Residency Program

Residency Program

The Victory Family Church Residency is a full-time leadership development program for emerging leaders who feel called to vocational church ministry. The length of residency is two years, providing you with many opportunities for growth in your leadership skills and in your relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. The purpose of the residency is to ensure that you have the leadership capacity and abilities to effectively lead in the Local Church. You will be part of the staff at Victory, be immediately placed into leadership roles, and receive consistent evaluation and feedback from ministry leaders to ensure your development and growth.

Residency tracks

Accounting

Children’s Ministry

Communications/
Social Media

Dream Team/
Service Teams

Human Resources

Outreach & Missions

Pastoral

Service Production

Students/
Young Adults

Video

Worship

Residency Tracks

Accounting

Children’s
Ministry

Communications/
Social Media

Dream Team/
Service Teams

Human
Resources

Outreach
& Missions

Pastoral

Service
Production

Students/
Young Adults

Video

Worship

Components of the Victory Residency Program

The spiritual growth and personal spiritual disciplines of the resident are primary focuses throughout the two-year program. Studies have shown that the stress and difficulties of vocational church ministry contribute to many failing to complete their ministry assignment. Numerous resources will be utilized to help ensure the resident develops the personal spiritual disciplines that contribute to longevity in ministry.
Residents are immediately placed into leadership roles and receive consistent evaluation, feedback, and coaching in their ministry responsibilities. Actual hands-on ministry experience in the local church is crucial to the resident’s development. The purpose is to ensure that residents have the leadership capacity and know-how to lead in the local church effectively and competently.
Formal evaluations occur each quarter and are crucial to the growth and development of each resident. Evaluations provide feedback to the resident, the department leader, and mentors about the resident and their growth. They also provide an opportunity for the resident to give feedback concerning the residency and any issues the resident may be experiencing. This allows the residency to focus on the areas of development, growth, and experience that most benefit the resident.
Each resident is assigned a personal mentor for the duration of the residency. The focus of this mentor relationship is personal development; it is about who the resident is, rather than what the resident does. If the resident is married, a marriage mentor is also assigned for the duration of the residency to ensure a solid marriage foundation to succeed in ministry. Mentors assign material to the resident, and this personal growth material is in addition to the other required residency material. The purpose of mentor relationships is to ensure that the resident is growing as a person and if applicable, in their marriage, during the residency.
Much of leading and leadership are skills that we learn by example. Residents will learn from the leadership of Victory Family Church and multiple other sources to increase their leadership knowledge and effectiveness. Residents will grow in self-leadership, organizational leadership, and relational leadership during their two-year residency. Evaluation and coaching will allow the resident to gain confidence in leading teams and individuals within the local church. The goal in Leadership Training and Development is to give practical feedback within their current assignments so the resident increases in their ministry competence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the residency?
The Residency is 2 years.

Is this a paid position?
Yes, this is a full-time temporary paid position.

Is housing provided?
No, but we will do everything we can in helping you find affordable living.

When can I start the residency?
Residents can start in January, June, or August.


Apply by:If you would like to start by:
November 1, 2023January 23, 2024
April 1, 2024June 18, 2024
June 1, 2024August 20, 2024

If you have any questions or would like more information, please email ChurchNetwork@lifeatvictory.com.

Graduating Residents

These Residents are approaching the end of their program and are available for hire.

Kayla Grasak

Kayla Grasak

Outreach & Missions

Q

Kayla Grasak - Outreach & Missions

I am passionate about using my life to help equip and empower people to grow and flourish as they live out their God-given purposes. I am passionate about seeking after those who are lost and reviving the hope that was once lost in their lives to help point them to all that God has for them. In ministry, my core values are connection, growth, and celebration. God has used my passions and core desires to lead me to pursue vocational ministry.

After graduating from high school, God began preparing me for vocational ministry. He led me to the mission field in 2019 for a gap year in Thailand, Malaysia, and Costa Rica. After this, I pursued ministry school at Waymaker School of Ministry, an extension site of Southeastern University. I graduated with a degree in Ministerial Leadership with a focus on Student Ministry and Pastoral Leadership at my extension site of Victory Family Church.

Following graduation, I transitioned into my current Residency position at Victory Family Church. During my Residency, my focus is on community outreach and leading several guest experience teams at Victory’s newest campus in Meadville, PA. This has been an incredible opportunity to learn how to build, disciple, and grow our teams while reaching out to the community around us. I look forward to connecting with you and answering any questions you may have!

Email me at kgrasak@lifeatvictory.com.

Connor Greene

Connor Greene

Students/Young Adults

Q

Connor Greene - Students/Young Adults

In 2020 I graduated from Highlands College, majoring in Student Ministries. Before the Residency, I interned as the Student Ministry Service Producer at the New Castle campus. Throughout the Residency Program at Victory Family Church, I have continued to operate in my calling of being the Student Coordinator at the New Castle campus.

This role includes developing and following systems to expand the reach of God in our community, along with discipling and caring for students and leaders to see them take next steps in their life to fulfill God’s plan for them. I have a heart and passion for seeing students and leaders take their next steps, growing closer to God, and knowing their purpose. I look forward to connecting with you and answering any questions you may have!

Email me at cgreene@lifeatvictory.com.

