Associate Pastor of Discipleship

Faith Community Church
LYNDEN, Washington, United States
Date Posted: 01/29/2025
Categories: Associate Pastor - Discipleship/Groups Pastor
Denominations: Non-Denominational
Church Size: 251 to 350
Job Type: Full-Time
Pay Type: Salary
Pay: $70,000
Employee Workplace: Hybrid
Job Description:

Associate Pastor of Discipleship

Faith Community Church is looking for a full-time Associate Pastor of Discipleship. FCC is a non-denominational church in Lynden, WA, which aims to glorify God by being a fellowship of disciples who make and mature more disciples.

 

Position Summary

The Associate Pastor of Discipleship oversees all Discipleship and Shepherding ministries at FCC, overseeing the growth and development from first-time visitors through to membership into full involvement and engagement. The Associate Pastor of Discipleship has a passion for leading people to Christ, and helping them mature into genuine followers of Jesus through public teaching, leadership development, and individual discipleship.

 

Discipleship Ministry Responsibilities

Shepherding and Assimilation

  1. Work closely with our staff and lay elders as we seek to introduce a robust Shepherding Ministry that will help assimilate new and existing members to become fully involved and engaged, in order to be more connected to the discipleship opportunities at FCC.
  2. Spend time with new families and get to know them, helping assimilate them into the church.
    1. Utilize the time before & after Sunday services to facilitate discipleship relationships by greeting, mingling, being available for counsel, prayer or friendship etc.
    2. Contribute in similar ways during our Wednesday ministries.
    3. Follow up with new members to see that they are making connections and know about the opportunities to grow and serve at FCC.
  3. Develop and work with a First Impressions Team
    1. Develop and manage our online presence, oversee social media accounts, posting sermons, clips, promotional material
    2. Strategize with and develop existing Welcome/Greeter team
  4. Coordinate and facilitate the New Members classes.
    1. Schedule a Meet and Greet event with the Leadership Team twice a year.
    2. Schedule and Lead a New Members Class twice a year.
    3. Make sure those taking the class and/or seeking membership are given a clear path to membership and understand the structure of ministry.
  5. Develop a “Now That you are Members Class,” to engage in intentional discipleship. The purpose is to create a Personal Discipleship Plan and help members identify their spiritual giftedness and unique ministry opportunities.

 

Leadership and Pastoral Care

  1. Pastor with a targeted emphasis on adults (aged 18+). See these people as your primary responsibility.
  2. Meet regularly with those in need of pastoral support or mentoring as assigned by the Senior Pastor or Youth Director.
  3. Lead and oversee all discipleship ministries of FCC.
    1. Oversee Children’s Ministry. The Children’s Director would directly report to you, and you would be responsible for weekly meetings, providing both encouragement and support.
    2. Oversee Student Ministry. The Youth Director would directly report to you, and you would be responsible to help encourage, equip and help see our youth ministry effectively minister to the youth of our church and community.
    3. Oversee Young Adult Ministry - Support future leadership and establish a plan for growth and connection.
    4. Oversee Women’s Ministry- Become Womens’ Ministry Coordinator direct contact, available to resource, equip and support as needed.
    5. Oversee Men’s Ministry- Become Men’s Ministry Coordinator direct contact, available to resource, equip and support as needed.
  4. Nurture the families at FCC and create an emphasis on how discipleship happens in the family. In other words, to take everything that was just described and see how it can work together in a cohesive discipleship path rather than being separate silos.
  5. Be intentional at attracting, equipping, and raising up new leaders within FCC to do the work of ministry.
  6. Assist Senior Pastor in premarital counseling, taking on 3-4 couples per year.
  7. Assist Senior Pastor as needed to minister to and care for those going through difficult times. This may include hospital calls, crisis care, funerals, being available to help meet other ministry needs that could arise if the Senior Pastor is unavailable.

Preaching and Teaching

  1. Preach in place of Senior Pastor as requested.
    1. The Senior Pastor will preach 36-40 Sundays per year.
    2. The Pastor of Discipleship will preach 6-10 Sundays per year.
    3. Lay Elders will preach approx. 4-6 Sundays per year.
  2. Coordinate preaching schedule (4-6 weeks) in advance with the Senior Pastor.
  3. Oversee Sunday Morning Equipping Hour (adult Sunday school) classes
    1. Teach an Equipping Hour class and/or install Equipping Hour teachers.
    2. Develop, train and install new teachers.
    3. Oversee the production of materials including handouts, presentations, recordings and online postings.
    4. Work with and provide support for those leading the Student Equipping Hour.
  4. Work with the Senior Pastor to schedule and teach a baptism class twice a year.
  5. Be consistently up on stage - welcome, time of prayer, sharing announcements, etc.
  6. The Pastor of Discipleship will be available to rotate with the Senior Pastor in preaching on special services as well - Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, etc.

