I tried to walk away from my calling. It was the team at Leadership Pathway that pulled me out of that pain. Sometimes, the call still feels impossible, but God is teaching me that He deals exclusively in impossible matters.
Read MoreI just kept saying yes.
While still in high school, I kept getting opportunities for leadership and activities in my home church. I just kept saying yes, which eventually landed me in the position of being the “go-to” worship leader on Sunday mornings. I was completely in over my head, but there were some great people there challenging and encouraging me to go for it.
Every leader's pathway is unique, and David Ramirez' path is no different. He is currently in the Denver area and is pursuing online education.
What is your current status? (job title, church)
Connections Resident, LifeBridge Church in Longmont, CO.
Sometimes “paying it forward” doesn’t take decades. Just ask worship leader Brandon Grant of Eastside Community Church in Richmond, KY. “I was headed to the University of KY to pursue a law degree,” says Brandon, “and then my pastor challenged me to think about ministry.”
Read MoreLeadership Pathway (Lp) is thrilled to partner with Perimeter Church of Atlanta. We are searching for their next worship resident. You can read more about that opportunity here. We thought we’d pick the brain of Leah Sowell, the Director of the Residency program and learn all we could about their journey doing residency at Perimeter.
Read MoreDiscovery Christian Church in Broomfield, Colorado (Denver) is several years into building a residency program. Recently, we *sat down with the Lead Pastor of Discovery, Steve Cuss, to talk about the unique view a senior pastor brings to such an endeavor. Discovery averages about 1,000 people on a typical week and is about fourteen-years-old.
Read MoreA few years ago I spoke with a young man on the phone. He was trying to figure out his future and what his next step should be in ministry. I listened to his story and experiences and knew that if he would just stick with it eventually he’d get picked up. The thing I kept reminding him was that great churches are always looking for great people. It came true in the Spring of 2016. This young man was hired at Central Christian Church in the Phoenix area.
Read MoreLp will soon have two new residents moving into Longmont, Colorado to begin the journey at LifeBridge Church. We wanted to get perspective on what this will be like from Worship Arts Associate, Mel Householder. Mel spent two years in residency and is now full time on staff.
Here are her answers to a dozen questions in her own words...no edits.
Read MoreGrowing up in one of the largest churches in America has its advantages. Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY is a great place, and an even better place to be when God gets hold of your heart for the things of Him.
This is where Dakota Draper was all through high school. “I gotta admit, I have been given a gift,” says Dakota, “how many people get to see hundreds, maybe thousands, of students give their life to Jesus and follow Him?” But that’s exactly what it was like at Southeast.
Read MoreMeet Andrew Oceans Reed, Communications Resident at Cornerstone Church in Litchfield, MN. Andrew has only been in his new residency program at Cornerstone for just over a month but has already gained a plethora of experience in his new communication-specific ministry role. “I think this residency has been completely crucial to my long-term ministry,” says Andrew. “I am getting the exact work experience I need and I am learning and growing in ways that will prepare me for years to come.”
Read MoreKelsey grew up in church and all throughout high school knew she was called to go to a Christian college. And although she felt a calling, she didn’t fully understand what it meant to do ministry nor did she have an certain area or direction she felt passionate about. It wasn’t long into her time at school that God began to grow a passion in her heart for kids in the church. “I knew that the time I spent with the kids could be the only time they experienced Jesus in their entire lives. So I decided I would do everything I could to make that experience a wonderful experience, and one that will impact and grow their faith so that they can feel Jesus’ love just like I have.”
Read MoreOften times when we think of ministry training and residency programs, we think of the future executive pastor, the future worship leader, or the future children’s ministry director. But here’s the great thing about God’s Kingdom and the breadth that residency programs can offer—it’s inclusive of all talents, skillsets, and giftings. Here’s the story of Lexi Wegner, Communications Director at Reality Church in LaVista, Nebraksa and how her residency opportunity was a pivotal moment for her life and ministry calling.
Read MoreMeet David Schomer, Student Ministry Worship Leader at Willow Creek North Shore Campus. This is his story on the impact residency had on his ministry training.
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