Adam Schooley

Adam Schooley

Students/Young Adults

Q

Adam Schooley - Students/Young Adults

In May of 2021, I graduated from Victory’s 2-year ministry school with an Associate degree in Ministerial Leadership from Southeastern University. After graduating, I married my beautiful wife Alexis, and stepped into the Residency Program. My wife has truly been such a blessing to my life, especially in this season, she is the best support system and teammate I could ask for in ministry.

Through the Residency, I currently lead/pastor our Young Adult ministry for 18-30 year olds. I have gained such valuable experience in a variety of areas such as identifying, equipping, and empowering leaders, communication, planning and facilitating attractive services, growing small groups, and other key leadership tools.

I believe the Residency Program has helped me grow into a well-rounded leader and given me the resources to fulfill everything that God calls me to do. I look forward to connecting with you and answering any questions you may have!

Email me at aschooley@lifeatvictory.com.

Andy Welliver

Andy Welliver

Service Production

Q

Andy Welliver - Service Production

I have been working in the accounting industry for many years when I felt God starting to shift my heart. After a mission’s trip it was clear that God was preparing my heart for vocational ministry. For as long as I can remember I had a heart to serve and have been interested in technology. Before stepping into the Residency Program, I had the privilege to serve as a production volunteer for over ten years.

The Residency Program is providing me hands-on, practical experience that is allowing me to grow my technical skills in production areas and develop the necessary leadership skills to effectively lead and care for a team. I am passionate about building a culture of service as well as creating and enchaining an environment for people to encounter God in a very real way. I look forward to connecting with you and answering any questions you may have!

Email me at awelliver@lifeatvictory.com.

Current Residents

Nate Bell

Nate Bell

Worship

Q

Nate Bell - Worship

I had been serving in a high-level volunteer position within worship for about five years before starting the Residency Program. I was happy to continue as a volunteer, but God began to reveal that my calling was much bigger than that.

My residency started with our Next-Gen Ministries, but it was eventually switched to Worship to be more in line with my skill set and some things God was stirring in the heart of our leadership as well as in my own heart. That was not what I thought would happen, but I’ve learned when the Holy Spirit says, “move” the best response is, “yes” and then He will tell you where you’re going later.

I have a passion for seeing the believer and the unbeliever alike experience His presence in worship whether for the first time or the hundredth. I’m excited to hone my skills in, in a musical sense, but also within the context of pastoring a worship team.

Alaina Cottage

Alaina Cottage

Students/Young Adults

Q

Alaina Cottage - Students/Young Adults

I graduated from Geneva College in May 2022 with a Bachelor’s in Marketing. I intended to pursue marketing full time, but God had other plans. The fall of my senior year of college, God spoke to me about the call on my life to full time ministry. I was overwhelmed with excitement to step into this role, but with thoughtful prayer I decided to finish my degree and then apply for a Student Ministries Residency at Victory Family Church.

I am so grateful to Victory for allowing me to step into the call that God has on my life. God is working in the next generation. He sees their faith and He is anointing young people to spread the love of Christ to everyone they know. I get the honor of watching middle school students and high school students pursue Jesus with everything that they have and help others to do the same.

After the Residency, I hope to pursue a full-time position in Student Ministries to help share the gospel to students who have never experienced the love of Christ.

Zach Durler

Zach Durler

Worship

Q

Zach Durler - Worship

Growing up in a musical family, music has always played a huge role in my life, but it wasn’t until I had my first real encounter with Jesus at a Passion Conference in 2011 that things started to make sense. I returned home on fire for God and immediately started serving in church in any way that I could. It quickly became apparent that I had a pull towards worship, and over the next 8 years I would serve on numerous worship teams at the church.

Life was not without hardships, and after an unexpected and unwanted divorce, I found myself at Victory Family Church in the spring of 2019. However, God was still faithfully executing His plan for my life and my call to worship really accelerated. I started leading on our high school worship team which would then open doors to serving on other worship teams within the church. After hearing a message from our senior pastor about taking faith risks, I applied for and was accepted into the worship residency program.

I now have the honor and privilege of leading and caring for the worship team at our Meadville Campus while still managing to serve on our high school worship team and lead a 12th grade boys small group at our Main Campus in Cranberry Township. Worship does something to me and how tangible God is to me in those moments is something nothing else can replicate. It is my hope and prayer that whether I am on or off the platform, my worship would be authentic and would help lead others into a radical encounter with Jesus!

Abriana Moyer

Abriana Moyer

Students/Young Adults

Q

Abriana Moyer - Students/Young Adults

In June 2021, my husband and I served at a youth conference where Jesus changed my life and called me into youth ministry. I put all of my trust in Jesus and began the Victory Internship Program in August 2021.

After six months in the internship, I accepted a leadership role over our SOZO (high school) Outreach Club ministry where I learned even more about leaning in to what God wants to do in me and through me. Empowering students to see and solve problems and to step into their calling to spread the Gospel in their schools has been incredible to see.

During that time the number of school campuses that had outreach clubs almost doubled. I also gained experience in leading and caring for small group leaders, planning and executing events for both middle and high school, and had many opportunities to speak. In August 2022, I became a Resident and gained experience in production including service producing. After the Residency, my dream is to continue my passion for student ministry wherever God calls me.