Associate Pastor

Dear Potential Candidate,

My name is Jeremiah D. Holcombe and I am the Lead Pastor of Arise Alliance Church in Quartzsite, Az. We are on a search for an Associate Pastor who has the calling to one day transition into the Lead Pastor position here at Arise. The position will first oversee our Family Ministries (Children and Teens) and will work with me as I train and coach you through the transition process. This process is expected to take a minimum of one year and upwards of three, depending on your accreditation and ordination status with the Christian and Missionary Denomination. The reason for this process is based on what we have observed in other churches and our own. Many churches go through times of great strife when they bring in a pastor, especially one in the Lead position. However in our church, I was the youth pastor before I transitioned into the the Lead position and our church blossomed through the process. We would like to replicate that once again.

Below you will find our process, ideal candidate, our goals, qualifications, compensations, calendar, and expectations. We pray that God will lead both of us to the next era in the ministry he has allowed us to experience here in Quartzsite. God bless you and thank you for considering ministering with us.

The Process:

Step 1: Applying - Please send your resume to quartzsitealliance@gmail.com. In your resume, Please include a short paragraph biography, experience that would qualify you for the position, and three references (two ministry related and one personal). If your resume is not what we are looking for, we will inform you via email we will not be moving forward with your application.

Step 2: Questionnaire - If the resume meets our qualifications, you will receive a follow up email with a Theological Questionnaire. Our denomination, the Christians and Missionary Alliance, requires an interview to be licensed. The purpose of the questionnaire is to see if you can pass the interview. If your questionnaire is not in keeping with the C&MA’s theology, we will inform you via email that we will not be moving forward with your application.

Step 3: First Interview - If your questionnaire is acceptable, you will receive an email to set up an informal interview with one or more of our pastoral search committee members. This interview will be conducted via Skype. In the interview we will clarify the expectations of the position, answer any questions you have, and ask you a series of our own questions. Please have your spouse attend this interview. If your interview does not meet what we are looking for we will inform you via email that we will not be moving forward with your application. 

Step 4: Group Interview - If committee members believe you are someone who would fulfill the criteria of the position, a second, more formal interview will be set up with the full search committee. Pastor Jeremiah will help facilitate the meeting. Please have you spouse attend this interview. A background check will be conducted prior to this interview. If your interview does not meet what we are looking for we will inform you via email that we will not be moving forward with your application.

Step 5: Candidate Weekend - If the committee believes it is warranted, the church will invite you and your family out for a weekend to experience our church, town, and be interviewed a final time by our Board of Elders. If the Board believes you are the final choice, they will then extend you the position of Associate Pastor. If your interview does not meet what we are looking for we will inform you via a phone call that we will not be moving forward with your application.

Step 6: District Interview - Before the position becomes final, you will have a two hour interview with the Licensing Board of the district. Once given the board’s approval, the church will pay $5,000 towards moving expenses.

We believe the process will take between six and eighteen months. However, if the right candidate comes along, that time maybe shorten.

Ideal Candidate:

The following is what the Board of Elders of Arise Alliance Church of Quartzsite, believe is the basis for the the best candidate to fill the Associate Pastor, and eventually, the Lead Pastor position. Some of these ideals are based on what has worked in the past, while others are ideals that we believe will lead to a better working relationship between the pastors. The ideal candidate for the position of Associate Pastor of the Alliance Church of Quartzsite are as follows:

• Male, our denomination and bylaws require the Lead Pastor to be a male. 
• Married couple, in their mid thirties.
• Have youth/children ministry background.
• Both are believers, both are ministry minded, with the wife willing to work in some capacity within the ministry. (We do not expect the wife to be a typical pastor’s wife, but there is an expectation that she will find her niche within the ministry)
• Agree whole heartedly with the Statement of Faith of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and with the Bylaws of Arise Alliance Church of Quartzsite. (Both applicant and spouse must read both prior to the first interview; these can be found through the church’s website: https://www.quartzsitealliance.com/about-3.)
• Live a godly lifestyle in both a professional and personal setting.
• Willing to build upon the work of the pervious pastors.
• Keep our philosophy of “Play, Make Their Day, Be There, and Choose Your Attitude,” when interacting with children and teens. Keeping the children and youth ministries a high priority.
• Be theologically grounded, we are not looking for babysitters, but shepherds of both our families and our adults.
• Be willing to be accredited/licensed with the Christian and Missionary Alliance prior to any formal contract with Arise Alliance Church.
• Be willing to make a 5 year commitment to the ministry of Arise Alliance Church after the transition period.

Our Goal

The Associate Pastor will seek to impact the teens and children of the town of Quartzsite. Outreach to those who are not believers in Christ, and a strong emphasis on disciple making are two non-negotiable aspects of ministry. The future Associate Pastor will seek to accomplish both. (This means getting into schools, and seeking other means of contact with children and youth.) The Associate Pastor will work alongside the Lead Pastor as he is transitioned into the position. Once established in the Lead Pastor position, the goal is to then search for a new Associate Pastor who will focus on Family Ministry exclusively. In addition, Arise Alliance Church maintains strong support of and works alongside other evangelical ministries in the town. The next Lead Pastor should be willing to continue that work.

