Leader Track FAQs

Internship is designed to be a short term (seasonal, usually summer) experience for those who’ve not yet graduated from college. It can fulfill a college requirement or just be for personal enrichment.

Leadership Residency is a longer term (1-2 year) experience for emerging leaders who are in the process of discerning a call to vocational ministry in the Church. It helps to develop the leadership skills necessary for effectiveness in ministry. The time commitment for this experience is generally 12-16 hours per week and it’s ideally paired with your senior year of college (if attending college in Chicagoland) , though not required.

Pastoral Apprenticeship is a 1-year experience for leaders who have discerned a clear call to vocational ministry, specifically at New Life Community Church. It provides ongoing leadership training, along with several key pastoral experiences to develop the skills necessary to thrive as a New Life pastor. The time commitment for this experience is approximately 20 hours per week and is ideal for a recent college graduate, though open to (and required for) anyone seeking to join pastoral team at New Life.

If you’re heading into your senior year of college in the Chicago area and are pursuing a call to vocational ministry, the Leadership Residency at New Life will give you practical experience and training to help equip you for your future.

Though residency is best suited for college students in Chicagoland, this experience is also open to those who may currently be working in the marketplace and sensing a call to vocational ministry. The Leadership Residency is designed to invest in a person’s leadership skills and helps participants discern God’s call moving forward.

Apprenticeship is typically only open to those who’ve completed the Leadership Residency experience (exceptions are made on a limited, case-by-case basis). If you’re preparing to graduate from college (or graduated recently) and feel a clear sense of calling to serve as a pastor at New Life Community Church, apprenticeship is the path for you. Being successful as a New Life pastoral apprentice means you have strong leadership potential that’s been identified by others, and that you align with our style of ministry, mission, and values. You must be a flexible, adaptable person who possesses a strong work ethic, a teachable spirit, and an insatiable desire to learn.

If you're a freshman, sophomore, or junior in college and may be trying to decide if God is calling you into ministry, an internship at New Life gives you the opportunity to watch other ministry leaders and see what working in a church is like first-hand. It also provides experience doing something you love and knowing that you're serving God. Internship gives you an excellent opportunity to put your foot in the water and prepare for what vocational ministry is like.

No. Internships are only available to those who’ve not yet completed a degree program. If you’re a college graduate, you would be eligible for our Leadership Residency Program.

For most programs, no. You must secure your own housing in order to participate in our programs.

Project 72 students will live in community and you can find more information on the Project 72 website.

Internship and leadership residency experiences are unpaid. Pastoral Apprenticeships are compensated at $16.25/hour for approximately 20 hours/week.