Church Planting Residency

Why a church residency?

WCPN will call a man to plant a church only after he has completed a Church Planting Residency through WCPN.

The reasons for this include the following:

  1. The uniqueness of planting in the West. Experience has proven that planting in the West presents its own unique challenges, which are different from planting in other parts of the US. Our churches are committed to appropriate contextualization and an incarnational ministry model.

  2. WCPN's ability to recruit the right candidate is increased. It is imperative to identify the right candidates for planting in the West. Completing a residency al­lows WCPN to relationally assess an indi­vidual and allows him to experience the culture and realities of church planting without the pressures of organizing a church.

  3. The mutual ability to determine compatibility is increased. Both WCPN and the resident will be able to determine if the western context; vision, values, and personalities of WCPN; and other factors are a good match for both parties prior to investing significant time, energy, and dollars into a new work.

  4. The need to establish a pipeline for future planters. We are seeking to accomplish our goal of "Twenty in Ten" by creating a pipeline of residents from which to select new church planters for new works. Our current pipeline has the maximum capacity and resources to support 8 residencies simultaneously in Montana and Colorado.

What is the church residency process?

 
wcpn church planting residency process
 

Network Statistics for 2025

How do I apply?

Provide us with you Ministerial Data Form (MDF) and Assessment Evaluation (if applicable) along with a cover letter addressing: 

  • Why you are interested in planting in the West. 

  • How you see your gifts and experiences matching the Western context. 

  • If married, describe your wife's perspective on (a) church planting; and (b) living in the West. 

  • Why do you think we need more churches? (i.e. What is the purpose of church planting?) 

  • Who has influenced your understanding of church planting? ​

Send your materials to the Coordinator at westerncpn <at> gmail.com

Current Residents

Merari Herrera

Denver Presbyterian Church
Denver, CO

There are nearly 250,000 Hispanic residents in the Denver-Metro area. There are those who are new to the United States, as well as first and second generation Hispanics. This population is ripe for a gospel-saturated, Christ-centered, Bible-believing church. It is our hope, and with God’s help, to plant the first Spanish-speaking church in the presbytery of the Rockies, which will serve the needs of established Latinos, as well as recent immigrants. This mission also will fulfill a desire that my wife and I have to use the gift of the Spanish language, which the Lord has given us, for His kingdom by reaching many Latinos with the gospel of grace. Essentially, we will be a missionaries in Denver to Latinos. For the next three years, I will be a church planting resident at Denver Presbyterian Church.

Current Residents

Paul May

Deer Creek Church
Aurora, CO

The elders of Deer Creek Church in Littleton, Colorado, have issued a call to Paul to plant a new congregation in southern Aurora. Paul and Meaghan were wed in 2002, and soon after attended Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. Paul was ordained as a teaching elder in the PCA in 2008, and since then he and Meaghan have planted churches in South Dakota and in the DC suburbs. Paul is a certified church planting gospel coach with CMM, and Meaghan is a certified trainer with Parakaleo, a ministry to church planting wives. Paul and Meaghan both serve as Assessors at the MNA Church Planting Assessment Center. Meaghan also serves the PCA as the Wives of Elders liaison, creating and building a ministry to the wives of teaching and ruling elders in our denomination. They have five very excited and sweet children, ages 5 to 15.