APBC Pastoral Residency Overview:

The pastoral residency at APBC involves three training cycles designed to help prepare men who aspire to the office of overseer/elder (1 Tim. 3:1). The heart of the residency involves giving aspiring pastors the opportunity to develop a biblically based theological framework, pastoral skills, and personal conformity to the image of Christ. 

Three Cycles:

Each cycle consists of two semesters, fall and spring. Cycle 1 covers Systematic Theology and Church History. Cycle 2 covers Ecclesiology. Cycle 3 covers Pastoral Leadership. 

Theological Development:

According to the instruction of 1&2 Timothy, Titus and Acts 20, every pastor is responsible for instructing and protecting Christ’s church with sound doctrine. Therefore, the focus on theological development gives the resident the opportunity to enhance his theological understanding of God’s grand redemptive plan through a systematic approach to the study of theology.

*Major theological categories such as God, Man, Sin, Christ, Salvation, the Church, and the Last Days will be read, written about, and discussed with the pastor(s).

Pastoral Development:

The focus on pastoral development gives the resident opportunities to observe and engage in pastoral care and administration. Such opportunities include preaching, teaching, personal discipleship, visitation, attending elder meetings, attending corporate church meetings, committee meetings, funerals, weddings, etc.   

Personal Development:

The area of personal development primarily focuses on the resident’s spiritual health and development. The spiritual disciplines of Bible intake coupled with deep reflection, and prayer will be emphasized. 

*If you are interested in getting involved in the pastoral residency, please contact one of our pastors.