Pastoral Residency

At TVC, we want to make sure you are ready to take on life. We want you to lean into your God-given gifts and divine calling. Will you take the next step and put on the armor of God?

Get Equipped for Every Good Work.

The Pastoral Residency is an intentional process for training qualified leaders to become pastors, church planters, or missionaries. The residency is focused on developing a qualified leader through spiritual formation, theological training, ministry experience, and practical skills. The residency will help residents develop strategies to engage the city with the gospel, make disciples, and lead a church. Designed to find and hone the calling of the pastorate in men. Residents will learn, practice, and apply skills necessary for a faithful church ministry. This is a non-funded residency lasting at least 1 year.

Our Residency is broken up into 4 stages:

Stage One: Spiritual Preparation

Become disciplined in the fundamental characteristics of a church elder.

Experiences pertinent to this stage:

Attend a conference on spiritual well-being
Attend and lead a prayer meeting
Begin a mentorship relationship with a “pre-resident” candidate

Subjects taught for developing a strong "Philosophy of Ministry":

What is Worship?
What is the Church?
Coherent Ministries/Connecting the Dots
Mentorships and Intentional Discipleship
Philosophy of Missions: "here and there"

Stage Two: Church Leadership

Become a confident strategist and comprehensive planner for church ministry.

Experiences pertinent to this stage:

Attend and evaluate elder meetings
Attend and evaluate finance team meetings
Lead a ministry planning meeting
Help develop a ministry calendar

Subjects taught for developing "Church Systems":

Calendaring
Financial philosophy
Ministry Batons (Delegation)
Contemplating Objections in Leadership
Philosophy of Change

Stage Three: Missional Engagement

Become a passionate and competent winess of the Gospel.

Experiences pertinent to this stage:

Attend a mission trip
Lead part of the mission team
Develop and execute an outreach event

Subjects taught for developing a "Practical Theology/Missiology":

Grit/Determination
The Power of Prayer
The Necessity of Global Missions
Leading a Team Well
Planning with Contingencies

Stage Four: Shepherding

Become an able teacher/preacher in all settings, from behind the pulpit to the counseling session.

Experiences pertinent to this stage:

Attend and lead a community group
Attend Preaching Labs
Sit under counseling (marriage, personal, etc.) for 6 weeks
Create and execute a counseling plan for someone else

Subjects taught to develop a Shepherding/Pastoral heart:

Deep Theological Study:
- Hebrew/Greek Language Tools
- Inductive Study Method
- Lesson Planning (Hook, Book, Look, Took)
Sermon preparation process:
- P.R.E.A.C.H.
- Preaching Labs
Biblical Counseling Process

Resource List:

These are the books that will help facilitate discussion, mentorship, and discipleship during this residency. Each book must be read, reviewed, and discussed.

Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life

Don Whitney

We aren’t meant to wait for holiness―we’re meant to pursue it. God commands Christians to actively “be holy,” but what does that look like in daily life? Rather than overwhelming legalism or loose boundaries, Don Whitney encourages us to find a practical middle ground through biblical habits.

Praying the Bible

Don Whitney

Offering us the encouragement and the practical advice we’re all looking for, Don Whitney outlines an easy-to-grasp method that has the power to transform our prayer life: praying the words of Scripture. Simple, yet profound, Praying the Bible will prove invaluable as you seek to commune with your heavenly Father in prayer every day.

Pastoral Ministry

John MacArthur

Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically presents a practical pastoral theology aimed at showing pastors and pastors-in-training the vital role God's word plays in shaping the preparation and maintaining the priorities of pastoring.

On Being a Pastor

Derek Prime and Alistair Begg

Derek Prime and Alistair Begg provide practical advice for both the spiritual and practical aspects of pastoral ministry. They delve deep into topics such as prayer, devotional habits, preaching, studying, and specific ministry duties. The result is an essential tool for those in pastoral ministry.

Mere Christianity

C. S. Lewis

Mere Christianity explores the core beliefs of Christianity by providing an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith. Mere Christianity remains strikingly fresh for the modern reader.

Conversational Evangelism

David Geisler & Norman Geisler

Witnessing used to involve laying out the truth and guiding a person to understand and accept it. But the awareness of basic Christian principles has changed, and so have the needs of pre-believers. With a passion for people, authors David and Norman Geisler share an engaging, conversational approach to evangelism.

Soul Physicians

Robert Kelleman

Soul Physicians provides a relevant, in-depth theology of biblical counseling. Just as medical students examine the anatomy of the human body, so soul physicians need to understand the anatomy of the human soul. Soul Physicians offers a theological foundation for the ministry of biblical counseling, soul care, and spiritual direction.

Christ-Centered Preaching

Bryan Chapell

With the help of charts and creative learning exercises, Chapell shows how expository preaching can reveal the redemptive aims of Scripture and offers a comprehensive approach to the theory and practice of preaching. He also provides help for special preaching situations.

Expectations:

Membership

Residents are expected to pursue church membership at The Village Church, which is commensurate with all the responsibilities and demands of membership at a local church.

Mentorship

Participate in 1-2 hours of personal mentorship/discipleship per week, focusing on these five areas: (1) Philosophies of Ministry, (2) Systems and Planning, (3) Deep Study Methods, (4) Preaching and Teaching, and (5) Biblical Counseling

Maturity

Demonstrate spiritual humility, teachability, and a growing Christlike character. Affirm our statement of faith. And complete all assignments and work on time.