MINISTRY ASSOCIATES PROGRAM
The Ministry Associates Program (MAP) at Faith is a two-year[1] apprenticeship that identifies, trains, and prepares men and women for a lifetime of gospel ministry. It is a long-term, strategic investment that can make a profound impact on the kingdom of Jesus Christ for future generations.
application process
In addition to completing the application, please email a cover letter and an updated copy of your resume to Rev. Dr. Nathan Parker, Senior Pastor, at nathanp@faithpcachurch.org with “Ministry Associates Program” as the subject of the email.
Please contact Nathan if you have any questions regarding the application process.
About the Program
eligibility
To be eligible for the Ministry Associates Program, an individual must 1) have recently graduated from college (just completed their senior year) or be close to graduation by the time the program starts, 2) be considering vocational ministry as their calling, and 3) meet all Safe Church standards.
Impact
Upon completion of the program, some participants will undertake formal theological training and enter vocational ministry. Others, not sensing a call to full-time ministry, will pursue other career paths. Happily, either outcome is a profound win for God’s kingdom. Those in the former category begin theological education with extensive ministry experience as well as a realistic understanding of what vocational ministry is like. Among other benefits, this should reduce the alarming number of young pastors who leave the ministry.[2] For those in the latter category, mature Christian leaders will gradually saturate the marketplace. All participants will acquire ministry skills that will enable them to effectively serve the Lord for the rest of their lives, whether their vocational calling is to serve in the church or the world.
Benefits to the host church
The MAP is run by the local church, not an outside organization. Thus, the local church directly benefits from it. The following is a sampling of the benefits to churches that host ministry associates: these churches employ servants to assist the church’s ministries as well as initiate new ones; they potentially identify future staff and leadership; they display a commitment to being kingdom minded by developing then exporting trained ministry leaders; and finally, they have the satisfaction of knowing that they are equipping the next generation of Christian leaders. A further benefit is that church members are welcome to participate in some of the educational and training activities the associates undertake.
Time use
How will associates spend their time? There are three areas of focus:
Learn: Bible survey, hermeneutics, theology, Christian worldview, church history, evangelism, apologetics, pastoral ministry, communication, counseling, and formulating and implementing a philosophy of ministry.
Minister: engaging with children, youth, college students, men’s and women’s ministries, outreach, teaching, discipleship, personal work, leading Bible studies, serving in local schools and ministries, establishing new ministries at church that serve our body and the community, and assisting our elders.
Serve: includes making meals, setting up and breaking down rooms, training volunteers, running errands, working on the church property, and assisting our deacons.
Uniqueness of the program
There are training programs in America similar to the MAP, but nothing identical. Some of these focus on equipping men and women to acquire a biblical view of work. An example of this is the Briarwood Fellows program at Briarwood Presbyterian Church. This program exists to train men and women who do not sense a call into vocational ministry. Therefore, they work at the church part-time and at a job within their field part-time. The intention of the program is to equip men and women to think biblically about their work. The Capitol Fellows program in Washington D.C. is similar. Another dissimilar program is the pastoral internship at Capitol Hill Baptist Church. This internship lasts five months, is primarily academic in nature, and is only open to men.
Contrasted with these opportunities, the MAP is designed to invest in both men and women who sense a call into Christian ministry. The MAP provides them with two years of ‘boots on the ground’ ministry experience prior to seminary or formal training. At the end of the program, they will know whether vocational ministry is for them. Even if they do not pursue vocational ministry, they will become architects, lawyers, homemakers, landscapers, or economists who possess ministry abilities second to none. As a complementarian church, we aim to prepare men for ordained roles and females for non-ordained roles.
Funding
Associates are responsible for raising half their annual support ($9,000), while Faith will contribute the other half ($9,000). Living costs for associates are defrayed through shared housing and associates staying in host homes.
Sample weekly schedule for an Associate
Monday:
Morning: Preparations and planning for the week; follow up from Sunday contacts
Afternoon: Personal work, long-term planning (calendar and preparations)
Evening: Appointments, personal work, study
Tuesday:
Morning: Staff meeting
Afternoon: Study and preparation for Wednesday
Wednesday:
9:00 – 11:00: Check-in on weekly progress, sermon discussion
11:00 – 12:00: “Dead Theologians Society” (with church members)
12:00 – 1:00: Lunch together (with church members)
1:00 – 03:00: doctrine/theology, church history, Bible survey, evangelism, philosophy, pastoral ministry, leadership, apologetics, evangelism, etc. (with church members)
Evening: College/RUF/student ministry
Thursday:
Morning: Implementing ministry plans
Afternoon: Personal work
Evening: Weekly dinner with associates
Friday: Day Off
Saturday: Periodic ministry such as training seminars, classes, and service opportunities.
Sunday: Worship, Sunday School, child care, practical hospitality, student ministry
FAQs:
Do I have to become a member of Faith to participate in the MAP?
We believe it is important for Associates to participate fully in the life of our church body and that church membership is an important expression of that commitment. Furthermore, it is important that they be brought under direct accountability of our session, the spiritual overseers of our church. Note that we will permit associates to become associate members of Faith if they wish to maintain their full church membership at their home church.
Can I take on a part-time job to supplement my income while serving as an associate? One of the key features of the MAP is that Associates serve in the church full-time, and therefore they will not have time to commit to a second job. This means it will be important for Associates to put in the necessary effort to raise half of their financial support. Thankfully, housing costs (rent and utilities) are covered which greatly defrays the amount of money that would need to be raised.
While it is true that Associates forego a larger salary while in the program this is a temporary sacrifice they are making. Just as many young men and women push pause on their careers to attend graduate school for a few years, we are convinced that making a 2-year investment in yourself is a worthwhile investment that will pay significant dividends for many decades.
[1] Associates initially commit to one year with an additional year added for those approved.
[2] According to one survey, 50% of new pastors do not last 5 years in ministry and only 10% retire as pastors. More than 50% of pastors feel that seminary did not adequately prepare them for ministry. https://www.pastoralcareinc.com/statistics/
[3] The roots of this program go back to Sydney, Australia in 1979 when the Evangelical pastor Philip Jensen initiated an intensive 2-year training program with college graduates. The next 28 years saw over 1,000 young people complete the apprenticeship.
