Residency Program
1/3 of regional churches have no designated worship leader.
Our Relay Residency Program is on a mission to change that.
About the Residency
our year-long in-depth training program for new or seasoned worship leaders!
There's a desperate, widespread shortage of worship leaders.
Our residency is a direct solution to that problem.
We're combining weekly classroom and music instruction, internships, study and practice, spiritual direction, and personal mentorship to equip worship leaders to become their most godly, anointed, thoughtful, and excellent selves.
This program is a great fit for recent high school or college graduates wanting to go into ministry or are unsure of what's next, folks well into their career outside of ministry hearing a call to make a change, and even pastors who want to learn how to better serve their congregations.
And - you?
Rooted in Christianity
Worshiping Jesus with heart, soul, mind, and body.
Worship is not uniquely Christian; everybody worships. But Christian worship is unique. We take our cues from the teachings of Jesus, that we are to love God with all of our heart (feeler), soul (be-er), mind (thinker), and strength (do-er). If we leave out any of those components, worship is incomplete--or dangerous.
Reaching the world
Taking Jesus to everybody. Really. Every body. Everyone included in the most famous Bible verse: God so loved the world. That means people who look, sound, act, smell, vote, and think like us. It also means people who look, sound, act, smell, vote, and think nothing like us. We are committed to taking Jesus, and the worship of Jesus, to everyone!
responding through work
Giving God our best today and helping others do better tomorrow. We don't work so God will love us or save us. We work because God loves and has saved us. We take seriously the admonition from the Bible to "do everything as to the Lord."
relating to others
Loving people for who they are, not what we can get out of them. Few words can better describe God, or God's agenda, than relationship. We value the nurturing and protecting of relationships highly. We want to love like Jesus did--because of who He is, not because of who is being loved.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Here at Relay Worship Group, our message and mission is to help people know Jesus, stay curious and live out their faith.
What is the program cost?
There is a $50 application fee. Tuition is $2,000 per quarter, totaling $8,000. Flexible payment scheduling is available. $200 (10% of quarter tuition) is required up front to begin the program.
How many hours a week is this program?
Depending on the student, about 30-35. That includes classroom, lessons, practice, internship, etc.
What does the classroom instruction look like?
We meet in area churches, where the Resident spends 5 hours a week in classes:
- Biblical Formation has two one-hour sessions
- Spiritual Formation is the same.
- Worship Leadership meets one hour weekly.
The classroom is highly interactive.
Is there music instruction?
You will take lessons in singing. You will also get to take lessons in either guitar or piano, whichever you want to be your primary worship leading instrument. These lessons are with people who teach for a living.
Is an internship included?
Yes!
Depending on your background, we will partner you with two or more churches where you will have the opportunity to serve on and off the platform. We want each Resident to learn from traditions outside their own, knowing there are treasures to be found in every Christian tradition. You will spend about 10 hours a week doing your internship.
How much time is dedicated to Study & Practice?
The goal is to spend at least 30 minutes every day practicing voice and guitar or piano. We have learned that muscle memory is developed with the every-day-ness of practice. Including your instruction time with a teacher, you'll spend about 8 hours working on musical skills.
What will I learn from this program?
The goal is to spend at least 30 minutes every day practicing voice and guitar or piano. We have learned that muscle memory is developed with the every-day-ness of practice. Including your instruction time with a teacher, you'll spend about 8 hours working on musical skills.
What will I learn?
That depends a lot on you, the Resident. We hope you learn what a lifestyle of being a worship leader (or worship pastor) looks like.
Here is a glimpse:
I. Model Healthy Daily Rhythms
a) Spend time with Jesus
b) Spend time in exercise
c) Train yourself spiritually
d) Train yourself intellectually
e) Train yourself professionally
II. Model Healthy Life Rhythms
a) Sabbath every week; take a day off
b) Take time off every quarter; we give you a week, but someday that might be a long weekend or a prayer retreat
c) Vacation every year; get away from the work and you will have healthier perspective on the work and be in a better state of mind to do the work
III. Model Healthy Relationships
a) Build friendships intentionally, which is more than networking, it's caring
b) Communicate in multiple ways, because people hear in different ways
c) Submit to healthy spiritual authority, which will be essential for healthy ministry
d) Learn boundaries, which means you know when to say yes and when to say no
IV. Model Healthy Gatherings
a) As we walk through the Residency content, you will discover the many facets of what this looks like. You will participate in Nights of Worship, special events, and weekly services.
