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Southland Residency

About

Southland is a multi-site church of people in Central Kentucky who believe the best way to live life is with Jesus, in community, and on mission. Our Residency Program is discipleship-based and individually designed to provide hands-on training in your chosen ministry area.

Our Residency is a year-long, full-time program designed as a post-graduate experience for young adults (21-30) who are called to local church ministry.

the four pillars of Southland Residency

  • Large blue number 1 and text reading 'One Mission: We are preparing servant leaders for local church ministry.'
  • Number 2 with text "Two Goals: We want to look more like Jesus & serve the church for a long time."
  • Graphic with large number three and text "Three Foundations: Servant Leadership, Calling Clarification, Ministry Preparation."
  • Large number 4 with text emphasizing four actions and characteristics: serve, celebrate, approach, trust with humility, gratitude, grace, resilience.

Our Unique Residency Format

A group of people posing enthusiastically in casual clothing, some wearing orange T-shirts, standing outdoors in front of a brick wall and greenery.

Cohort term

Beginning the first week of June, we spend the summer growing together as a group. This includes learning how Southland carries out the mission to reach lost and broken people, book discussions, field trips to local ministry partners, a domestic mission trip, and a Residency retreat.

A parking lot worker, a woman wearing an orange safety vest, is conducting a car scan with a handheld device, smiling as she interacts with the driver inside the red car.

Fieldwork Term

In mid-August, residents spread out to their desired areas of ministry. Each resident is paired with a Field Supervisor who coaches them on how to serve in their context. This includes opportunities to shadow, work alongside, and completely own areas of the ministry. During the Fieldwork Term, our Residency meets one afternoon a week to continue cohort training.

THE Residency Application is CLOSED

Questions?

Ministry Area Concentrations

  • Administrative Support

  • Campus Pastor

  • Kids Ministry

  • Church Planting

  • Communications/Marketing

  • Creative Arts/Media

  • Connections

  • Missions

  • Outreach

  • Pastoral Care

  • Preaching

  • Production

  • Small Groups

  • Special Needs

  • Student Ministry

  • Technology

  • Music and Worship

  • Young Adult Ministry

  • A group of ten young adults posing outdoors in front of a brick wall and trees, some wearing matching orange and navy blue shirts with that read 'Southland Residency'.
  • A group of smiling people wearing matching blue 'Christian Appalachian Project Mission Trip' T-shirts, with one holding a sign reading 'Southland Church'. They are standing together in an indoor setting.
  • Group of eight friends smiling on a balcony with a scenic mountain view in the background, surrounded by fall foliage.
  • Group of five people wearing "Southland Residency" apparel, sitting on chairs and a sofa, with artwork and comic-style drawings on the wall behind them.

FAQ

  • Yes!

    Residents work approximately 40 hours per week.

  • Yes!

    We offer a $1,000 bi-weekly stipend as a 1099 contract employee. You will also be given a MacBook Air to use during your residency that you get to keep after graduation!

  • Yes!

    Southland provides two properties for unmarried resident housing at no cost to residents — one for guys and one for girls.

  • Yes!

    Along with our Human Resources team, we will help you learn how to find healthy churches to consider, create an effective resume, and interview well. We will walk alongside you in your job search, connect you to opportunities that are referred to our program, and help you discern next steps.

  • Maybe!

    Residents will have the option during their job search to apply for open positions at Southland, but there is no guaranteed job beyond the terms of the Residency Program.

  • Once our application opens in the fall, we accept residents on a rolling basis, which means we consider each application individually as it comes in instead of having a set “end date” when applications are due. We will keep the application open until all our spots have been filled. We always keep applicants up to date on their status in the process.

  • Yes! 

    We have partnerships with Graduate Programs through Ozark Christian College and Johnson University and are able to allow a little more flexibility in your schedule if you are enrolled in one of these programs.   

    If you are considering enrolling at another graduate school, we will work with you to determine if it is compatible with the Residency.

MEET THE CURRENT RESIDENTS

  • Young person wearing glasses and a short-sleeve button-up shirt

    Aaron Bruner

    Danville | Students

  • Person with red hair wearing a light-colored top and glasses, smiling indoors.

    Elizabeth Hatfield

    Danville | Kids Ministry

  • Jack Teegarden

    Lexington | Production

  • Smiling person wearing a light purple blouse

    Parker Swayne

    Richmond |
    College, Local Outreach, Groups

See what the residents are doing, get the latest updates and more!

Check out the Residency Instagram page!
Questions?