july 2017
The Orchard Network’s mission is to grow gospel leaders for churches, which is done through a Residency experience, MOMENTUM and LEVERAGE. Each program focuses on Christ-centered doctrine, cultivating a godly life and sharpening ministry skills.
RESIDENTS OF THE ORCHARD NETWORK 1 Residency: Designed specifically with post-seminary 1. grads in mind, this experience serves as a bridge to ministry by immersing residents in a local church for two years. During that time, they are exposed to a variety of ministry experiences and given the chance to practice skills for deployment into effective ministry. There are full-time and bi-vocational tracks for those called to pastor, church plant or cross-cultural missions. All residents participate in MOMENTUM as well as FOUNDATIONS, a weekly peer group that encourages godly living along with workshop activities and time with ministerial practitioners.
Nine residents have participated since the beginning, with four already deployed into full-time ministry. Kujtim Rushiti works with a team in Durrës, Albania, to plant a church; Betsy Melchers serves in Budapest, Hungary, with ReachGlobal; Tim Ophus is planting a church in the North Park neighborhood of Chicago, and Jeremy Barahona was hired as a pastor at The Brook in Chicago. Two other residents will
complete the program this year: Tae Hwang, who is pursuing pastoral ministry locally, and Martin Shin, who will return to Argentina next year for pastoral ministry. Other residents include: Colton Tatham, who is working to plant a church in Kansas; Karolina Bajkowska, training bi-vocationally for cross-cultural missions; and André Ballard, as a pastoral resident. Two new residents join us August 1. James Park is a missions resident partnering with The Orchard, and Danny Russell is a church planting resident partnered with Evanston Bible Fellowship. Our vision is to grow and train as many as 20 residents at one time as God provides. 2 MOMENTUM: A 21-month training program aimed at 2. those called to pastoral ministry, church planting or cross-cultural missions. Newer pastors and pastoral interns at The Orchard participate. Pastor Colin provides the bulk of the teaching, alongside other leaders from The Orchard and local ministries. There have been 18 graduates to date! Another 30 people from The Orchard and other local ministries are continuing in the program and we look to add 20 new leaders in the fall. 3 LEVERAGE: A 16-week training program intended 3. to equip, inspire and refresh committed lay leaders so they may more intentionally invest themselves in ministry, especially through the local church. Nearly 150 men and women from The Orchard have completed the program. We plan to have another 50 participants in the fall.