BUILDING LEADERS FOR A LIFETIME OF MINISTRY

OUR PROGRAM

The Southwest Residency will EQUIP, EDUCATE, and EXPOSE emerging Christian leaders for a lifetime of ministry.

SERVE WITH OUR STAFF

Engage in meaningful work as a member of the Southwest Church Team, rotating across a broad range of ministries.

1-1 COACHING

Receive mentorship for personal and pastoral development.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Grow in 9 essential arenas of life and ministry as you learn from our residency faculty.

SEMINARY FUNDING

Receive a stipend to cover seminary expenses during your time in our program.

FAQ’S

  • There are 3 distinct characteristics that define a resident:

    • A resident embraced a spiritual calling from God to shepherd others through vocational ministry.

    • A resident has some familiarity in carrying out various functions of pastoral ministry including, but not limited to, preaching and teaching, sacraments, ceremonies, etc.

    • A resident stands in need of more intentional training and exposure in the way of practical ministry skills, formal theological education and life-on-life mentorship.

  • Our focus is on young adults (20s-early 30s) who:

    • long to help others truly know and experience Jesus

    • are ready to take the next step toward a lifetime of ministry

    • are ready to learn

    • welcome a challenge

    • want direction and guidance

    • want to grow as a leader

  • The Residency is a 2 year program with an evaluation period after the first year.

    Each year will extend from August 1st to July 31st.

  • There are 3 main areas of compensation:

    • Part-time salary as an official staff member of Southwest Church. ($25 per hour / 25 hours per week)

    • A seminary stipend that will cover the cost of a Master’s degree from Hope International University.

    • Free housing through congregational donations. (type of housing is subject to availability)

  • When it comes to residencies, there are to prevailing paradigms: tracks and rotations.

    While there are benefits to a track based residency (i.e. a focused experience in a singular ministry), we believe that more can be gained through a rotation based experience.

    If accepted into the Residency, you will gain hands-on experience and wide exposure in a multitude of ministries that will grow you into a well-rounded leader.

  • In a given week, you can expect to be working on the specific ministry responsibilities you've been given, meeting with our pastors and leaders for development opportunities, gathering together with other residents for encouragement and challenge, and ensuring your academic coursework is completed.

  • You can find the official job description HERE.

“FOR YOUNG LEADERS TO MAKE IT IN MINISTRY TODAY, LIFE-ON-LIFE MENTORSHIP IS NOT JUST ESSENTIAL; IT IS EVERYTHING.”

— Pastor Ricky Jenkins

CURRENT RESIDENTS

  • MAKENNA

    Hi, my name is Kenna. I have the honor and privilege of being one of our residents here at Southwest! I also am the Guest Services Director!

    I have been on staff for around 3 years now, and I am so thankful that Southwest is invested in growing and developing me into the pastor I have been called to be. I love ministry with my whole heart, watching people fall in love with Jesus, understanding His word, getting into small groups, and just overall having a better walk with the Lord. Those are just a few reasons why I want to work in ministry for the rest of my life. The Lord has given me a passion for telling others about who He is!

    Residency has been monumental for my journey in preaching, leading, learning the behind the scenes of church work, how to study scripture, and so many other things.

    I am so excited to see where this program takes me, and I am excited to watch others take a step in faith and learn all these things too.

  • HUNTR

    My name is Huntr. I am the High School Director for Southwest Church and also a resident. I've spent most of my formative years in the desert, and I love calling the valley my home.

    I felt the call of ministry from a young age (16) when I had an encounter with God at a prayer night. From that moment on I knew that I was called to Shepard people into a loving relationship with their creator. At this junction in my life, I can say without a doubt that the residency program at Southwest has been life-changing and career altering in regards to pastoral abilities. We are getting real world experience daily coupled with foundational biblical teachings. It's a program the likes of which I have never encountered, and I am blessed to be a part of it.

  • TYLER

    My name is Tyler. I didn't grow up in a Christian home; it wasn't until I was in the 7th grade that I started going to church here at Southwest Church. Over my high school years, I began to truly understand who Christ is and what he did on the cross, and I came to know our God, who loves us more than we could ever understand.

    When God called me into ministry, he pressed it into my heart to remember my early days as a young Christian. This is why I feel called to pour into kids, students, and young adults. I know God has called me to teach them about His perfect love and to help them understand their faith.

    Through the residency, I am learning how to build pathways of growth for kids, students, young adults, and men’s and women’s ministries. I'm excited to dive deeper into my faith, gain a deeper understanding of it, and learn how to teach it to others, to build leaders that will raise up the next generation.