Internship & Residency
Ministry Experience
Each Shepherding Intern and Resident will gain real ministry experience and ownership during their time with us. Opportunities will be different depending on your designated ministry team and cohort but our commitment to you is to engage you in meaningful ministry experience. For example, all Shepherding Interns and Residents will participate in weekly ministry according to the rhythms of your designated ministry team. Shepherding Interns and Residents will collaborate with their team to continue to develop healthy serving teams. Each Shepherding Intern and Resident will also have an opportunity to teach or lead in different settings as applicable to your ministry area.
Ministry Experience
Each Shepherding Intern and Resident will gain real ministry experience and ownership during their time with us. Opportunities will be different depending on your designated ministry team and cohort but our commitment to you is to engage you in meaningful ministry experience. For example, all Shepherding Interns and Residents will participate in weekly ministry according to the rhythms of your designated ministry team. Shepherding Interns and Residents will collaborate with their team to continue to develop healthy serving teams. Each Shepherding Intern and Resident will also have an opportunity to teach or lead in different settings as applicable to your ministry area.
Development
Healthy things grow. The same goes for people. In the Shepherding Internship and Residency cohorts, participants can expect weekly mentorship meetings with the Pastor of Church for the Church, timely and constructive feedback from your Ministry Team Lead, and assessments at the midpoint and end of the cohort to affirm, encourage, and challenge you as you grow as a disciple of Jesus and a shepherd in the local church. Participants will engage in a weekly Learning cohort led by different shepherds on staff intended to offer a practical inside look on the various aspects of shepherding in a local church context. There will also be weekly reading assignments and book discussions using books from a carefully curated list intended to connect orthodoxy to orthopraxy. And as a member of our staff you will participate in normal staff rhythms such as Weekly Staff Prayer and Monthly Staff Lunch and get a chance to observe in a variety of settings such as the Ministry Leadership Team, Council of Elders, and First and Next Steps Classes.
Development
Healthy things grow. The same goes for people. In the Shepherding Internship and Residency cohorts, participants can expect weekly mentorship meetings with the Pastor of Church for the Church, timely and constructive feedback from your Ministry Team Lead, and assessments at the midpoint and end of the cohort to affirm, encourage, and challenge you as you grow as a disciple of Jesus and a shepherd in the local church. Participants will engage in a weekly Learning cohort led by different shepherds on staff intended to offer a practical inside look on the various aspects of shepherding in a local church context. There will also be weekly reading assignments and book discussions using books from a carefully curated list intended to connect orthodoxy to orthopraxy. And as a member of our staff you will participate in normal staff rhythms such as Weekly Staff Prayer and Monthly Staff Lunch and get a chance to observe in a variety of settings such as the Ministry Leadership Team, Council of Elders, and First and Next Steps Classes.
Housing
Although we can’t guarantee housing for interns, we will try. Intern housing, if we’re able to find it, will most likely be in a host home with someone from the church. Residents are expected to find their own housing, but we will do our best to help you find reasonable living accommodations. Public transportation is tricky out in the Suburbs so having access to reliable transportation is a must.
Applications
Shepherding Internship
The Shepherding Internship is a paid internship and is intended for college-aged students seeking internship experience in a local church. Summer Shepherding Interns are either full-time or part-time while Fall Shepherding Interns are only part-time. The 2026 Summer Shepherding Internship begins Tuesday, May 26th, goes for twelve weeks, and ends Thursday, August 13th.
Applications will be accepted until January 31st.
Shepherding Residency
Shepherding Residents serve as full-time shepherds on staff serving a minimum of 40 hours per week over five days, with two days off per week. The Shepherding Residency is a two-year program beginning the first Tuesday in June. Residents are considered salaried employees and are paid.
Applications will be accepted until January 31st.