Weaving training, community & mission into a holistic journey

Theology at its best happens not at the intersection of one church tradition with another, but at the intersection of the Church and the world. 

Missionary Residency Program Overview

Our Missionary Residency Program is a three-year, full-time apprenticeship designed to equip the next generation of cross-cultural missionaries. It is particularly for those called to church planting among the unreached peoples and places of the world. 


What makes CORS uniquely crafted to train missionaries is not that we have merely added more missions courses, but that the whole program, from top to bottom and every course in it, has been crafted in a missional mode. Far from being pragmatic, what grounds this approach is the belief that the Bible itself is a missional phenomenon, given to us to nourish our life in Christ and equip us for his mission. Mission is the mother of theology. Theology at its best happens not at the intersection of one church tradition with another, but at the intersection of the Church and the world. 


What makes this residency unique is that it takes the threads of training, community, and mission and weaves them into a seamless holistic experience. 

  • Training involves not only the life of the mind as we grow in the knowledge of God, but also the inner workings of the heart as we grow in Christlike character and the outer workings of hands-on cross-cultural ministry. 
  • Community not only involves a rich participation in the life of the local church, but life together-in-mission together as a cohort with fellow missionary residents. 
  • Mission not only includes participating in God’s comprehensive salvation in a place, but the extension of that salvation to every place through the opportunities to interact locally with people from all over the world who call Auburn/Opelika home. 


In this highly relational cohort model, missionary residents live in the same apartment complex that is also home to international students from all over the world. This context fosters both community and mission with fellow missionary residents as you learn together how to make Christ known among the nations. 

  • Ideal Applicants

    Demonstrate a genuine love for Christ and His Church.


    Value the central role of the local church in God’s mission.


    Exhibit Christlike character, spiritual maturity, and ministry gifts affirmed by their local congregation.


    Sense a clear calling to long-term cross-cultural missions among the unreached.


    Desire thorough training in the Bible, theology, missiology, and cross-cultural missions.


    Desire to join a cohort of learners in a highly relational context of community and mission.

    Can live in the Auburn/Opelika area for the duration of the residency.


    Meet admission requirements for Christ Our Redeemer Seminary and any additional requirements of the partnering congregation.

  • Program Structure

    Duration: 3 years (aligned with completion of CORS MDiv or MAMT degree)


    Weekly Commitment: 45-50 hours/week

    25–30 hours: seminary coursework (class + assignments)


    20 hours: community and mission 


    Study Abroad: Participate in one or more of our study abroad opportunities during the quarter breaks 

  • Key Responsibilities

    Maintain a growing relationship with God through faithfulness to the spiritual disciplines.


    Enroll in and complete CORS MDiv or MA degree requirements, including attendance in our core seminary courses (Tuesdays, 8:00 am–5:00 pm).


    Participate in the life and ministry of the partnering congregation  


    Participate in communal life with the cohort (weekly times of prayer, fellowship, and guided ministry with internationals)


    Pursue ordination and/or mission agency requirements as needed.


    Participate in regular assessment, feedback, and reflection with mentors and ministry supervisors.

  • Compensation & Housing

    Salary and benefits are determined by the local church. 


    Housing is subsidized through donor partnerships at a specified student housing complex that also attracts many international students, thereby fostering community and cross-cultural ministry opportunities.


    Residents are funded through shared contributions from the congregation, personal fundraising, and tuition discounts.

  • Study Abroad Opportunities

    Israel - 10-day study tour of Israel to experience the Bible where it happened, deepen your understanding of Scripture, and engage with the region’s current realities and God's global mission.


    Greece -  10-day tour of Athens and Corinth follows Paul’s footsteps, exploring his approach to theology, contextualization, and church planting—while also learning from the Greek Evangelical Church’s mission today.


    Turkey - 10-day study tour explores Revelation as a letter to first-century churches facing persecution and compromise, helping us hear the Spirit’s message then—and now—in our own missionary context.


    Thialand - 14-day study tour in Chiang Mai explores mission and faithful contextualization in the Buddhist world, offering principles that apply to any cultural context.


    Nepal - CORS partners with the Tibetan Evangelical Alliance to plant churches among Tibetan peoples. Join a short-term trip to support leadership training or business as mission—and learn firsthand about church planting among the unreached.


    North Africa - 10-day study tour in North Africa explores mission and faithful contextualization in the Muslim world, with insights applicable to any cultural context.


    Vision Trips - As you prepare for long-term mission among the unreached, vision trips can help clarify key questions—like organization, team, location, and access. We encourage residents to take one or more to explore potential places of service.

  • Expected Outcomes

    Form sustainable habits of spiritual formation and communal life for a lifetime of ministry leadership.


    Gain thorough training in the Bible, theology, and missiology.


    Gain significant supervised cross-cultural ministry experience.


    Develop a clear ecclesiology, church planting, and ministry philosophy for the context of cross-cultural missions.


    Build a portfolio of ministry resources.


    Establish a network of ministry supporters, mentors, and peers.


    Be prepared for long-term cross-cultural service among the unreached.


    Determine suitable mission agencies, teams, and opportunities for service.


    Earn an MDiv or MA from Christ Our Redeemer Seminary.

Take the Next Step

Christ Our Redeemer Seminary partners with several local churches and ministries to make these apprenticeships available for you. To begin your application for an internship or residency click here. Contact us to if you have questions about which option is best for you or to find out if your church is eligible to offer these programs.

"Like many missionaries, my passion for the lost is what carried me to the field. After I got there, I discovered I would need a lot more if I was going to carry my mission through to completion. If I could rewind the clock 15 years, the top item on my prefield checklist would be a seminary education that prioritizes thorough teaching of the church’s role in the mission of God and faithful, thoughtful engagement with other cultures. Christ our Redeemer Seminary is the training ground aspiring missionaries need, and there is nobody better than Hoffman Rhyne to guide them towards the field."


- (JB) Missionary in Asia