Residency

Are you pursuing a career in Nonprofit Leadership? Are you feeling called to Church Ministry? A fulltime Leadership Residency could be your best next step!

Why Residency?

Most degree programs that prepare students to lead in vocational ministry don’t provide potential pastors and leaders with the connections and hands-on experience they need in order to thrive in career level ministry jobs. The Fearless Leadership Residency is designed to bridge Ministry Leaders from their education (or previous job) into full-time ministry careers and to prepare pastors to lead new church plants. During your time in the residency, you’ll learn more about yourself, church ministry, and what it means to work on a team for the advancement of Jesus’ Kingdom. Partner with our Fearless Family of Churches to discover God’s DREAM for your future in full-time ministry.

God's Dream, My Ambition

Our DREAM process will help you….

D

Discover how God has equipped you to lead

R

Rooted in God’s Word, His community, and His mission

E

Explore and be exposed to various aspects of ministry

A

Apprentice and gain valuable hands-on experience

M

Ministry training, mentoring, and coaching

Residencies available in…

Church Planting

Young Adults Ministry

Children’s Ministry

Missions Ministry

Operations & Executive Leadership

Worship and Technical Arts Ministry

Student Ministry

Life Groups Ministry

Care and Pastoral Ministry

“God used the Fearless Residency to reveal my passions and calling. Along the way I learned so much about my relationships with God, others and myself. After finishing my second year there was a clear next step and now I get to be in a ministry role that I love!”

Abby Strange

Our goal at the end of your residency is to…

  1. Help you find a fulltime position within our churches.
  2. Invite you back for a 2nd year of residency.
  3. Help you find your next step in ministry through our connections and recommendations.

Once your residency is complete, you’ll work with your coordinator to identify one of the following next steps. We’re here to help place you in fulltime ministry in a place that fits your unique interests and skills.

Program Phases

Phase One

Ministry Apprentice

  • Choose a focus area of ministry within one of our churches. 
  • Learn to lead teams and events within a church ministry context.
  • Phase 1 concludes with commissioning out into ministry or an invitation to a Phase 2 of residency.

Phase Two

Ministry Leader

  • Learn to lead other leaders and whole programs.
  • Seek full-time employment within the Fearless Family of Churches or other organizations.
  • Phase 2 concludes with commissioning out into ministry or an invitation onto our staff.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most frequently asked questions about residencies with Fearless Family of Churches are answered here. For more information, please get in touch with us.

To be considered for this residency you must be 18 years or older, have an undergraduate degree or equivalent experience, complete an online application by the deadline, be accepted through the interview process, and fundraise your minimum support amount by the beginning of the fall ministry season.

TIME: This is a full-time residency (40 hours a week). If you are in the process of completing a degree, or in a bi-vocational ministry situation, a possibility that a 30-hour residency may be available depending on the circumstances.

DOING THE MATH

Phase 1 resident could make up to $2000 per month. You raise $500 minimum and we match you dollar for dollar up to $1000, for a combined total of $2000.

Phase 2 resident could make up to $3000 per month. You raise $750 minimum and we match you dollar for dollar up to $1500, for a combined total of $3000.

FUNDRAISING:  

Fundraising is an important part of leadership in any non-profit organization. Your ability to fund your mission and vision is directly connected to the long-term success of your organization. 100% of the money you raise will go directly to your compensation. Anything raised over your combined yearly cap will cover training expenses through the residency program. We provide coaching and resources for your fundraising journey.

INSURANCE:

Matching support from the Fearless Family of Churches is meant to help you in purchasing health insurance as needed.

Great question! You can find a full description of the position in a PDF here.

Studies show that church planting is THE most effective and efficient means of reaching those who are far from God with the love of Jesus. Rather than continuing to grow our existing churches, we have a vision to plant churches all over Western Michigan, in strategic cities around the country and in different countries throughout the world. To help us do this, we need leaders just like you. The Fearless Leadership Residency is our way cultivating, assessing, training, and sending leaders to serve at our current and future Fearless churches and at partner church plants. Our hope is that our residents will become staff members and pastors who help us catalyze a movement of church-planting churches.

Apply For The Residency

Interested in joining the residency program? Use the form here to apply, and one of our team members will get back to you soon.