Program Overview

Next Village
Pastoral Residency

A two-year, church-embedded formation program raising up pastors for the small towns of Southwestern Ontario.

2-Year Residency Heritage College & Seminary FEB | SW Ontario 4-5 Residents per Cohort London / Windsor / Sarnia Corridor

"Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out." Mark 1:38

What is this document?

This overview outlines the practical responsibilities of each party in the NVPR program—the Resident, the Host Church, and the Program Director—quarter by quarter across two years. Use it as your reference for expectations, goals, and accountability rhythms throughout the program.

Standing Responsibilities

These commitments apply to every party throughout the entire two years. Read these before the quarterly breakdowns.

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The Resident

Coursework:
Complete all readings, papers, and exams for 2-3 courses per semester on time.
Preaching practicum:
Preach at least once per month; receive written and verbal feedback.
Ministry lessons:
Meet monthly with the Director or host pastor for a structured pastoral ministry lesson.
Community engagement:
Actively participate in the life of the local community (not only the church).
Personal devotion:
Maintain a disciplined personal prayer and Scripture reading life.
Pastoral visitation:
Accompany the host pastor on visitation at least twice per month; eventually lead visits.
Financial stewardship:
Manage personal fundraising (~$667/month) and report to the Director quarterly.
Quarterly self-assessment:
Complete a written self-evaluation at the end of each quarter.
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The Host Church

Housing:
Provide or arrange stable, affordable accommodation for the resident.
Meals:
Host families provide regular shared meals; maintain a culture of hospitality.
Meaningful ministry:
Assign genuine ministry responsibilities and increase scope over time.
Mentoring:
The host pastor commits to at minimum monthly intentional pastoral conversation.
Sunday integration:
The resident worships, serves, and is known as a full member of the congregation.
Financial participation:
Contribute to the program as part of the church's missions budget (target: $1,000/month).
Feedback:
Provide honest written assessments at mid-year and year-end.
Prayer:
The congregation prays regularly and publicly for the resident and his formation.
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The Program Director

Curriculum oversight:
Ensure all coursework is taught to Heritage standards; coordinate with faculty.
Monthly pastoral lessons:
Deliver or delegate structured monthly formation sessions with each resident.
Host church relationships:
Maintain regular communication with host pastors; visit at least twice per year.
Formation monitoring:
Track each resident's development across academic, practical, and spiritual dimensions.
Assessment cycle:
Administer mid-year and year-end reviews; produce written summaries for all parties.
Donor and partner relations:
Steward relationships with funding partners.
Advisory board:
Convene twice per year; present program health and resident progress.
Heritage partnership:
Maintain the articulation agreement and dual enrolment logistics.

Year One: Rooting

The first year begins in May with an orientation period before classes start in September. The goal is for the resident to be genuinely rooted in the church and community before any academic pressure begins. By the end of Year One, he should be known by the congregation, grounded in foundational theology, and growing in practical ministry confidence.

Orientation: May-Aug
Q1: Sept-Nov
Q2: Dec-Feb
Q3: Mar-May
Period: May - August (Year 1)  |  No formal coursework this period

Resident Orientation Goals

Arrive, move in, and settle into the host church and community
Complete full program orientation with the Director (covenant, expectations, budget)
Begin learning names and relationships within the congregation
Lead or participate in a summer ministry project (VBS, outreach, community initiative)
Establish a personal devotional rhythm before academic demands begin
Set up personal fundraising and contact all donors
Resident
  • Attend all Sunday services and mid-week gatherings from week one
  • Begin accompanying the host pastor on pastoral visits
  • Introduce yourself to every member by name before September
  • Engage with the broader community outside the church building
Host Church
  • Provide a warm welcome and intentional hospitality from day one
  • Assign a host mentor (typically the senior pastor)
  • Provide a meaningful summer ministry project for the resident
  • Begin monthly pastoral conversation rhythm before September
  • Ensure adequate housing and settling-in support
Program Director
  • Conduct full program orientation (May/June)
  • Confirm all housing and placement logistics
  • Deliver first pastoral ministry lesson before classes begin
  • Visit each host church context over the summer
  • Confirm Heritage dual enrolment registration for September
Courses: New Testament 1  |  Old Testament 1

