Lead Chaplain/Chapel Pastor

Goal

To recruit the next leader of the ministry at Sky Valley Resorts and continue to influence the community with the contagious flavor of Christ’s character and lifestyle.

Denomination: Non-Denominational

Weekly Attendance:  Seasonal (average varies between 50 during May-Sep — 230 during Jan-Mar post-COVID)

Location: Coachella Valley/Greater Palm Springs area, CA

The Role: Lead Chaplain

Ministry website:   svmin.com

Resort website: skyvalleyresort.com

Meet Sky Valley Chapel:

Sky Valley Chapel is the worshipping community at Sky Valley Resort located in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, CA.   The Chapel began when speakers were invited to lead worship services in the clubhouse in 1980.  In 1985 Sky Valley Ministries became a registered religious non-profit (IRS 501c3) corporation in California. Separate from the Resort itself, the Lead Chaplain works closely with Resort management.     

The Chapel provides worship services for people from a wide range of denominational and non-denominational backgrounds, as well as to spiritual seekers not affiliated with any church.  Weekly services are packed with short-term guests and long-term residents, all blessed by the welcoming community.  Attendance varies as the Resort is a favorite destination for snowbirds from the Pacific Northwest and Canada.   There are over 850 lots in the Resort with a mix of manufactured homes and RVs.  Approximately 30% of residents are year-round with our highest population during the peak season of January-March.

The Lead Chaplain leads the ministry team in seeking to be relevant and supportive of all people in the community.   Weekly worship services are held at 9:00 AM Sunday at Force Hall, with a second service added at 10:30 AM during peak season (Jan-Mar). Current worship leader/associate chaplain is a 2-time Grammy awardee and has received multiple Dove awards as a singer/songwriter.

About the Lead Chaplain:

The Lead Chaplain is the primary leader and vision-caster, who plays a critical role as we seek to provide worship opportunities and reach our community through a comprehensive program which fosters a Christian atmosphere in the community.  They are the primary teacher/preacher for worship services. They have a passion for reaching the unchurched and de-churched.  They live and minister in the Resort at least 7 months of the year (Oct-Apr).

Lead Chaplain Responsibilities Include:

Teaching

• The candidate is the primary teacher with broad responsibility for the spiritual growth and welfare of the community.
• Biblically grounded, he majors on the majors, focusing teaching on those issues on which orthodox Christians agree rather than on those issues that divide Christ-followers.
• The candidate can relate to multiple generations and diverse populations—wherever they are on their spiritual journey—and address difficult biblical topics with a balance of truth and love.
• They are able to minister across a broad cross section of denominations.  

Leadership

• He is the primary leader and vision-caster. 
• A gifted leader with broad responsibility for sharing the mission and vision of the Chapel.
• Leads pastoral staff and works hand-in-hand with the Sky Valley Ministries (SVM)  Board in developing and articulating God’s vision for the worshipping community and outreach to others.
• A strategic thinker, able to cast a compelling vision that unifies the body and reinforces the mission and purpose of the Chapel.
• Embraces the philosophy of team ministry in an atmosphere where each team members are interdependent and accountable to one another and to the Lead Chaplain.
• The candidate embraces a collaborative leadership style and humility in relationships.
• Loves people over programs with a focus on outreach. 
• Supervises and leads the staff (e.g., regular meetings, performance evaluations, mentoring).
• A team player who actively seeks and values the participation and contributions of others while also possessing the confidence to be decisive, when necessary, even in the face of opposition. Not a micromanager.
• A dependable team player with the ability to take initiative and demonstrate strong communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

·       Oversite of Summer program (May-September)  from afar

Embrace our Mission and Vision statements:

Vision Statement: 

Building Community, Reflecting Jesus

Mission Statement:

We provide relevant and innovative worship experiences and spiritual growth opportunities to build community and foster a Christian atmosphere while enhancing the lives of all residents and guests at Sky Valley Resort.

About Sky Valley Resort and the Coachella Valley

Nestled between mountain ranges in the Coachella Valley, Sky Valley is a premier resort destination for getting away for the weekend or the winter. With Joshua Tree National Park just an hour away, downtown Palm Springs 25 minutes away and plenty of nearby hiking trails, the resort is an excellent launching point for many adventures. Sky Valley’s mineral hot pools are fed from deep aquifers supplied by snow run off from nearby Mt. San Gorgonio. The resort pumps the heated sulfur-free spring water into 13 spas and pools for soaking sore muscles, swimming laps, or just relaxing in the pool. The resort has a mix of RVs, vacation homes and manufactured homes. The community boasts 2 clubhouses, 8 state of the art pickleball courts, horseshoe pits, a library and a gym with cardio as well as weight machines.   A Health and Fitness department guides residents as they lead an active lifestyle.  

1.    Methods of Ministry

a.    Creative and relevant biblical teaching

b.    Quality music that leads people into worship and glorifies God

c.     Building relationships across the community

d.    Challenging people to meaningful service opportunities

2.    Key Existing Programs

a.    Sunday morning worship and teaching    (~200-250 peak post COVID)

b.    Sunday Night Live Concerts                      (4-5/season with ~200-250 att.)

c.     Annual REFRESH Conference                 (5-6 sessions   avg 200 + att.)

d.    Monthly Fire Pit Concerts    Dec-Mar       (~250 att.)

e.    Monthly Block Parties                                 (Jan-Mar with ~250 att.)     

f.      Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes    (600+ annually/30 volunteers)

g.    Relationship building opportunities through involvement in Resort activities (Pickleball, Horseshoes, Hiking, Pools/Tubs, other activities)                                        

3.    Existing Facilities used for ministry

a.    West Clubhouse/Force Hall              (seats ~300 + 40 on patio)

b.    Wild West Wash Fire Pit                    (300+)

c.     Sky Valley West Block Party Stage (300+)

4.    Existing Staff

a.    Sky Valley Resorts Lead Chaplain           (7 months/year onsite, 5 offsite)

b.    Worship Leader/Associate Chaplain        (6 months/year onsite)

                          (2 time Grammy awardee/multiple Dove awards)

c.     Reception/Office Manager                         (part-time employee)

d.    Financial Manager                                       (part-time employee)

e.    Pastoral Care Chaplain                      (volunteer-retired Hospital Chaplain)

f.      Lead Usher                                                   (volunteer)

g.    Sound Reinforcement Engineer       

h.    Team of Volunteers for events                  (~25)

5.    Opportunities for Growth

As travel increases post-COVID resort population will increase the potential number to be reached.

6.    High-Capacity Position Requirements

·      Minimum 3-year MDIV or equivalent

·      Proven leadership in multi-staff church/ministry setting

·      Extensive ministry experience (five or more years) overseeing a church/significant ministry organization is strongly preferred.  Multi-staff leadership experience is a plus.

·      Ability to effectively communicate the gospel in a winsome and relevant way to large groups as well as at an interpersonal level

·      On site minimum 7 months of year (Oct-Apr)

7.    Budget

a.    Existing Chapel Budget                     $200K/yr

b.    Special Project Fundraisers              ~$20K/yr

8.    Compensation

Housing/salary range TBD commensurate with experience and qualifications/skill.

a.    Position is 7 months full-time onsite/5 months part-time oversight     

$60--70K/year

Option of additional compensation for summer onsite (May-Sep) at reduced rate

b.    Parsonage or Housing Allowance tbd

If interested, send resume to:  [email protected]