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Leadership Institute
our mission
You were made with deliberate thought and purpose. Our internship and residency programs are designed to help you discover and embrace your God-given calling for His glory. We believe in empowering individuals to reach their God-given potential so they can live out their Kingdom purpose.
Leadership Institue Newsletter
what are we trying to do?
make disciples
Follow Jesus’ commission to make disciples – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
multiply leaders
Multiply leaders who prioritize abiding in the Father’s love – “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5
equip the saints
Equip the saints for the work of ministry – “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13
how do we do this?
through training
- Throughout the Gospels, Jesus continually taught the disciples through word and deed what it means to follow Him.
- We follow His example by offering training that is geared to help individuals grow in gospel fluency, and practical ministry knowledge (see below for core training and learning outcomes).
through modeling
- Jesus beautifully demonstrated what servant-leadership looks like by giving the disciples access to His life where He modeled first-hand how to live out the Christian life.
- We follow His example by giving individuals access to seasoned ministry leaders who embody Christ’s values and model how to live a life that is glorifying to God.
through service
- Through teaching and demonstration, Jesus equipped the disciples with the knowledge and skills they needed to live out His commission to multiply themselves. Jesus empowered the disciples and sent them out.
- We follow His example by giving individuals hands-on opportunities to serve in various ministries where they gain valuable experience and a deeper understanding of how they can participate in the Kingdom. By being immersed in ministry, we want to see individuals empowered as they embrace their identity in Christ and live out their purpose wherever God calls them.
internships & residencies
Every year young men and women come through our program who are eager to learn and get hands-on ministry experience as they discern God’s calling on their life. We offer two pathways in our leadership development pipeline: unpaid internships for either the summer and/or schoolyear, and year-long paid ministry residencies.
Similar to our internships, ministry residencies entail weekly training, one-on-one coaching, and immersion in a ministry area. Our residency is designed for individuals who have a strong desire to pursue ministry vocationally. The residency is great for someone who is looking to get more ministry experience as they discern where God is calling them next. The residency is a year-long program and a 20-hour a week commitment.
Desired Outcome:
Our desired outcome is that individuals who go through our residency program would gain further clarity about where God is calling them and how they can use their experience and gifting for His glory. Ultimately we want to equip and release the saints for the work of ministry wherever God would call them next.
Qualifications:
- Ages 21+
- Has strong sense of calling
- Must meet leadership qualifications as outlined in the Woodside Bible Church bylaws
- One year minimum of ministry experience (required)
- Possesses a minimum of an Associate’s Degree or equivalent (required)
- Previous Internship (required)
- Bachelor’s Degree (preferred)
Our residencies are full for 2025, we will be accepting applications starting January 1st, 2026 for residencies beginning May 2026.
Our internships are great experiences for those who want to gain more ministry experience and exposure. Whether you sense the calling to full-time vocational ministry or are looking for a more intentional way to grow in a discipling community, the internship is a great short-term option. From our weekly training, one-on-one coaching, and ministry immersion, our interns are continually challenged to look at their lives through a Gospel lens as they embrace their identity in Christ and live it out in their ministry areas and beyond. The internship is a 15-hour a week commitment.
Desired Outcome:
Our desired outcome is that individuals who go through our internship program leave with a stronger understanding of the Gospel, who they are in Christ, and how He has uniquely equipped them to impact the world around them for His glory.
Qualifications:
- Ages 18+
- Has some sense of gifting and calling
- Minimum of a high school diploma. Some college preparatory work desired
- Experience serving in local church context
ministry tracks
Whether it is for a summer or schoolyear internship, or our year-long residency, each individual selects a ministry track where they will gain hands on experience in a specific area at one of our campuses. This is where they can apply what they are learning from both the intensives and ministry specific electives.
deploy & seminary
Woodside proudly partners with Grace Theological Seminary to offer seminary training through a program called, Deploy. There are two degrees currently available to Woodside students: MA in Local Church Ministry and an MDiv in General Ministry.
Woodside also partners with Moody Bible Institute to offer a Certificate in Worship Leading. This 22-credit certificate gives worship arts residents and interns the ability further grow in knowledge around worship arts ministry and theology.
FAQ
what characteristics do we look for in interns and residents?
- They have an active and vibrant relationship with Jesus
- They operate from a deep motivation to bring God glory through their actions
- They have a servant’s heart
- They have integrity and live above reproach
- They are humble and teachable
- They are enthusiastic to learn and jump in wherever there is a need
- They are adaptable and patient
- They are hardworking and proactive
- They exhibit a joyful spirit and genuine love for people
- They are willing to step out of their comfort zone and have fun
what’s the difference between an intern and a ministry resident?
Internships:
Internships can be for the summer (13 weeks) or for the whole year. Internships don’t require previous experience and are 15-hours-a-week, unpaid. Our internships are great experiences for those who want to gain more ministry experience and exposure; they do not require the individual to have a clear sense of vocational calling but are designed for those who are looking to discern if God is calling them into ministry. Our desired outcome is that individuals who go through our internship program leave with a stronger understanding of the Gospel, who they are in Christ, and how He has uniquely equipped them to impact the world around them for His glory.