 

Organizational Responsibilities

  1. Work closely with the Senior Pastor on leadership training and development for staff and lay leadership.
  2. Meet with the Senior Pastor weekly for encouragement, accountability and to report any concerns.
  3. As part of ministry staff, stay connected and attend retreats or special staff functions designed to facilitate efficiency and comradery.
  4. Manage church data through Planning Center
  5. Liaison with the Missions Ministry
  6. Participate in staff meetings
  7. Be present at all elder meetings
  8. Be prepared to assist with other duties as needed

 

Qualifications

  • Agree with FCC’s Purpose: https://fcclynden.org/about-us/our-purpose/ and FCC’s Statement of Faith: https://fcclynden.org/about-us/statement-of-faith/
  • Meet the Biblical elder qualifications (Titus 1:6-9, 1 Timothy 3:2-7, 1 Peter 5:2-3)
  • Degree from Seminary or Bible College or equivalent proven ministry and teaching experience.
  • Experience ministering, discipling and/or teaching in a growing church is preferred.
  • Experience working as part of a ministry team.
  • Proven ability to work with limited supervision.
  • A personal walk evidenced by growth in modeling Jesus.
  • Teachable, with a desire to grow in your faith and abilities.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Team player with effective relational skills (works well with others).

 

Supervision and growth

  • The Associate Pastor of Discipleship will report directly to the Senior Pastor.
  • The Associate Pastor of Discipleship is accountable to the FCC Elder Board.

 

Compensation

  • Salary commensurate with experience and church policy
  • Job Type: full-time, 40 hr per week
  • Employee Workplace: Hybrid on-site/from home
  • PTO (vacation and sick leave) according to FCC Policy
  • 3% Matching 403(b) retirement contribution according to FCC Policy
  • Health Insurance according to FCC Policy
  • Access to an expense account for ministry purposes

 

Application Questions

Address the various categories below on a separate sheet of paper. We are NOT looking for a perfect person to do all things, or looking for a lengthy response to questions. We appreciate you taking time to tell us about yourself.

 

Personal Testimony

Give a brief summary of your conversion experience, describing how you became a believer of Jesus Christ.

 

Call to Ministry

Give a brief summary of your call to the ministry. Articulate the reason you are called to the full time ministry.

 

Philosophy of Ministry

  1. What are your priorities and/or passions in ministry?
  2. What is your vision for Discipleship at Faith Community Church?
  3. Elaborate on what your short- and long-term goals might be.
  4. What is your idea of a successful church?
  5. Describe your expectations and philosophy of teamwork within the church staff, lay leadership, and congregation.
  6. What do you consider to be the role of women in the church?
  7. Which of the New Testament spiritual gifts do you believe you have received? Explain.
  8. Comment briefly on your prayer and devotional life.

 

Functions of Ministry

  • Shepherding and Assimilation
    • Discipling: How important is discipling in your ministry?
    • Evangelism: What place does evangelism have in your ministry?
  • Leadership and Pastoral Care
    • Counseling: Describe your counseling abilities.
    • Visitation: How important is visitation to your ministry?
    • Administration: Describe your administrative style and evaluate your skills.
  • Teaching and Preaching
    • Describe your preaching style. Please share a few of your most recent sermons (online videos or transcripts).
    • What teaching methods do you use?

 

Additional Questions

  1. How would you describe your overall management style?
  2. How would you approach those who do not share your management style, but are active participants in the church?
  3. Would you see yourself involved in community outreach, social, and political activities? If so, to what extent?
  4. Would you encourage members of Faith Community Church to be involved in political and social issues? If so, to what extent?
  5. How important is the use of technology to your ministry? What technologies do you use?
  6. Explain and describe any discipline, termination, or revocation of your ministerial or pastoral credentials.
  7. Is there anything in your background that can prove problematic for the church if you are called as Pastor?
  8. List three things which indicate your greatest satisfaction in your present or most recent ministry.
  9. List three things which indicate your greatest disappointment in your present or most recent ministry.

 

How to Apply

  • Please submit your
    • Application for Employment Form 
    • Cover letter: express your desire for the Associate Pastor of Discipleship position, along with salary expectation
    • Answers to the Application Questions above (required)
    • Resume (optional, if anything different than information already given)

by March 30th, 2025 to Faith Community Church, 586 Birch Bay Lynden Road, Lynden, WA 98264, or at jobs@fcclynden.org

  • Given the other FCC postings on this website, candidates are encouraged to indicate how else they might serve the various needs at FCC
About Faith Community Church

"A Gospel Centered, Bible Believing, Fellowship of Disciples"

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