Investing in Leaders to the Fullest
Training Residents in Crawfordsville, Indiana
In a mission to “multiply healthy churches by multiplying healthy leaders,” Rock Point Church, Crawfordsville, Indiana, is training the next generation of church leaders through residencies and summer internships.
To train up future pastors in particular, the church is “raising the ministry competency and leadership capacity of inexperienced men who are aspiring to ministry through theological learning, leadership coaching, and ministry experience.”
The pastoral residency program has two options: The first is a three-year Seminary Residency, allowing men to pursue an accredited MDiv through Faith Bible Seminary, Lafayette, Indiana. As residents pursue their degree, they serve full-time on staff in various ministries while being developed as leaders.
Danny Kolata, a 2022 graduate of the Seminary Residency program and current discipleship pastor at Rock Point Church, preaches in a Sunday service.
The second option is an 18-month Leadership Residency. This program provides experience in leadership, preaching, and teaching for young men who have already finished their MDiv studies. This full-time position focuses on developing gifts like administration and preaching to refine their pastoral giftings and increase their readiness to serve as pastors.
Justin Schlabach is a recent graduate of Rock Point’s 18-month residency program. He says the Lord used the program to equip him for his new position as the director of young adults at Redeemer Bible Church, Greenwood, Indiana. His new position consists of shepherding, vision casting, and delegating responsibilities for the approximately 125 people who attend on Wednesday nights.
Former resident Justin Schlabach preaches to young adults at Redeemer Bible Church, Greenwood, Indiana.
Justin credits the program’s emphasis on exposure, experience, and development. “These focal points led me to grow in my character, sharpen my ministry competencies, and stabilize my theological convictions,” he says.
Justin says the elder-led ministry meetings helped him think through leadership decisions and shepherding issues. “Receiving a wide array of experience in the local church assisted in me growing from preaching convictions all the way to strategic planning and delegation,” he says.
Receiving mentorship and access to great ministry resources also helped him develop personally as a leader, a shepherd, and a disciple of Christ. Justin says the most profound aspect of the residency was the feedback and mentorship he received regularly. “Being shepherded by men who’ve served in ministry significantly longer than I have shed a light on areas where I was weak and motivated me to enhance areas where the Lord has gifted me,” he says.
Rhett Thomas says God used his time as an intern at Rock Point Church to define who God wanted him to be and to grow a love for ministry. “I came into it as a musician and worship leader, but I ended up staying in full-time ministry because I caught the vision for passionate ministry from my pastors there,” he says.
Rhett Thomas, a former summer intern, reads Scripture as a call to worship during a Rock Point worship service.
Rhett started in the summer of 2017 then returned for a yearlong internship after finishing his degree at Liberty University in May 2018. He’s been the creative director at Rock Point since June 2019 but is leaving his full-time position to run a new business: helping churches grow gospel-centered creative ministries. “It’s an extension of the work I’ve done at Rock Point for the last seven years,” he says, “and I’m stoked to apply what I’ve learned and done here to help other churches grow.”
On any given Sunday, pastoral resident Zach Leitch serves as the “service host” at Rock Point—welcoming people, giving announcements, and leading the congregation in prayer. He says his residency has greatly shaped his character, his convictions, and his heart to shepherd the local church.
Zach believes learning theological truths and Biblical doctrines in Bible college was foundational for his ministry growth. “However, Bible college alone lacks in its ability to raise up pastors who know how to shepherd,” he says. “My time at Rock Point allowed me to lead, teach, and shepherd in a capacity to grow and make mistakes.” He adds, “I’m so thankful that I was able to learn from our pastors while not being under that same weight.”
Zach says his residency gave him opportunities to preach, teach, counsel, and disciple people toward a greater love for Jesus. “I’m immensely thankful for how the front-row seat to our pastors doing the work of shepherding shaped me,” he says. “Their humility, courage, and compassion in leading our church have prepared me to be a pastor who does the same.”
Now Rock Point is sending Zach to help plant Providence Church in Speedway, Indiana. Zach says, “I am confident in my call to pastor God’s people, not due to my own merit, but due to God’s work in my life, which He accomplished through my time at Rock Point. I am eager to give my life to the ministry of the Word and the labor of shepherding God’s flock.”
