In Episode 4, I had the privilege of sitting down with John Wills from Champion Forest Church in Houston, Texas. John has had an incredible journey in ministry—from coming to faith on a mission trip in high school to serving as a student pastor and spending nearly two decades as an executive pastor. Five years ago, he teamed up with Senior Pastor Jared Stevens to launch a residency program at Champion Forest.
We had a fantastic, wide-ranging conversation about what it really takes to spot potential leaders, structure a thriving program, and invest deeply in kingdom leadership. Here is a summary of what we unpacked in this episode.
Combining Classroom Theology with Real-World Practice
One of the core convictions at Champion Forest is that leadership development requires both academic depth and hands-on experience. John explained that their residents are required to enroll in graduate or seminary courses alongside their church responsibilities. If you only give young leaders practical tasks without solid theology, they risk getting blown around by the latest ministry trends; if you only teach classroom theology, they often end up speaking a language no regular church member understands. Combining both under the coaching of seasoned practitioners keeps them grounded, practical, and effective.
Calling Clarifies in the Trenches
A major highlight of our chat was how Champion Forest approaches a candidate’s sense of calling. Rather than demanding complete clarity on day one, John places the formal focus on calling unit later in the residency. Why? Because calling clarifies itself in the actual context of doing ministry. As residents serve across different departments, they discover what they love, what they excel at, and where the Holy Spirit aligns their gifts.
Treating Residencies as a True Investment
If you want to raise up high-caliber leaders, you have to invest in them like family. Champion Forest structures their two-year program to support college graduates holistically. Thanks to dedicated foundation support and church giving, residents receive a $20,000 annual salary, a $5,000 tuition stipend, and a $1,500 mission trip stipend, along with provided housing. John noted that when a church invests heavily in its residents, it can set high standards while guarding them against burnout with generous rest and vacation time.
Spotting "Davids" Over "Sauls"
When recruiting new cohorts, John reminded us to pray for "Holy Spirit eyes". It is easy to be drawn to candidates who look like "Saul"—tall, impressive, and articulate on the surface. But true kingdom leadership is built on heart, humility, and teachability. As Pastor Jared reminded John during a recruiting trip, residency leaders need to look out in the fields for the overlooked "Davids".
Key Takeaways
Pair Theology with Practice: Successful residencies require both formal theological education and real-world church leadership under seasoned practitioners.
Let Calling Clarify Through Service: Calling is refined in the trenches of daily ministry as residents test their gifts and discover their sweet spots.
Focus on Replication, Not Grunt Work: Determine your residency capacity based on how many staff members you have worth replicating, rather than using residents merely for cheap labor.
Invest Holistically in Residents: Provide financial support, educational stipends, housing, and adequate rest to set residents up for long-term health.
Look for Humble Potential: Look past flashy external credentials and seek out humble, teachable leaders with heart—finding the "Davids" out taking care of the sheep.
Foster Authentic Feedback: Maintain an open-door, "family-style" culture where honest, immediate feedback helps young leaders mature quickly.