Church Planting Residency

CityLights Church is a church in Chicago with a vision to be a multiplying and sending church.  In the years ahead, we see our mission as bringing God glory by being a gospel-central church that makes disciple makers through multiplying disciples and planting churches in Chicago and beyond.  CityLights Church is located in the Belmont Cragin and Galewood community in Chicago.  Currently, over 100 worship at CityLights weekly. 

The Church Planting Resident will engage in a 12-24 month residency that will assist in clarifying the call to church plant. There are three key components of a CityLights Church Planting Residency: 

  • Learning: Through a partnership with Converge and Wheaton College Graduate School, the Resident will engage in online learning environments that will expand their knowledge and understanding of ministry and church planting while deepening their personal discipleship. 

  • Leading: We promise meaningful leadership and meaningful work. CityLights Church Planting Residents will be given multiple opportunities to practice their calling in a supportive environment, giving them a safe place to succeed and a safe place to fail. 

  • Support raising: The Resident will have the opportunity to engage in some level of support raising, depending on their personal/family needs. Through a national ministry partner, training and coaching will be provided to set the Resident up for success in short-term and long-term support raising for a successful residency and church plant. 

Qualifications: 

  • Demonstrates a track record of spiritual maturity and character consistent with the biblical requirements for church leadership. 

  • Feels a strong sense of call to church planting (if married, spouse shares this call). 

  • Can demonstrate faithful moments of serving and leading inside and outside the church. 

  • Agrees with and embraces the culture, values, and doctrinal statement of CityLights Church. 

  • Presents a strong willingness to serve, lead, and learn in multiple ministry team settings. 

  • Innovative thinker who demonstrates resourcefulness regarding both people and projects. 

  • Strategic in nature, with the ability to see and implement the steps that it takes to get from here to there. 

  • Be self-motivated, not needing micromanagement, yet loves to live life with a team. 

Job Responsibilities: 

  • Communicate with a high level of professionalism. 

  • Meets regularly with the Pastor/Residency Coach to discuss experiences and learning, while continually pursuing clarity of call through the power of the Spirit. 

  • Empower team members by creating a culture of leadership, recruitment, development, training, and reproduction. 

  • Develop Leaders of Leaders in specific areas of the ministry. 

Residency-specific opportunities: 

  • Be given the opportunity to participate fully in Converge's Church Planting Assessment Center. 

  • Through multiple community connections, have a variety of options in reaching outside the church locally. 

Email your cover letter and resume to info@citylightschicago.com. In the cover letter, include your sense of calling and passion for church planting.