Our Mission:
Grow.
noun
noun: pip
1. a small hard seed in a fruit; an excellent person or thing.
Like a seed, we want to see people grow to leadership and become excellent Pastors, Leaders, and People.
A Bright Future
We have a process that starts in high school and funnels future pastors to Bible colleges and study centers. After graduation from college or a study center, we want to see them become a P.I.P Apprentice Ministers to help us meet the goal of fifty new ministers in a five year period. By adding at least one new P.I.P. Minister in each region each year, the West Texas and Plains District will become younger and more relevant while still helping our fantastic more mature pastors grow in their churches.
The Challenge:
The average age of our pastors in the West Texas and plains district is more than fifty-five to sixty years old. If many of these fine pastors retire in the next five to ten years, 35 to 40 churches will be left open and without pastoral leadership.
What will we do about this huge void of pastoral leadership?
We must be proactive and create space for new pastors to fill the vacancies and to plant churches in our district. We must be welcoming and be something they would want to be apart of. We need an influx of new pastors in this new season of the church.
So, I present to you P.I.P. - the Pastoral Internship Program.
It is time for us to get out front and lead.
We will guide our own churches people from high school, to adults, to ministry positions, and to eventually becoming pastors.
Recruiting Method
- Target the pastors and youth pastors of each church by sending videos, material, and connecting personally with each regional representative. (The team members of P.I.P.)
- Go to youth camps and conventions. Make a pitch to the group and set a table with information.
- Offer a scholarship to summer program and/or AG Bible college. (Pending approval of the pastors in each region individually)
- Provide posters and packets to each church in our district to promote the program.
- Use all social media platforms to creatively advertise the summer programs.
THE PLAN
Part 1 - Pastoral Internship Program
Recruit recent graduates from Bible schools, Global University Study Centers, and the local churches of the West Texas and Plains District to serve under pastors in our region for two years.
We will have P.I.P. Summer Internships at one church in each region. It will last six weeks and be in the fashion of a Master’s Commission model. The students will pay to be there.
After two years of apprenticeship and/or transitioning to other churches (if desired by the region) they will have fulfilled the commitment.
The apprentice will be learning how to be a pastor by working in the ministry. The serving apprentices will be promised an end date from the P.I.P. program.
If the current pastor is retiring, the students will have the option to pastor there.
If the current pastor is NOT retiring, the students can then plant a church or take an open church within our district.
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They can get a part time Job (Recommended 10-25 hours a week. This is optional and up to the student.)
They will serve the two year commitment.
They will be respectful to the Senior Pastors and leaders.
They will be flexible to the needs and resources of the church.
They will provide for their own meals, phone, car and other personal bills that they bring with them.
They will work at least 25-30 hours a week with the church. (Services and business meetings apply to these hours)
They must apply and be accepted with two references. (One reference from one credentialed minister and one friend or family)
They must apply for their credentials to be a part of the West Texas and Plains District.
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To provide three meals a week as a kind gesture to help the young minister.
To pay a weekly salary of $150-$400, or more if the church is able. (This will vary with churches according to their financial ability)
To provide housing for the student. This could be in someone’s home, an apartment, or a house.
The pastors should include the young pastors in all things pastoral, from the board meetings to preaching opportunities.
The pastors must personally disciple them and teach them how to be a pastor. (Following host pastor teaching track)
The training should go across all ministries so that the young apprentice ministers will see the needs of each area of the church.
The church and the Senior Pastor must be there for the apprentice, at all levels and commit to them, giving opportunities for growth.
The senior pastor is accountable to the regional leaders, the P.I.P. ministry leader, and the WTAP District leaders.
The pastor will fill out a monthly P.I.P. Report.
The pastor emails the report to the presbyter of each region and the lead pastor of P.I.P. who passes it on to the WTAP District Leadership.
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The region will try to help the apprentice financially in a time of great need, if possible. (That is contingent with a majority vote by the pastors of the region.)
