Church Ministry Residencies Fund
Developing the Next Generation for Effective Church Ministry Worldwide
The Church faces a significant gap. The growth and health of the Body of Christ depend on believers equipped for church ministry. But the next generation lacks opportunities to gain the practical experience that’s vital for effective service.
The 2023 State of Pastors study, published by the Barna Group, revealed that 78% of Protestant pastors in the United States are concerned about the quality of future Christian leaders. In addition, 72% fear the Christian Church will decline because of inadequate leadership.
But just half of these pastors agree that training and developing the next generation of church leaders is a significant priority for their church. This has significant implications for both local congregations in the United States and the Church around the world. Without training in a local church context and under the guidance of those with pastoral experience and wisdom, the next generation will be ill-equipped to establish and serve in local churches.
Christar Church Ministry Residencies bridge this gap. Through hands-on experience, mentorship, theological training and cross-cultural exposure, they offer local churches and recent college graduates a framework for developing effective ministry skills, all in the context of local church relationships. And they give participants a global perspective that prepares them to lead with Great Commission mindsets—whether in a local church stateside or in a church ministry overseas.
This program is possible through partnerships. Host churches commit to providing day-to-day ministry oversight, mentorship and a portion of the resident’s monthly financial support. Christar brings over 115 years of cross-cultural church-planting experience, and through that lens provides a structured plan, training for churches, coaching and field exposure for residents, employment services and access to reduced-cost seminary education.
Your gift to the Church Ministry Residency Fund will enable Christar to come alongside churches with expertise, structure and a plan for equipping young leaders. Through your partnership, next-generation ministers will be prepared to serve and establish local churches well, worldwide.
Participate in the Ministry of the Church Ministry Residency Fund
By Supporting Financially:
- $50 covers a coaching session for a resident with an experienced cross-cultural worker
- $100 coaches one church to implement the program
- $250 provides one credit hour of seminary education
- $500 trains a resident to develop a long-term personal support team
- $1,000 enables a Christar team to recruit residents at a missions conference
- $5,000 covers expenses for one resident’s cross-cultural field experience
- $7,000 provides a scholarship for full seminary education for a resident
By Praying:
- Ask God to bring young believers with hearts for church ministry to the residency program.
- Pray for wisdom for the church leaders serving as mentors.
- Ask the Lord to provide all of the funds needed for this program.
- Pray that through these residencies, many next-generation leaders will be well-equipped for effective ministry in local churches.
- As participants develop awareness of and passion for God’s redemptive work around the world, pray they will impart in others a heart for the Great Commission.