Smoky Hill Vineyard Church
Smoky Hill Vineyard Church believes that changed lives transform communities. We exist so that people can encounter and know Jesus, experience life-changing transformation, and actively participate in the movement of God’s Kingdom redemption of the entire world.
Expected Work Hours: 30 hours
Expected Monthly Pay: $1000 a month in reimbursement for expenses + housing arranged
Here are some Q & A with their staff:
Why did you choose to do a residency & what are you hopeful will happen through this process?
Our ministry is built on a team model, with an emphasis on preparing the next generation for Kingdom ministry. Residency feels like an extension of our heart for the next generation of leaders to come!
What is it like to work on staff there?
We are a highly relational and relaxed environment that stresses a desire for teamwork and unity. Our collaborative approach emphasizes both guidance and autonomy, creating space for young leaders to make impactful contributions. Our hearts are to live out values of vulnerability, authenticity, transformation, and shared discipleship.
Please describe the current staff structure.
We are a pastor-led church, with Kristi and Mike Caulley as the Co-Lead Pastors over both locations. The HeadWaters Leadership Team helps set the strategic plans and goals for all locations. Our remaining staff operates across all rooms.
What qualities does it take to “win” on staff at your church?
The highest values are around teamwork and recruiting, training, and deploying leaders. So much of pastoral training is geared to theology, which is important, but the most successful members of our team are those who develop leaders.
Who will the resident report to? Will there be a different person acting as coach? What do you know about their personalities (enneagram, DiSC, Strength Finders, etc.) Have you given thought as to what type of personality will work best with them?
Chandos Schorstein is our point person and coach for residents. Chandos is an enneagram 6 wing 5, with top Strengths Finders of Strategic, Responsibility, Intellection, Analytical, and Connectedness.
Are there particular assessment tools that you prefer when exploring potential staff people?
We tend to rely on Strength Finders most for work information, with enneagram typology helpful for interpersonal/relational information.
Are you affiliated with a particular denomination or tribes/association of churches? If so, what websites could one investigate to gain further understanding?
Both churches are part of the Vineyard movement. Information on the Vineyard can be found at vineyardusa.org.
What are the key doctrinal and theological issues where alignment is essential?
We exist so that people can encounter and know Jesus, experience life-changing transformation, and actively participate in the movement of God’s Kingdom redemption of the entire world. This means we care about the following…
Seeing people come to life and freedom in Jesus
Engaging in the continuing ministry of the Spirit
Serving the Poor
Caring about places of injustice in our world, such as racial and gender inequalities
Training all who desire to become marketplace ministers of the gospel
What is your average weekend attendance?
For our two church locations, we average around 250 in person, with another 80+ joining us online weekly
In general, what is your church demographic?
Larkspur Church is generationally diverse, with many young families, families with teens, and older couples evenly represented. Racially and ethnically, Larkspur is primarily caucasian. Smoky Hill Vineyard is more racially and ethnically diverse, while generationally is largely young families and families with teens.
Is there more than one site or venue? If so, please describe.
The language we like to use is one church, many locations. We have one location with a permanent building (Larkspur Church), and one location renting space in another church and meeting on Saturday evenings (Smoky Hill Vineyard), as well as many small groups meeting throughout the Denver area, and Castle Rock/Larkspur/Monument. We are also potentially launching a third location later this summer/early fall.
How many conversions has your church had in the past 12 months? (however you define this and whatever you count)
12+
What percentage of people are involved in a small group?
50%
What is your church known for in the community?
We’re most well known for our food banks and our long-standing in the community. Smoky Hill Vineyard has been in South Aurora for 30+ years, and Larkspur Church has been in the same space, though different names, for around the same. Our food banks serve our communities with no income or location restrictions or requirements for our participants. Larkspur is located near the Colorado Renaissance Festival and provides food/toiletries assistance for those visiting and working at the fair.
How much are you planning on financially compensating your resident? Is it set or is it flexible?
Housing and reimbursement of expenses of up to $1000/mo. There is room for conversation.
What are the expected work hours and what does a typical workweek look like for this resident?
We are asking our residents to commit to 30 hours a week, working at both locations for services on Saturdays and Sundays. We have weekly staff meetings, direct coaching times, and monthly opportunities to connect with other ministries to learn from our various pastors.
What else would you say to a resident considering joining your team?
As a staff, we’re passionate about helping people experience the abundant life that Jesus offers, whether through building volunteer teams, training leaders, or providing coaching. We believe that EVERYONE gets to play a role in the Kingdom of God, and we are called, as pastors, to ‘equip the saints for the work of ministry.’ (Eph. 4:12) And we need people like you to do that! We have worked to build a culture of teamwork rather than notoriety, serving over self-promotion, and humility at the heart of all we do.