this cultural moment

Church leaders across the country are scrambling to add services and expand ministry. I keep hearing stories of young adults sitting in the front row, bringing their friends, and being baptized together. Something is happening.

The most Anxious Generation has actually become the Awakened Generation. Perhaps they’ll awaken older generations as well.

But the question is—how long will this cultural moment last? While none of us knows the answer, here’s what we do know: now is the time to act. Launching a residency program in your church isn’t just about staffing—it’s about capturing this moment to invest in the next generation of leaders. Here are five reasons to start today.

1. Your Church Is Growing Faster Than Your Staff Can Keep Up

Growth is a blessing, but it also brings pressure. More services. More groups. More ministries. And all of it requires more leaders. Whether through staff turnover or expansion, you will need new team members in the next 18–24 months. A residency builds your leadership pipeline now so you’re not scrambling later.

2. Young Adults Are Ready and Waiting

In about eight weeks, college juniors and seniors will be home for Thanksgiving, scrolling their phones and wondering what’s next—for summer and for their life. Some of them are already in your front row. People have told them they might be called to ministry. They’ve thought about it. But they need someone to give them a next step. Your residency could be the answer they’ve been waiting for.

3. This Could Be a Once-in-a-Generation Moment

Nobody knows how long this surge of young adults hungry for Jesus will last. But what if this really is our generational opportunity to invest in future church leaders? History shows that movements like this are fertile ground for raising up pastors, planters, and missionaries. Don’t miss the chance to disciple and deploy leaders while the harvest is right in front of you.

4. You Don’t Need Every Detail Figured Out to Begin

Here’s the truth: after helping nearly 200 residencies launch I’ve seen it again and again—you don’t need to have all the answers before you start. A residency can grow and adapt as you go. What matters most is simply beginning. Choose someone on your staff to own it, create space for one or two young leaders, and take the first step.

5. The Future Church Depends on It

Residencies are not just about filling roles at your church. They are about preparing leaders who will serve the global church for decades to come. Some of your residents may stay with you. Others may go on to plant churches, lead ministries, or serve across the world. Either way, you’ve invested in the future of the church, and that investment multiplies.

Don’t Wait—Start Now

Every Tuesday, church leaders walk into staff meetings juggling urgent needs and immediate decisions. But in the middle of that whirlwind, don’t forget the long game. You already know you’ll need new leaders soon. The only question is whether you’ll have them ready.

Launch your residency now. The harvest is here. The leaders are in your front row.