnered therein, have not only fueled the past twenty-five years of life and ministry for me, but also that of dozens of other pastors I have shepherded. For young pastors in the early days of ministry, guidance and training from wiser, more seasoned leaders is the essential foundation upon which fruitful ministry is built, and, as we survey the current ministry landscape in America, maybe now more than ever, its importance cannot be overstated.

For young leaders to make it in ministry today, life-on-life mentorship is not just essential…

It is everything.

Pastor Ricky Jenkins
Southwest Church Indian Wells, CA

WHY NOW?

consideR the current pastoral landscapE.

**Read the Barna studies that speak to these growing issues in the Church.**
1 — ”The Aging of America’s Pastors”
2 — ”Pastors Share Top Reasons They’ve Considered Quitting Ministry in the Past Year”

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

— Frederich Beuchner

WHAT DRIVES US?

Biblical Underpinnings

The Bible is brimming with examples surrounding the training of young, spiritual leaders. We see a consistent concern for the posterity of the faithful coupled with the embracing of training leaders. Among God’s people, there has always been an assumption that the training of leaders is something the covenant people of God must proactively concern themselves with.

We need look no further than the School of the Prophets in Old Testament times (1 Samuel 10, 19, 1 Kings 18, 22, 2 Kings 2, 4, 9, 2 Chronicles 18, Ezra 5, et al.) or the familiar mentor relationships that were shared between Moses and Joshua (Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), Elijah and Elisha (1 and 2 Kings) and Jesus and the 12 disciples (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) to see that even before the Church was organized, THE COVENANT PEOPLE OF GOD ASSUMED A RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRAINING ITS FUTURE LEADERS.

“Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.”

— Exodus 18:17–18

WHERE DO YOU FIT IN?

You Don’t HAVE TO DO IT ALONE.

Our church longs to walk alongside young leaders as they begin to navigate a life invested in vocational ministry. And we only succeed if you succeed.

Our job is only complete when you feel encouraged, developed, trained, loved and then launched into a lifetime of ministry. If you feel God calling you to serve in ministry but you first want a season to be equipped, guided, empowered, and cared for, maybe our program is for you.

Click below to read more about what we do, ask our Residency Director a question, or even apply now.

What’s YOUR next step?