Residencies?
Residencies are year long (May – May), part-time, paid positions at Woodside. Residents will be placed at a Woodside campus and work 20 hours in their desired ministry track. They will also attend weekly training with the Institute, receive one-on-one mentorship and coaching, and be involved in a leadership small group. Our residency is designed for individuals who strongly desire to pursue ministry vocationally. The residency is great for someone seeking more ministry experience as they discern where God is calling them next. Our desired outcome is that individuals who go through our residency program gain further clarity about where God is calling them and how they can use their experience and gifting for His glory. Ultimately, we want to equip and release the saints for the work of ministry wherever God calls them next.
how does placement at a specific campus and in a ministry work?
We take a few things into consideration when selecting a campus placement:
- Your proximity to the campus – ideally, we want you to live in or near the area you will be serving so you can be plugged into community there.
- If you are currently plugged in and a member at one of our campuses already – ee don’t want to pull you away from your church family.
- Overall capacity and needs of the campus – we want to place you at a campus where you will have the best chance to grow and succeed while also considering what the campus needs and if they have the capacity shepherd and support a resident in any given ministry track.
When you apply, you will select a ministry track you are interested in pursuing. Your preferences will be taken into consideration as we find a good placement for you. Our ministry areas include Kids, Students, Young Adults, Adults, Care (special needs), Outreach, Pastoral, Worship Arts, Communications, and Operations. Once you are placed at a campus in a specific ministry track, you will work with your Direct Report to write out a Development Plan that will list your main work tasks and path to professional development in those areas.
what is the weekly required training?
Every week Institute students participate in trainings called Leadership Intensives. This is where all interns and residents come together for a time of learning and fellowship. We have breakfast and then we get to learn from one of our seasoned ministry practitioners. After the teaching, we break up into small groups for further discussion and fellowship. Depending on the day, you will also have additional trainings (workshops or cohorts) or coaching in the afternoon. Intensives take place Thursday mornings/afternoons and are mandatory for all interns and residents.
what are workshops, cohorts, and coaching?
Workshops – these are special trainings during the school year (not the summer) on stand-alone topics deemed relevant to ministry success. There are approximately 4 workshops per-year on Thursdays in the afternoon. Previous workshop topics included “how to have difficult conversations” and “how to communicate effectively”.
Cohorts – these provide additional community and training with residents all in the same ministry track. As of right now, only certain ministry tracks have cohorts.
Coaching – all residents will have the opportunity to take part in professional coaching. Professional coaching is a specific time where a resident comes to a session with a trained coach having identified an area where they are stuck, and the coach assists with questions to draw out tangible next steps. The goal of the coaching sessions is for residents to be able to identify what they believe the Lord is asking them to do and creating a plan for forward movement.
what are direct reports and spiritual formation mentors?
Each intern and resident has a Direct Report and a Spiritual Formation Mentor.
WHAT IS A DIRECT REPORT (DR)?
A direct report is the “boss” to whom the intern/resident reports weekly. Depending on the role and gender of the intern/resident, direct reports may also function as the spiritual formation mentor. Direct Reports give directives, assist with development plans, and are often the creators of the job descriptions and development plans.
Key Tasks:
- Meet at least (2X) per month for an hour
- Work hands on with the Leadership Institute and Resident/Intern to articulate the Development Plan
- Provide direction for the tasks of ministry
WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL FORMATION MENTOR (SFM)?
A Spiritual Formation Mentor is someone who walks the intern/resident through ministry life, helping them process personal challenges and determine areas of growth. SFMs provide intentional time to check in and provide support.
Key Tasks:
- Meet (2X) per month for an hour, 1:1.
- Listen well and ask good questions.
- Focus on the issues of the heart.
what does an average week in the life of an intern/resident look like?
What an average week of an intern or resident looks like will vary from student to student. But in general, you will have 10-15 hours of work at your campus in your ministry track. Here, you will do the tasks set forward by your Direct Report and outlined in your Development Plan. These tasks are dependent on your ministry track and could be anything from scheduling volunteers for upcoming Sundays, helping to prepare Sunday’s lesson for Kids Min, assisting in planning and executing campus events, setting up slides or lights, editing Woodside blogs or social posts, etc.
You will also have about 5 hours of Institute time per week. This included required reading for the weekly Leadership Institute trainings (called Intensives). On Thursdays you will be at Intensive until the afternoon, attending a teaching and then engaging in your small group. You could also have coaching that week, a workshop or cohort, or be meeting with your Spiritual Formation Mentor.
when are each of the programs offered?
Summer internships: end of May to the end of August
Schoolyear internships: September to the end of April
Residencies: May-May
can I work and be an intern or resident?
While many of our interns and residents hold part time jobs while completing the program, we do not recommend working a full-time job. The internship is a 15-hour minimum commitment, and the residency is a 20-hour commitment, so we have seen that individuals are most successful at juggling work and interning when it is at a part-time level.
do you provide housing?
We do not provide housing, though we can work with you and help you find reasonable and affordable housing while you complete your internship or residency.
have more questions?
email us mattuitti@woodsidebible.org
