Are you a junior or senior in college or a recent college graduate (and within 10 years of your high school graduation?) Do you have experience leading in ministry, and are you strongly considering making that your full-time career? The Damon Shook Residency Program is designed for you.
The Champion Forest Residency Program is named in honor of Damon Shook (who served as our Senior Pastor for twenty-eight years.) he led the church to be about Missions, Evangelism, Reproducing Discipleship, and the Bible. He studied ferociously so that he could build people up in God’s Word. More
“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting his character in the things you do and say – living lives that lead others away from sin], having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.”
This local body of Christ desires to continue the legacy of Damon Shook and Champion Forest Baptist Church through the residents that are trained and equipped for the ministry.
The Residency provides biblical training, discipleship, and real-life ministry experience for near college graduates (juniors or seniors), or students working on their Master’s degree or PhD studies. It helps people prepare for vocational ministry by developing their natural gifts and sharpening their skills. This 12-month long deep dive into the Word of God provides both theological training and hands-on experience in ministry. It is a “residency” in the same way that young doctors go through residency; the church is a teaching hospital and the Residency allows you to learn from and work alongside more experienced church leaders.
The Residency provides much more than just classroom teaching (although it does include that.) Residents get to experience living and serving together in a close community that is authentic, caring and fun. The goal is not to simply fill your head with knowledge, but to encourage your heart to fall more in love with Christ and give you a vision of what a healthy local church looks like. More
A typical week in the Residency starts with a full day of school and online studies on Mondays. Tuesday through Thursday you will work in your assigned ministry area with your staff supervisor, along with a weekly one-hour classroom session with all the residents. Friday and Saturday will be personal time for rest, family, sabbatical, and study (unless there is a special church event.)
Once a month there will be lunch and personal spiritual development with our Senior Pastor, Dr. Jarrett Stephens. Plus, a once a month “Family Time” that focuses on the heart and life of a leader. Residents will learn about spiritual disciplines and character formation and take time to share and pray with each other.
Starting in 2022, we will have residency housing at the Lanier Theological Library campus. Between now and then we will do all we can to help you find housing with church members.
Our desire is to train you for life, ministry, success and faithful, long obedience to Jesus and His church.
Students selected as residents will receive an annual salary of $20,000.00, with a $5000 education/technology stipend. The stipend for education will be paid directly to the graduate school or university on your behalf. Residents will also receive a $1,500.00 Mission Trip Stipend that can only be utilized on Champion Forest Mission Trips per year.
Paid Time Off: The week between Christmas and New Year, the office is closed. Staff are given that week of paid vacation. Beyond that, work with John Wills and your ministry supervisor to schedule time off during the rest of the year. You have two weeks of paid time off, plus the week between Christmas and New Year.
Relocation Costs will be considered case by case. The housing at the Lanier Library will be fully furnished.
The Residency will be a one-year commitment, with a potential second year. More
Residents will be able to study and do research at the Lanier Theological Library, the largest private theological library in the world.
Residents will attend library lectures and have access to past lectures, transcripts, and multiple research databases (BAS, J-Store, Galaxy).
You will serve alongside gifted and called ministers who serve/specialize in the following areas:
Apply for 2025-2026.
BEGIN APPLICATIONThe Residency program provides biblical training, discipleship, and real-life ministry experience for near college graduates (juniors or seniors), or students working on their Master’s degree or doctoral studies.
