Part-Time / Bi-Vocational Church Planting Resident at Discovery Church (Bowmanville, ON)

Church Planting Resident – Job Description

Discovery Christian Reformed Church (Discovery Church) – Bowmanville, Ontario
12-Month Part-Time Residency (20 Hours per Week)

Position Summary

Discovery Church is seeking a Church Planting Resident for a 12-month leadership development residency focused on missional leadership, discipleship, evangelism, and church planting formation within a Reformed and missionally driven context.

This residency is designed for individuals discerning a call to church planting, missional leadership, or ministry multiplication. The resident will be embedded in the life of Discovery Church while receiving practical ministry experience, coaching, theological reflection, and exposure to church planting networks across Southern Ontario. Residents may also integrate theological studies at the university or seminary level alongside the residency, creating a combined pathway of academic and ministry-based formation. Residents may pursue a concurrent learning track through Calvin Theological Seminary such as the Certificate in Christian Leadership, MA or Master of Divinity or other approved institutions like Redeemer University.

The resident will serve approximately 20 hours per week under the direct supervision and mentorship of Pastor Martin Spoelstra, Senior Pastor of Discovery Church.

The residency is intended to develop participants into healthy, spiritually grounded, missionally active leaders who are increasingly “plant-ready” by the end of the 12-month experience.

Compensation and Schedule

• Position Type: Part-Time Residency 
• Length: 12 Months 
• Hours: Approximately 20 hours per week $25 per hour
• Compensation: $26,000 Plus CPP/EI and business expenses
• Flexibility: Designed to work alongside bi-vocational employment and/or theological studies 
• Supervision: Direct mentorship, coaching, and evaluation through Pastor Martin Spoelstra 

Primary Areas of Responsibility

1. Evangelism and Missional Engagement

The resident will actively participate in outreach initiatives and relational evangelism within the surrounding community.

Responsibilities may include:

• Participating in Alpha and outreach ministries 
• Engaging community members relationally 
• Building connections with spiritually curious individuals 
• Assisting with newcomer integration and follow-up 
• Participating in community events and local engagement opportunities 

2. Leadership Development and Disciple-Making

The resident will intentionally invest in emerging leaders and develop practical disciple-making skills.

Responsibilities may include:

• Leading or assisting Discover Groups/small groups 
• Mentoring individuals toward leadership 
• Helping develop volunteer leaders 
• Participating in pastoral and ministry meetings 
• Assisting with ministry coordination and leadership development systems 

3. Ministry Initiative Leadership

The resident will launch and lead at least one ministry initiative during the residency.

Examples may include:

• Outreach initiatives 
• Newcomer assimilation strategies 
• Young adult gatherings 
• Community engagement projects 
• Prayer or discipleship initiatives 
• Missional experiments in the community 

The resident will learn to lead with real responsibility, evaluate outcomes, and adapt ministry approaches.

4. Preaching and Communication

The resident will develop communication skills for both church and missional environments.

Responsibilities may include:

• Teaching in small group environments 
• Sharing testimonies and devotional content 
• Assisting in worship gatherings 
• Preaching opportunities where appropriate 
• Learning to communicate the gospel clearly to unchurched audiences 

5. Strategic Planning and Ministry Systems

The resident will gain exposure to church systems and organizational leadership.

Responsibilities may include:

• Observing and participating in ministry planning 
• Evaluating ministry effectiveness 
• Assisting with volunteer systems 
• Participating in strategic discussions 
• Learning administrative and operational aspects of church ministry 

6. Spiritual Formation

The resident will cultivate healthy rhythms for long-term ministry sustainability.

Expectations include:

• Participation in mentoring meetings 
• Guided reading and theological reflection 
• Development of personal spiritual disciplines 
• Participation in prayer and ministry reflection 
• Openness to feedback, accountability, and growth 

Weekly Time Allocation (Approximate)

Hours Per Week

Evangelism / Community Engagement - 5

Leadership Development / Disciple-Making - 4

Ministry Initiative Leadership - 3

Worship / Teaching / Communication - 2

Strategic Planning / Administration - 2

Coaching and Mentorship - 2

Reading / Reflection / Spiritual Formation - 2

Total: Approximately 20 Hours Weekly

12-Month Residency Goals and Milestones

Months 1–3: Orientation and Immersion

Goals

• Integrate into Discovery Church culture and ministry rhythms 
• Begin mentoring relationship with Pastor Martin 
• Observe leadership systems and ministry structures 
• Participate in evangelism and outreach environments 
• Begin theological and ministry reading plan 

Key Outcomes

• Complete ministry orientation 
• Develop personal growth plan 
• Identify ministry strengths and growth areas 
• Begin community discovery and observation work 

Months 4–6: Ministry Engagement and Leadership Development

Goals

• Begin active ministry leadership responsibilities 
• Participate in disciple-making and small group leadership 
• Develop relational evangelism practices 
• Conduct a community discovery project 

Key Outcomes

• Lead or co-lead ministry environments 
• Build relationships with spiritually open individuals 
• Present findings from community discovery work 
• Begin developing a ministry initiative proposal 

Months 7–9: Initiative Leadership and Church Planting Exposure

Goals

• Launch and lead a ministry initiative 
• Gain exposure to regional church planting networks 
• Participate in church plant visits and coaching environments 
• Continue preaching and communication development 

Key Outcomes

• Lead a ministry initiative with measurable outcomes 
• Participate in at least three church planting site visits 
• Demonstrate increased leadership ownership 
• Complete ministry systems evaluation project 

Months 10–12: Integration and Assessment

Goals

• Demonstrate readiness for future ministry leadership 
• Reflect on church planting calling and next steps 
• Develop long-term ministry strategy and support plan 
• Participate in final leadership assessment process 

Key Outcomes

• Complete final ministry portfolio and reflection 
• Participate in six total church plant/network visits 
• Develop personal ministry vision and next-step strategy 
• Receive final evaluation and recommendation from supervising pastor 

Supervision and Evaluation

The resident will meet regularly with Pastor Martin Spoelstra for:

• Coaching and mentorship 
• Spiritual formation conversations 
• Leadership development 
• Ministry reflection 
• Goal evaluation 
• Personal accountability 
• Ongoing feedback and assessment 

Formal evaluations will occur quarterly to assess growth, ministry effectiveness, leadership development, and overall readiness for future ministry leadership or church planting opportunities.

Qualifications

Applicants should demonstrate:

• A clear and growing commitment to Jesus Christ 
• Alignment with the mission of the local church 
• Familiarity with Reformed theology 
• Openness to formation within the Christian Reformed tradition 
• An emerging sense of call toward church planting or missional leadership 
• Initiative, humility, teachability, and emotional maturity 
• Ability to work independently while remaining coachable 

Preferred Outcomes of the Residency

By the completion of the residency, participants should:

• Demonstrate increased missional leadership capacity 
• Show evidence of disciple-making competency 
• Understand core systems required for church planting 
• Develop practical experience in ministry leadership 
• Possess stronger theological and spiritual foundations 
• Clarify future ministry direction and calling 
• Be increasingly prepared for church planting or multiplication leadership opportunities within the CRCNA or broader missional contexts