Vineyard Community Church Residency Internship Program

 

Vision

The VCC R.I.P. exists to give comprehensive training to those interested in current and future lay, part- and full-time ministry.  It is a 2-year program that involves the intern in a combination of learning and field exercises that expose them to a broad ministry perspective.  This involves guided self-study, group sessions, and service in the local church.

This option for internship differs from other models in that:

1. It is designed for people who are working full-time and/or have a full schedule with other academic pursuits
2. It provides a drawn-out internship experience without the intern having to be inundated with ministry
3. It allows a medium-sized church without a large pastoral staff to conduct a residency program
4. It focuses on skill and experience, emphasizing an on-the-job training model, while leaving the intern responsible to pursue theological training (Vineyard Institute is recommended if seminary/Bible college are not possible)

 

Cost

There is no cost for the interns aside from purchasing books for themselves.

 

Time commitment

Interns can expect to spend around 20 hours per month on course material.  This includes on-the-job ministry training which most are already doing concurrently as service in the local church, though the same may extend beyond the time commitment of the VCC R.I.P. itself.

 

Format

Each month the intern will be involved in a three-part training process:

1. Self study, consisting of books, webinars, and other tools; 5-15 hours
2. Service in the church; 10-20 hours
3. Monthly intern specific meeting with pastor and other interns; 3 hours

At these meetings we will:

1. Build relationship
2. Discuss personal and ministry growth using monthly report
3. Discuss self-study and homework materials

 

Schedule

Residency is broken into 2 years consisting of 8 quarters and approximately 500 course hours.  The first year focuses more on inner development and by the second year the focus has shifted to outer development.  A tentative schedule, subject to change, with study tools, follows below.

 

Credential

Upon completing the VCC residency, aside from a chance to work alongside leadership in a local church and have regular coaching and training in ministry skills/qualities, the intern will have the credential of having served in this capacity which may be helpful for future ministry opportunities.

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Residency Schedule

Note:  Homework assigned is due for discussion during that respective month’s R.I.P. meeting.  For example, at the January 2025 meeting we will digest and discuss all assignments listed for that month.

2025 — Year 1, focus on inner development

Quarter 1 (winter), January-March, INNER LIFE

Spiritual health, motives, fit for ministry, integrity and character

JANUARY

• Take the enneagram test (click the CLASSIC button) at http://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test.php
• Watch webinar “Using the Enneagram to Clarify your Calling” (multiplyvineyard.org)
• Take the DISC test (basic free version) at https://www.crystalknows.com/personality-test
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself” – can be printed or digital – if the latter, please submit via e-mail before meeting) due for meeting discussion
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material [Phil. 4:8 exercise]

FEBRUARY

• Read Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
• Fast one full day without food if medically possible (water/juice fast is fine; you will go to bed hungry) and give focused prayer about your purpose in life
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material [Examen bookmark, exercise]

MARCH

• Read The Way of the Heart by Henri Nouwen
• Calendar one day of silent retreat this month
• Fast from all non-work-related internet use for 7 consecutive days this month
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

 

Quarter 2 (spring), April-June, VISION

Gifting, calling, leadership qualities

APRIL

• Take the spiritual gifts assessment and bring results, found at this link!
• Read A Tale of Three Kings and also The Prisoner In the Third Cell, both by Gene Edwards.
• Write a proposal for your dream ministry, including 6-month, 2-year, and 5-year plans, with goals for each and action steps for each goal
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

MAY

• Read Strengthening the Soul of your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton
• Interview 3 seasoned leaders you admire (from any context), take notes, find out what brought longevity in leadership
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

JUNE

• Read The Emotionally Healthy Church by Peter Scazzero
• Ask 5 people you trust to speak briefly about your personal blind spots; bring results to discuss
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

 

Quarter 3 (summer), July-September, VALUES

History and values of the Vineyard movement

JULY

• Read The quest for the Radical Middle by Bill Jackson
• Visit a non-Vineyard service (any denomination, any service aside from Sunday morning) and be prepared to discuss
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

AUGUST

• Read Empowered Evangelicals by Rich Nathan
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

SEPTEMBER

• Read The Making of a Leader by Robert Clinton
• Prepare a visual timeline of your leadership journey according to Clinton’s model
• Diagram ministry values/goals and systematic achievement of the same (classroom exercise)
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

 

Quarter 4 (fall), October-December, PRACTICALS

Planning, preaching and pastoral ministry

OCTOBER

• Read The Art of Pastoring by David Hansen
• Create a philosophy of ministry document for discussion (chapter 8, Clinton)
• Training in exegesis and hermeneutic application for study and teaching preparation (classroom exercise)
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

NOVEMBER

• Read Move by Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson
• Plan one church-wide event for the coming year; include needs for personnel, facility, money, and time, providing a complete start-to-end program for your event, on paper
• Training in preaching skills and approach (102 document)
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

DECEMBER

• Prepare and present a 12-minute sermon according to guidelines provided
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

 

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2026 — Year 2, focus on outer development

Quarter 1 (winter), January-March, SYSTEMS

Home groups, children’s church, advertising, finance and facility board

JANUARY

• RETREAT – this month’s intern meeting will be a nice meal on the house
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

 

FEBRUARY

• Read Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Lead one meeting at the home group you attend
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

MARCH

• Serve one time in children’s church this month (you will need to pre-plan this)
• Using a prescribed template for comparison, create a church budget for all church expenses
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

 

Quarter 2 (spring), April-June, DISCIPLESHIP

Systems and programs for intentional discipleship and membership and leadership training

APRIL

• Review/discuss ecclesiastical format for church (staff/leadership/finance/elder teams)
• Create a schematic for a 75-member church that lists (a) values (b) personnel (c) programs necessary to make disciples
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

MAY

• Read “Disciples are Trained, not Born (recruit/train/deploy/monitor) by John Wimber, at https://vineyardusa.org/library/disciples-are-trained-not-born/
• Pick one person to shadow and assist you in your ministry this month; be prepared to report
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

JUNE

• Year 2 Month 6 will be a free month, enjoy the rest
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month)

 

Quarter 3 (summer), July-September, OUTREACH

Compassion ministry both local and abroad

JULY

• Discuss various forms of ministry (planting/staff/missionary) and positives and negatives of each (classroom exercise)
• Pick the missions-centered book of your choice, read, prepare to share with the class (this can be on objective book or a case study/story of a famous missionary)
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

AUGUST

• Plan one church-wide outreach for the coming season with intent to implement; include needs for personnel, facility, money, and time, providing a complete start-to-end program for your event, on paper
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

SEPTEMBER

• Read Power Evangelism by John Wimber
• Ask for direction and pray for prophesy and healing for 7 people this month; be prepared to report back
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

 

Quarter 4 (fall), October-December, MISSIONS

Sending, church planting, and missions partnerships

OCTOBER

• Share your faith with three people this month and report on the experience
• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

NOVEMBER

• Field Exercise (15 hours/month) and monthly report (1 page on “What ministry is teaching me about ministry and what ministry is teaching me about myself”)
• Monthly intern meeting, be prepared to discuss all monthly material

DECEMBER

• Final review of residency material and experience over a scrumptious dinner