Seek God.
Shape the leader.
Send the called.

A ministry leadership residency

A 10-month ministry residency for emerging leaders who believe God may be calling them to plant, revitalize, or lead within the local church—and who are ready to test that call in real ministry, alongside real people.

Trinity Baptist Church A13 logo

Space to discern your call and prepare to carry it

Much more than an internship

A13 places residents inside the life of Trinity Baptist Church for ten months of intentional development. Residents learn from experienced pastors, serve across ministry environments, build practical leadership skills, and receive the kind of honest coaching that helps turn potential into faithfulness.

The A13 Residency is not primarily about adding a line to a résumé. It is about clarifying the call that God has given you.

AT A GLANCE

LENGTH
10-month residency (September–June)
LOCATION
Lake Charles, Louisiana
EMPHASIS
Character, competency, calling, and mission
ENVIRONMENT
Local-church ministry with pastoral coaching
OUTCOME
Greater clarity and readiness for your next faithful step

Seek. Shape. Send.

The A13 framework

Three movements guide the residency from discernment to development to deployment.

01

Seek

Before asking where you will go, we ask who you are becoming and whether God is truly calling you.

  • Spiritual formation
  • Character and calling
  • Biblical and theological depth
  • Prayerful discernment
02

Shape

Potential becomes capacity through practice, coaching, responsibility, failure, reflection, and growth.

  • Preaching and communication
  • Leadership and team building
  • Pastoral care
  • Strategy, systems, and stewardship
03

Send

The goal is not to keep residents comfortable. The goal is to help them take a faithful next step into God's mission.

  • Church planting
  • Church revitalization
  • Vocational ministry
  • Strategic next-step planning

The Residency Journey

Ten Months with Intention

Each quarter builds on the one before it, moving from the inner life of the leader to the practical work of ministry and finally toward a clear launch plan.

Character & Call

Quarter 1
Identity in Christ, spiritual rhythms, emotional health, theology of calling, personal story, and ministry integrity.

Character & Call

Quarter 2
Communication, preaching lab, pastoral care, teamwork, conflict, administration, and the discipline of execution.

Vision & Strategy

Quarter 3
Mission, culture, contextual intelligence, discipleship pathways, budgets, systems, and building a faithful plan.

Launch & Sending

Quarter 4
Final ministry project, personal care plan, next-step strategy, commissioning, and a concrete path forward.

You don't need to have everything figured out.

WHO A13 IS FOR
But you should be ready to be known, challenged, coached, and stretched. A13 is designed for emerging ministry leaders who sense a call and want more than theory before taking their next step.

A13 may not be for you if…

You are mainly looking for a platform, a title, a comfortable year, or affirmation without correction. This residency asks for humility, grit, teachability, and a willingness to serve wherever the mission requires.
You sense God may be calling you to vocational ministry.
You want your character tested as seriously as your skill.
You welcome honest feedback and pastoral coaching.
You want to grow in theological depth and practical wisdom.
You are exploring church planting or revitalization.
You learn best through hands-on responsibility.
You are willing to serve behind the scenes as well as out front.
You are prepared to take ownership of your development.

Formation that Reaches the Whole Leader

What residents experience

Pastoral coaching

Regular access to leaders who will ask hard questions, help you process ministry, and invest in your growth.

Cohort intensives

Focused learning environments built around theology, leadership, communication, care, strategy, and mission.

Leadership assessment

Identify strengths, blind spots, patterns, limits, and the next areas that require intentional growth.

Real ministry responsibility

Meaningful assignments inside the church—not simulated exercises disconnected from people and outcomes.

Preaching lab

Prepare, deliver, review, and sharpen your ability to faithfully communicate Scripture.

A sending plan

Finish the residency with greater clarity, trusted feedback, and a strategic plan for the road ahead.

We are praying God will raise up leaders who strengthen churches for generations.

THE LONG VIEW
A13 exists to help seek, shape, and send faithful leaders into church planting, revitalization, and ministry leadership—wherever God calls them next.
Take the First Step

What You May Be Wondering

Questions

  • Do I need to know exactly what kind of ministry I am called to?

    No. Part of the residency is discerning and testing that call. You should, however, have a serious sense that God is leading you toward vocational ministry.

  • Will I receive compensation?

    Compensation, schedule, and residency expectations will be discussed during the interview process.

  • Is this only for future lead pastors?

    No. A13 can serve those exploring church planting, revitalization, pastoral ministry, missions, creative ministry, discipleship, and other church leadership roles.

  • What happens after I apply?

    Qualified applicants will move through conversations, references, and interviews designed to discern fit for both the applicant and Trinity.

  • Is A13 a seminary replacement?

    No. The residency is local-church formation and ministry practice. Depending on your calling, theological education may still be an important next step or concurrent step.

    • Your calling deserves more than a guess.

    Ready to Explore Your Next Step?
    Download the A13 application here. Once you fill it out, please send it back to David Cowan at DCowan@tbclc.org.
    Download the Application PDF