Resident Quarterly Goals

Complete program orientation with the Director
Settle into the host church and community with intentionality
Begin a consistent personal devotional rhythm and journal it
Complete NT 1 coursework with passing grade
Deliver first two practicum sermons with written self-reflection
Resident
Ongoing this quarter
  • Attend all Sunday services and mid-week gatherings
  • Begin accompanying the host pastor on pastoral visits
  • Introduce yourself to every member of the congregation by name
  • Submit Q1 self-assessment to the Director
Host Church
  • Provide warm welcome and intentional hospitality from day one
  • Assign a host mentor (typically the senior pastor)
  • Begin monthly pastoral conversation rhythm
  • Provide honest feedback after the resident's first sermons
  • Submit Q1 host church assessment to the Director
Program Director
  • Conduct full orientation with resident (expectations, covenant, budget)
  • Confirm housing and settling-in logistics
  • Deliver Month 1 and Month 2 pastoral ministry lessons
  • Observe or receive recording of first practicum sermon
  • Check in with host pastor by phone or visit
Courses: Old Testament 2  |  Systematic Theology 1

Resident Quarterly Goals

Complete OT 2 and ST 1 coursework
Preach at least once per month; demonstrate improvement from Q1 feedback
Lead or co-lead one pastoral visit independently
Articulate theological convictions on 2-3 core doctrines in writing
Participate in one Christmas/Advent ministry initiative in the community
Resident
  • Continue pastoral visitation with growing independence
  • Lead or assist in a Bible study or small group at least twice
  • Submit Q2 self-assessment
  • Meet with Director for mid-year review
Host Church
  • Provide resident opportunity to lead in pastoral care settings
  • Include resident in eldership or leadership meetings where appropriate
  • Participate in mid-year review process with Director
  • Submit mid-year written assessment of resident
Program Director
  • Deliver Month 3 and Month 4 pastoral ministry lessons
  • Conduct formal mid-year review with each resident
  • Produce written mid-year formation summary
  • Report to advisory board
  • Check in with Heritage regarding academic progress
Courses: Systematic Theology 2  |  Church History 1

Resident Quarterly Goals

Complete ST 2 and CH 1 coursework
Preach a full expository series (2-3 messages) on a biblical book
Take meaningful initiative in an area of community engagement
Write a 1,000-word personal theology of rural ministry
Begin discipling or meeting regularly with one member of the congregation
Resident
  • Continue visitation, Bible study, and community engagement
  • Reflect on Year 1 formation in a longer written self-assessment
  • Participate in Year 1 end review
Host Church
  • Give resident increasing sermon slots and real responsibility
  • Introduce resident to other pastors or ministry leaders in the area
  • Participate in Year 1 end review
  • Submit Year 1 end-of-year assessment to Director
Program Director
  • Deliver Month 5 and Month 6 pastoral ministry lessons
  • Compile Year 1 summative assessment
  • Convene advisory board Year 1 report
  • Plan Year 2 curriculum and formation emphases
  • Begin conversations with resident about post-program direction

Year Two: Deepening & Deploying

Year Two begins with a summer transition period in May before classes resume in September. The resident takes greater ownership of ministry, completes his academic credential, and actively discerns his long-term placement. He should finish the program in May ready and willing to take a pastoral role in a rural or small-town congregation.

Summer: May-Aug
Q1: Sept-Nov
Q2: Dec-Feb
Q3: Mar-May
Period: May - August (between Year 1 and Year 2)  |  Optional summer intensive available

Resident Summer Goals

Optionally enroll in a Heritage summer intensive course
Lead a summer ministry project with increasing ownership
Take a planned reading week (Director-assigned book list)
Rest and reflect: journal on Year 1 growth and Year 2 intentions
Submit Year 1 fundraising report and update all donors personally
Resident
  • Maintain consistent ministry involvement through the summer
  • Check in with Director at start and end of summer
  • Enter Year 2 with a named growth goal and renewed focus
Host Church
  • Provide a meaningful summer ministry project with real ownership
  • Ensure the resident has adequate rest and recovery
  • Communicate Year 2 expectations and any changes in the arrangement
Program Director
  • Facilitate summer intensive logistics if applicable
  • Informal mid-summer check-in with each resident
  • Finalize Year 2 curriculum, host church assignments, and ministry track
  • Confirm Heritage registration for Year 2
Courses: Church History 2  |  Pastoral Ministry 1

Resident Quarterly Goals

Complete CH 2 and PM 1 coursework
Preach regularly with minimal feedback scaffolding to demonstrate independence
Lead a pastoral visit series entirely independently
Begin a structured evangelism project with 1-2 unchurched community members
Articulate your sense of calling to rural ministry in a 500-word written statement
Resident
  • Take primary ownership of one consistent ministry area
  • Maintain monthly pastoral conversations
  • Submit Q1 self-assessment to Director
Host Church
  • Shift from supervision to partnership: treat resident as a junior minister
  • Give resident a genuine area of ongoing ministry responsibility
  • Submit Q1 host assessment to Director
Program Director
  • Deliver Month 7 and Month 8 pastoral ministry lessons
  • Begin formal placement discernment conversations with resident
  • Connect resident with FEB network and potential future church contexts
  • Reconfirm five-year rural service commitment
Courses: Pastoral Ministry 2  |  Elective / Heritage Directed Study

