Woodstock Residency

Why a Residency Program?

Woodstock Community Church desires to be a landing place for aspiring church planters and their families where they can learn the ins and outs of planting in the Pacific Northwest. Through our two-year residency program, planters will immerse themselves in a new culture, build relationships, and discover what strategies thrive (and which don’t) in this unique region. All the while, they’ll be equipped and strengthened to launch their own vibrant ministry.

WCC began as a church plant seven years ago, and we understand the unique challenges and joys of starting fresh in the PNW. We want to share our lived experience, helping planters establish rhythms that foster cultural understanding, community connection and discipleship. Beyond practical training, we’re committed to offering encouragement and emotional support, knowing how isolating church planting can be without a strong network.

Goals and Expectations

• Practice being a missionary.  Spend adequate time prayer walking and initiating conversations with neighbors, baristas, etc. This is an opportune time for identifying and examining the tangible needs of the neighborhood, as well as hearing from the Lord on how they will shape their vision for their future neighborhood. What does our community need? How can our church help meet those needs?

• Practice being good church members. A good church member proactively builds healthy relationships, meets needs, exercises their spiritual gifts, and evangelizes regularly. Learning to love those who are already coming to Christ is valuable for both the church planter and the body. Connected and participate in a group. 

• Develop ministry skills. Meet at least twice a month with Woodstock Community planter/pastor identifying areas of life and ministry that need to be stretched and worked on. Give the resident ample opportunity to lead, teach, evangelize, pray, etc... Depending on where residents are in development, recommend and review books that specifically address the areas they are working on (preaching, evangelism, leadership, etc...).

• Develop leadership skills. Examine and evaluate with residents who are following or working to help the planter gain followers. We want to see them start something from scratch, and then manage and grow it, if possible, while serving our congregation, so that they do not have to worry (yet) about the pressures of keeping their own church going. 

• Develop godly character. In all parts of the residency, we want to emphasize that they learn to love, and that they learn patience as they seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the glory of God. 

• Develop outreach skills. Plan, host and serve community outreach at one of our local parks (Flavel, Brentwood, Woodstock, Mt Scott). Each planter is to adopt a park during their time of service as a place to connect and serve the community. Outreaches will be held during summer months. A planter doing a two year residency will be expected to host two outreach events (one each summer). This will give experience in casting vision, building a team, planning the event, marketing the event and following through with excellence as you keep the Gospel at the center of it all. Our team is available to help and coach the planter through all of the skills.

• Develop fundraising skills. In the high cost of living area of the PNW, fundraising is necessary for every church planter. Learn to raise funds as the Lord grows your Kingdom vision, all while serving in the context you desire to reach. 

Read and Study

Choose two books for each category below to read and report one of our pastors over the course of 24 months (for a total of eight books). 

• Leadership (ex: Dever’s “How to Build a Healthy Church”)

• Pastoral (ex: Piper’s “Brother’s We are Not Professionals”)

• Missions (ex: Wright’s “Mission of God”)

• Church Planting (ex: Keller’s “Center Church”)

In addition, CP Residents will work through Grudem’s “Systematic Theology” over the course of 24 months together. 

Requirements & Process

All future residents will be required to apply with WCC. If you sense a calling to plant a church in the Pacific Northwest, are currently a member of a SBC church (and in good standing there), as well as Biblically qualified to plant/pastor according to 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, then please reach out to Patrick Grant with WCC to start the conversation. Planters that have not already gone through the process of becoming a North American Mission Board Church Planter, will need to be prepared to do so.

Steps to Join the Residency:

• Apply

• Meet with Pastor and staff of WCC

• Plan