Church Ministry Residencies
Developing the Next Generation for Church Ministry Worldwide
Are you a recent or soon-to-be college graduate with a heart for ministry? Or are you a church leader committed to investing in the next generation and increasing your church’s capacity to serve and send?
Christar Church Ministry Residencies bridge the gap between education and effective, real-world service—whether in the United States or across the globe. Through hands-on experience, mentorship, theological training and cross-cultural exposure, they offer churches and recent college graduates a framework for developing effective ministry skills, all in the context of relationships.
The Christar residency program is offered in two tracks:
- General church ministry track, for those interested in pastoral, worship, youth, college and women’s ministry
- Cross-cultural ministry track, including Christar pre-field training, for those pursuing ministry overseas or among immigrant and refugee communities in the United States
Residencies include:
- A customized personal development plan
- Real-world experience in church ministry
- Mentorship by church leaders
- Biblical and theological training, including a seminary degree
- Cross-cultural experience, including a vision trip overseas
- Coaching from seasoned church planters
- Potential for ordination and commissioning at the conclusion of the residency
Frequently Asked Questions
For Residents
Residents must have completed a bachelor’s degree before starting the residency.
Each week, you’ll spend 25 hours in church ministry, including outreach, church operations and time with mentors. You’ll also spend 15 hours each week participating in biblical, theological and cross-cultural training.
All Christar residencies provide experience and training in serving the Body of Christ, whether in the United States or abroad. Our cross-cultural track offers more focused preparation for ministry in least-reached communities, and your personal development plan will be tailored to equip you for the work to which God is leading you. And, if you choose to serve through Christar, you’ll complete much of the required pre-field training through the residency program.
No. Christar residencies are for anyone who wants to be equipped to serve in church-focused ministry.
We’ll work with you and your church to identify a school and program that’s a good fit for your ministry goals and that will complement your hands-on training.
You’ll receive a monthly stipend and health insurance through Christar. You will be responsible for raising a portion of the funds to cover this, and your host church will also contribute a portion.
Sometimes. Host churches may choose to provide housing for residents as part of their support.
We’ll match you with a church that’s eager to host a resident.
For Churches
We equip churches with a template for involving residents in the ministry of your church in ways that foster growth in character and ministry skills and that benefit your congregation and community. As residents gain practical experience, we come alongside them with focused coaching, oversee their progress through a Bible and theology training program and, if needed, provide assistance in an ordination process. Christar also handles the human resources aspects of the residency, including payroll, insurance and support raising.
We ask that you invest time in the resident’s growth, including providing hands-on opportunities for ministry, mentorship from a pastor or other staff member, exposure to the inner workings of church ministry and participation in leadership meetings. We also require that your church provide at least 25% of the required financial support for the resident in the form of housing, seminary tuition or direct salary.
Housing can be included in the financial support you provide for the resident, but it’s not required.
Yes! We’ll match you with a resident whose own church isn’t able to participate in the residency program.