Our Mission is to Arise to God’s calling which is motivated by His love, to lift in Him up in daily worship, locating and meeting the needs of our community, all the while pointing people to His life. We desire that the life of children, teens, adults, and the elderly be integrated into one church community where all participate. The Associate Pastor will be one of the facilitators to these goals.

Qualifications:

• Both applicant and spouse must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior.
• A desire to continue a strong, committed, and mature relationship with Christ.
• An excitement and interest in teaching people about God.
• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in ministry (preferred), or a Certificate of Ministry from a reputable facility.
• Experience in ministry especially experience in youth/children’s ministry.
• Both husband and wife must be able to pass a thorough background check (This will be performed after passing the first interview).
• Have a Valid Driver’s License (we do a lot of van driving).

Compensation:

• $27,000 annual salary; paid in increments of $1,125 every two weeks. Salary will be increased to the Lead Pastor’s current salary of $29,400 after the transition.
• Housing provided (3 bedroom, two bath, with two car garage; power, water/sewer, and internet included, on a fenced in quarter acre lot; located across the street from the church).
• Church owned cell phone provided for both the husband and wife.
• 2 weeks vacation a year during the off-season (After Easter to end of May, or August to September).
• Since the pastors of Arise Alliance Church are contractors, A yearly stipend of $300 be paid in lieu of the church providing workman’s compensation (all persons who are contracted with the church are not employees of the church).
• A monthly health stipend of $500 will be added at the end of the 2nd year of work.
• The base package is approximate $43,200, with the increase in the package to $51,600 after the transition is finalized.

Ministry Calendar:

• Weekly:
• Regular Office Hours - 9am-12pm Tuesday-Friday
• Wednesdays - Youth Bible Study, 6pm-8pm
• Fridays - Youth Wreck Night, 6pm-8:30pm
• Saturdays - Youth Work Projects (as scheduled)
• Sundays - Worship Service(s) 8am & 11am; Sunday School, 9:30am; Evening Service 6pm.
• Quarterly: 1/2 Night Outreach Events, 6pm-12a
• Yearly: Winter Camp, In-Town Trip/VBC, Out-of-Town Trips (Camping/Missions)

Ministry Expectations:

• Continue developing your personal relationship with God, this being your primary responsibility.
• Keep your family life healthy, making sure that you have a sabbath (a day off) separate from Sunday (usually Monday).
• Pastor’s are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Be prepared for the rigorous schedule.
• Weekly meetings with the Lead Pastor.
• Presentation to the Board of Ministries (Outreach coordination) and the Board of Elders.
• Keep regular office hours which are listed above, while understanding that this does not include all the hours that it takes to run a ministry.
• Foster relationships with students and adults in the midst of programs, events, and Bible studies. 
• Build relationships with students; Have relational skills and service orientation. Have fun while looking for ways to stay energized.
• Be flexible, take initiative, self-starter, team player and a problem solver.
• Be able to work independently, willing to grow and be challenged.
• Be coached in developing skills in preaching, teaching, and counseling.
• Work under the leadership of the Lead Pastor and the Board of Elders.
• Develop fundraisers to fund youth activities.
• Apparel: Business casual clothes (polo/button up shirt, denim/slacks, dress shoes) on Sunday mornings. All other times wearing appropriate attire.
• Build on previous pastors’ work; this means willing to not change anything until at least a year after the transition.
• Be available to fill the pulpit, conduct funerals, assist in hospital visitations, etc. in the Lead Pastor’s absence. 
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Lead Pastor.
• Fulfill Family Ministry Responsibilities and Duties.
• Develop, promote and coordinate a balanced program of activities and discipleship ministry to youth, that accomplish the vision of the Alliance Church.
• Involve youth and youth leaders in outreach and discipleship to reach unsaved youth
• Plan and execute two out-of-town trips, (i.e. Winter Camp, Summer Camp/Missions Trip)
• Plan and execute one In-Town, week long, outreach and VBS trip.
• Plan and execute quarterly 1/2 night outreaches.
• Involve youth in ministry and missions projects.
• Be available for counseling.
• Support youth in their school setting.
• Drive church vans for Sunday mornings, and for youth events/activities.
• Be available to parents to discuss issues related to their child or youth ministry. 
• Enlist volunteers to aid in the ministry.
• Lead regular leadership meetings with youth leaders.
• Draw up a yearly budget for youth ministry and present it to the Elder Board.
• The Associate Pastor is not considered an Elder, but will be included in Elder Board meetings as they transition into the Lead Elder.
• Assist in and serve as a resource person to the Children’s Ministry, overseeing Family Ministries in general and the Hideaway Street program (puppet ministry) in particular.
• Organize and Run the Hideaway Street Puppet Program on Sundays.
• Have Fun doing it.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration of this position. Quartzsite, Arizona, is an arid and sometimes harsh place to minister, yet I have found it a pleasure to be a part of its work for twenty years. If this is God’s calling on your life, I know that you too will see the great blessing that it is.

In Christ’s Grip,

Jeremiah D. Holcombe, Lead Pastor.