We believe that church planting is the most powerful agency for evangelism, discipleship and advancing God’s Kingdom in our world. For over 10 years we have seen God accomplish this reality. We also believe almost everything rises and falls on leadership. Our Church Planting Residency Program is a year-long intensive designed to equip and prepare church planters for maximum impact through church planting.

*** The first 10 years of the FA Residency required relocation to Little Rock.  That is no longer our model.  We are now de-centralized.  We work with the Resident to determine a host church for him during the Residency and gather the cohort twice a month, for 3 days at a time, in a centralized place.

FA Residency Program Methodology

Jesus calls His followers to a big vision – to be His church. He calls His children to share His hope with the world and to equip believers for service. Accomplishing such a great vision requires servant leadership. From the beginning, God has used gifted leaders to build His church — leaders who bless people; who inspire and encourage; who help others become part of something bigger than themselves; leaders who are known not only by their character, but also by their effectiveness. Our Church Planting Leadership Residency Program is designed to come alongside such leaders and help them win.

Residents begin the program with the dream of planting a new church. They are launched six months later much better prepared to begin their great adventure. Typically, we will invite five to seven participants to join the program each year. During their time here, we share with them everything we’ve ever learned about planting and leading a community-influencing church. Our goal is to set them up for success by equipping them with proven ministry tools and strategies, a network of relationships, greater personal awareness, team ministry skills, and insights from those who have been there.

We like to think of the Leadership Residency as a church-planting incubator. It allows young entrepreneurial leaders who know they’ve been called to the directional leadership of a new church plant to take their first steps toward doing so while being coached and encouraged every step of the way. It is a “safe” environment where they are not being pressured to “do” church as they are building their foundation, but are free to dream, shape, sharpen and grow alongside other leaders who are doing the same thing.