The region will pay for them to do a church planting bootcamp.
The P.I.P. Leadership team will recruit at college days and connect with the recent graduates with ministry opportunities.
We will be a guide and conduit for all applications and the church selection process.
We will love them and bring them into our Region family by:
A. The regional leaders receives the apprentice, and they will have decided before hand how many churches, and or months at each location.
B. The presbyter decides where he, she, or the couple will go. Then pastor of the chosen church brings them in and follows the guidelines above for the Pastor's responsibilities.
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To train up ministers.
To equip a new minister to be able to step into a church and be successful.
To help the local church.
To strengthen the ministries and core leadership team of the church.
To help and serve the pastors of the West Texas and Plains District.
To plant churches, and provide new church planters for our district.
Part 2 - AXIS Summer Program
TRACK 1
3 week class
Pass one Global University Course
(BIB 121 - Introduction to Hermeneutics - How to study the Bible)
Final week is used to prepare and take the final exam
TRACK 2
Personal relationship with Jesus (4 days)
Leadership (3 days)
Servant hood (3 days)
Worship and Media (5 days) - Edward Rivera
Evangelism and Discipleship (5 days) - Jon McCullough
Children’s Ministry (5 days) - Charity McCullough
How to prepare a sermon (2 days)
Ministry Days during the last week (3 days)
Highlights and special services
Friday Night Fun Nights
A time to have fun with the students (ex. lake day, swimming pool, axe throwing, mall visits, movie day, fishing, etc.)
Outreach during the last week (3 days of Outreach)
Participate in the Sunday Morning Service - all services; all week. (Local and Host Church)
Schedule:
7-8am - Breakfast/Exercise/Get Ready
9-10am - Prayer/ Devotion (1 hour)
10-10:30am - Break
10:30 am - Global University class/Ministry Training Session
11:30 - Lunch
1pm - Serve/Community Ministry
2-4pm - Ministry Training Session
4-6pm - Break
Part 3 - The P.I.P. Summer Internship Program
A suggested 21 days or 120 hours of service.
The host church will be designated by the presbyter.
The summer intern must fill out application and be accepted by the regional leaders and the leadership of P.I.P.
The references should include one credentialed minister and one friend or family member.
The application must be approved no later than three weeks before the start date of the P.IP. Summer Intern Program.
Certain cases may be accepted, pending support from P.I.P. Leadership Team
The host church agrees to provide housing, three to five meals, and $300.00 for the three weeks.
This can be done with a check or paying on the school bill of said student.
The summer intern will serve the church and learn from the pastor and his leaders.
The host pastor will give the summer intern ample opportunities to learn to lead.
Everyone treats everyone with respect and dignity.
Our Programs
Axis summer program
Axis Summer Internship is an internship designed for high school students who love Jesus and are wanting to grow in leadership and experience. Axis is a challenging six-weeks mixed with learning, serving, fun, friendship, and making a Jesus impact.
The students will take a college course and will be trained in eight levels of ministry.
Axis summer interns will go back to their churches fired up, trained up, and ready to work effectively for God.
There is a cost to join, but we will help you figure out how to raise the money, because we want the elite WTAP youth to be powerful and make a difference where they live and minister.
summer internship program
The WTAP P.I.P. Summer College Internship has been developed to aid and provide opportunities for college students and Global University students.
It is known that most colleges and universities, including Global University, require a practical portion to graduate. This 120 hour, three to four week summer internship is offered to help you graduate and train you to grow in the Lord.
graduate program
Do you want to be a senior pastor or in full-time ministry? Do you want to plant a church, or become a missionary?
Our P.I.P. Graduate Internship is what you have been looking for. In two short years, you will be trained in real day-to-day pastoral ministry, and you will be paid and provided for as a student in the Pastoral Internship Program.
Meet the Pastors and Leaders that make up the Pastoral Internship Program!