Resident Quarterly Goals

Complete PM 2 and elective coursework
Preach a full sermon series with strong exegetical and applicatory depth
Lead or organize one church event or outreach initiative from start to finish
Write a pastoral vision statement for the type of church you hope to serve
Have at least one substantive conversation with a potential sending/receiving church
Resident
  • Continue leading assigned ministry area with excellence
  • Participate in mid-Year 2 review
  • Begin writing a recommendation letter or preparing reference for placement
Host Church
  • Actively support placement discernment process
  • Provide honest mid-Year 2 assessment of resident's readiness
  • Participate in mid-Year 2 review
  • Discuss potential hosting or recommendation for future cohort
Program Director
  • Deliver Month 9 and Month 10 pastoral ministry lessons
  • Conduct mid-Year 2 formal review
  • Produce written placement readiness assessment
  • Convene advisory board mid-Year 2 meeting
  • Activate placement network: FEB churches, denominational contacts
Courses: Consolidation + Placement Conversations

Resident Quarterly Goals

Complete all remaining coursework; confirm Heritage credential completion
Preach a candidates' sermon at a potential receiving church (if applicable)
Write a comprehensive final self-assessment covering the full two years
Identify 1-2 specific rural/small-town congregations open to serving
Draft a pastoral resume and ministry philosophy statement
Resident
  • Continue leading ministry area with full independence
  • Participate in placement discernment and provide reference
  • Celebrate and honor completion with the congregation
Host Church
  • Host a commissioning or send-off moment for the resident
  • Write a formal pastoral recommendation for resident's placement
  • Submit final host church assessment to Director
  • Explore participation in next cohort
Program Director
  • Finalize placement discussions and connections
  • Coordinate Heritage credential confirmation and transcript
  • Compile Year 2 summative assessment
  • Prepare program graduation / commissioning service
  • Evaluate program effectiveness and report to advisory board

Launch Timeline

NVPR will launch in phases, building the foundation before scaling to a full cohort.

2027-2028
Foundation
  • Formalize Heritage partnership and dual enrolment
  • Connect with FEB network
  • Recruit 2-3 champion host churches
  • Develop curriculum
  • Begin major donor relationships
  • Identify first cohort informally
2028-2030
Pilot Launch
  • Launch with first cohort of 2-3 residents
  • Refine curriculum and placement logistics
  • Build donor base toward ~$164K target
  • Evaluate dual enrolment model with Heritage
2030-2032
Full Program
  • Full cohort of 4-5 residents
  • Program fully funded
  • Document and evaluate for reproducibility
  • Begin planning Cohort 2

How to Be a Part of This

NVPR is built on partnership. There are several ways to invest in raising up the next generation of rural pastors, no matter who you are.

For Churches

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Become a Sponsoring Church

Commit to monthly partnership support at $1,000/month. Four sponsoring churches provide the core financial foundation that makes the program possible.

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Become a Host Church

Open your congregation to receive 1-2 residents for two years. Host churches provide housing, mentorship, genuine ministry involvement, and a community to belong to.

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Share the Vision

Share this proposal with your elders, missions committee, or fellowship network. Invite the Program Director to present the vision to your congregation or leadership.

For Individuals

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Give Financially

Make a one-time or recurring gift toward resident support and program costs. Consider a multi-year pledge to help establish the program through its pilot years.

$50/mo, books for a year $100/mo, food & living $500/mo, half monthly support $1,000+/mo, founding sponsor
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Host a Resident

Open your home to a resident. Give him community, regular meals, and a place to belong. Host families are one of the most formative parts of the program.

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Pray & Refer

Pray consistently for the residents, host churches, and the villages they will serve. Know a young man with pastoral gifts? Connect him with the program.

Ready to take a next step? Reach out to the Program Director to discuss partnership, schedule a presentation, or ask any questions.
nick@bethelstrathroy.com

Find Out More

Interested in the program? Send the Program Director your details and he'll be in touch to answer your questions or discuss next steps.

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Message received!

Thank you for reaching out. The Program Director will follow up with you soon.

Get Involved

To learn more, discuss partnership, or schedule a presentation, contact the Program Director.

nick@bethelstrathroy.com
"Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out."
Mark 1:38