Southland Residency

Your future starts here!

“We are a thriving local church with a passion for developing future church leaders. We want to help the next generation discover their passion, unlock their potential, and fulfill their calling in God’s Kingdom.”

WHY IS A RESIDENCY A GOOD IDEA?

If you feel called to church ministry, we believe there is great value in doing a residency because the Church needs folks who can be better leaders for a longer time. Getting a year of practical, hands-on training and development helps future leaders be equipped to do healthy ministry for the long haul.

Our program helps shape leaders who become:

  • Followers of Jesus, and servants first.

  • Deeply rooted in their identity in Christ.

  • Self-aware and character-driven.

  • Well trained in pastoral care and ministry skills.

  • Grounded in biblical truth and theological understanding.

  • Connected to a community of other supportive leaders.

  • Resilient and committed to rhythms that support long-term spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional health.

  • Ready to serve the Church with humility, wisdom, grit, and joy.

What’s the structure of the Residency Program?

June –May

Our program begins each year in early June and goes until the following May, with the possibility of “graduating” out of the program a little early if you find a great job in ministry.

Here’s how the year is structured:

  • ∙ Acclimation to Southland’s DNA.

    ∙ Observation and hands-on service across several ministry areas.

    ∙ Core content study.

    ∙ Cohort-style learning with special teachers.

    ∙ Cultural Kentucky field trips.

    ∙ Domestic mission trip.

  • ∙ Field work in your specific area of ministry.

    ∙ Growing in your giftings.

    ∙ Increased responsibility and leadership in practical ways.

    ∙ Regular meetings with staff and supervisors.

    ∙ Continued core content study.

    ∙ Practical support in application and interview skills.

    ∙ Phasing toward ministry placement or next steps.

What ministry areas can I be a resident in?

Regardless of which specific ministry area a resident chooses, ALL residents will get to observe and experience the following:

  • Weekly preaching and communication by Jon Weece and Scott Nickell.

  • Leadership lessons from Southland’s executive staff.

  • Insight from Southland’s experts in:

    • Worship and Production Ministry

    • Children’s Ministry and Student Ministries

    • Groups and Guest Experience Ministries

    • Creative Video and Communications

    • Biblically Based Justice Ministry

    • Multi-Site Strategy and Campus Pastoring

    • Church Planting

  • Administrative Support

    Campus Pastor

    Children’s Ministry

    Church Planting

    Creative Arts

    Finance

    Guest Experience

    Missions

    Outreach

    Pastoral Care

    Preaching

    Production

    Small Groups

    Student Ministry

    Technology

    Music and Worship

    Young Adults Ministry

HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M A GOOD FIT FOR THIS PROGRAM?

This residency is designed to be a post-graduate experience — meaning it’s aimed towards folks who are finished with their undergraduate degree (whether from a regular college/university, or a Bible college). However, we also consider anyone in the age range of 21-30, even if you didn’t have a “traditional” college experience!

Our residency is specifically targeted towards those who feel a call into local church ministry. You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do, but it is most beneficial for your experience here if you have a general sense of how you feel called to serve the body of Christ. That helps us place you in a ministry field that aligns with your giftings and passions!

Every resident is considered on a case-by-case basis. If you’re ever unsure or have more questions about if this program would be a good fit for you, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to talk with you! Email our residency staff team anytime at residency@southland.church.

What are the perks?

  • If you're considering pursuing a master's degree while also doing a residency, we have partnerships with Graduate Programs through Ozark Christian College (OCC) and Johnson University (JU), which is a possible benefit to you. We have a close relationship with both Ozark and Johnson, and trust the level of excellence in their teaching and instruction of biblical studies, spiritual formation, and ministry readiness.

    Our partnership with OCC extends to any of the M.A. emphases that they offer: Biblical Studies, Strategic Leadership, Spiritual Formation, or Biblical Ministry. The benefits of our partnership include a 10% discount on the cost of tuition for the entirety of your master’s program (even if you continue it after your residency is over), as well as a partial fulfillment of master’s requirements through your residency experience.

    Our partnership with JU extends specifically to their Master’s of Strategic Ministry. The benefits of our partnership include the ability to fully complete the degree and the residency within the same 12 months (though a time extension for the degree is available if needed), as well as a partial fulfillment of master’s requirements through your residency experience.

    If you are interested in pursuing formal higher education alongside your residency experience here, we encourage you to consider these as beneficial options! Both the OCC and JU Graduate Programs are online experiences, making it possible to do either one alongside your commitment as a resident here in Kentucky. For more information on the specifics of our partnership with these schools, please email us at residency@southland.church.

    It is by no means a requirement for you to pursue formal higher education while doing a residency here. While much of Southland's residency curriculum is not academically strenuous (you won't be writing any term papers or taking any finals with us!), it is thoughtfully curated and requires commitment to engage with, similar to some of the teaching and development you would receive in a graduate program. Our style is a bit more "blue-collar scholar"—our goal is to take the theological and theoretical and help you make it practical and personal.

  • • This is a part time experience.

    • We pay you!

    • It is a highly personalized program.

    • We provide housing.

    • You get a free Macbook Air (for keeps!).

    • Central Kentucky has a unique, special culture.

    • It's a whole heck of a lot of fun!

FAQs

  • Each resident’s program is unique. Hours will vary, but most residents will work at least 5 hours on Sunday and varying hours during the week. We really want to honor your time, so we stick very closely to the 25 hours a week without secretly expecting you to do more than that. There are some exceptions (i.e. mission trips, church-wide events or conferences, etc.), but we make sure you have that information several months in advance so that you can plan accordingly.

  • Absolutely! Part of the reason why our program is part-time is so that you have the freedom to earn additional income or pursue other academic interests. However, we do expect residents to meet the requirements of our program as their first priority.

  • You can bring your own vehicle and we will provide the parking space!

  • Yes! We pay residents $500 every two weeks, as well as provide free housing for unmarried residents.

  • Southland provides two separate properties for resident housing— one for guys, and one for girls. You would live roommate style with your fellow same-gender residents in a regular house or apartment at no cost to you. While we do welcome married folks to apply for the residency, we are only able to provide housing for single residents.

  • Of course! All yours! We are fans of Apple products around here.

  • Residents will have the option during the placement phase of their residency to apply for open positions at Southland. Residents will follow the same application process as all potential candidates for openings at Southland. There is no guaranteed job at Southland beyond the terms of the residency program. It’s always a possibility, but never a promise!

  • We will walk alongside you to help you identify your fit in ministry and what your best next steps are. We will guide you through the application and interview process as best we can with the goal of helping you find a job in ministry. Our hope is that when you leave our residency program, you enter into some type of church ministry— and we will do everything we can to help make that happen.

  • 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. That being said, the earlier you apply, the greater chance there is that we still have open spots! We will notify any residents in process of their status. Anyone not accepted has the option to apply for the following year.