Residency Program

providing emerging leaders with real-life experience in a local church

Real-Life Experience in a Local Church

The Mountainview Residency Program is a two-year ministry training program (with a one-year evaluation) designed to provide emerging leaders with real-life experience in a local church. This is accomplished through personal mentoring and meaningful ministry responsibilities. The Residency Program is a part of Mountainview’s 3G mission to Glorify God, Grow in Jesus, and to Go into the World.

Residents gain valuable ministry experience by serving as part of a staff team in one of Mountainview’s ministry areas. Over the course of two years, the resident will be encouraged to lead as well as learn. The ministry area in which a resident serves will be based on personal experience, team chemistry, and what the resident hopes to do in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Residency At Mountainview?

  • A two-year leadership development program for emerging leaders who feel called to vocational ministry.
  • Hands-on ministry experience within a department of the church (administration, children’s, church planting, community, care, preaching, spiritual formation, students).
  • You will be paired with a mentor for personal development.
  • Learn leadership skills through weekly leadership training, with a different topic each month.
  • Additional opportunities will also be provided, including: a Resident Retreat, registration costs for conferences, reading a variety of books, etc.

What Does Compensation Look Like?

  • Residents will receive a stipend of $500 per month.
  • We will help find a host home for you, or you are free to find your own housing.
  • We will provide books for the training.
  • We will provide the registration costs to any conferences over the 2 years.
  • We offer discretionary and sick time off.

What Are The Qualifications For A Resident?

  • Clear calling into vocational ministry
  • Committed to Mountainview’s mission, vision, and staff culture
  • Agreement with Mountainview’s statement of faith
  • Some ministry experience
  • Clear ministry competence and leadership potential
  • Successful completion of application process
  • A desire to change the world!

Typical residency candidates will be ministry-minded undergraduate students or recent graduates looking for practical experience before seminary or full-time employment.

What Are My Next Steps?

  • Read through our Residency Program page to identify whether we’re a good fit for you!
  • Apply by clicking the APPLY NOW button and fill out our questionnaire and application.
  • Interview either in-person if you’re local or via a Google Hangout.

Important Dates

  • Now accepting applications for 2021 Residency start.
  • August 1st, 2021. Residency begins!

Potential Ministry Opportunities

A Church Administration Resident would learn the ins and outs of operations, planning, and team management. It is suited for a person who wants to be a church administrator or executive pastor.

Tracy Van Vleet – Executive Pastor. Tracy has served on staff at Mountainview in various capacities for nearly 20 years. For the last several years, she has served as the Executive Pastor – overseeing the effective operation of all ministry areas. In 2016-2017, she served as Mountainview’s owner representative during our $1.5 million remodel.

The Care Resident will work closely with Mountainview’s care ministries — including pastoral counseling, Stephen Ministry, and prayer.

Dan Hettinger – Congregational Care Pastor. Dan brings over 30 years of ministry experience to our care ministries. His experience includes being a church planter, chaplain, and writer. He is active chaplain with Denver Hospice and SkyRidge Hospital.

The Childrens Resident will have the opportunity to work in and help lead our Mountainview Kids ministry!

Phil Christian – Family and Teaching Pastor Phil has been on staff since 2012 and oversees Mountainview’s family ministry approach. Prior to Mountainview, Phil served at Rocky Mountain Christian Church – a multisite church located north of Denver. Phil joined Mountainview’s teaching team in 2017.

The Community Resident will work alongside ministries such as life groups, connections, and community engagement. The focus will be on how to foster a strong sense of community within a local church.

Jon Shaw – Connections and Missions Pastor. Jon has been on staff with Mountainview for over 5 years, leading our small group, connections, and community engagement ministries. Jon is a graduate of both Johnson University and Hope International University.

The Formation Resident will explore the various ways that spiritual formation occurs. They will be an active participant in helping plan and execute formation opportunities.

Matt Cass – Spiritual Formation Pastor. Matt brings over 10 years of ministry experience to his role as Director of Spiritual Formation. His experience includes serving as a youth pastor, college pastor, and college professor. He has two master’s degrees from Abilene Christian University.

The Church Planting Resident would focus on learning the practical skills needed for starting a new church. The resident would gain a broad exposure to church life while also connecting with other church planters.

Ken Hensley – Senior Pastor. Ken has been with Mountainview since 2009. Prior to that, he planted a church in San Diego through Stadia (a national church planting organization). He currently serves as President of Church Planters of the Rockies, a ministry focused on starting new churches across Colorado and the Front Range.

The Preaching Resident will learn how to develop sermon plans, work with creative teams, and improve their communication skills.

Ken Hensley – Senior Pastor. Ken has been with Mountainview since 2009. Prior to that, he planted a church in San Diego through Stadia (a national church planting organization). He currently serves as President of Church Planters of the Rockies, a ministry focused on starting new churches across Colorado and the Front Range.

Phil Christian – Family and Teaching Pastor. Phil has been on staff since 2012 and oversees Mountainview’s family ministry approach. Prior to Mountainview, Phil served at Rocky Mountain Christian Church – a multisite church located north of Denver. Phil joined Mountainview’s teaching team in 2017.

The Student Resident will have the opportunity to work in both our Middle School Ministry and High School Ministry.

Caleb Combs – Student Pastor Caleb has been on staff since March 2019 and moved from Florida. He is a graduate of Johnson University Florida.

The Worship Resident will gain experience in the different aspects of worship ministry – tech, music, lighting, creative planning, as well as worship leading.

Jay Whitman -Worship & Creative Arts Pastor. Jay joined our staff in 2017, coming to us from the Bay Area. Jay attended both Berklee School of Music and Eastern Michigan University.

Our Residency Coaches

Tracy Van Vleet

Executive Pastor

Ken Hensley

Senior Pastor

Phil Christian

Family and Teaching Pastor

Dan Hettinger

Congregational Care Pastor

Jon Shaw

Connections and Missions Pastor

Jay Whitman

Worship and Creative Arts Pastor

Matt Cass

Spiritual Formation Pastor

Caleb Combs

Student Pastor

About Mountainview

We are an non-denominational church that has been serving South Denver for over 25 years. We began in a grade school, built our current building in 2002, and have been helping start and revitalize churches across South Denver since the very beginning.

Apply Now

The Process

Questionnaire

Questions that help us know you better.

Application

All the stuff we need to get started.

Interview

In-person or via a Google Hangout.

Background Check

All the legal stuff we need to know.

Invitation

A chance to have coffee with us every day!

Residency Directors

Ken Hensley

Senior Pastor

Tracy Van Vleet

Executive Pastor