Student Ministries Pastor

Dear Potential Candidate,

My name is Jeremiah Holcombe, and I am the Lead Pastor of the Alliance Church of Quartzsite. I have had the honor of being the Youth Pastor for 11 years and the Lead Pastor for the last 3 years. For the past 11 years, I have strived to build a youth ministry that balances outreach and discipleship, and that is integrated into the overall life of the church. We are looking to bring on staff a full-time Student Ministries Pastor to replace our current SM Pastor who must step down due to family health.

Quartzsite is unique in many ways. In the summertime, the temperature rises to upwards of 127 degrees; while the population falls to around 3,500 people. Only about 1000 of those are under the age of 65, with childcare and teens being less than 200. As the summer cools, the winter visitors and snowbirds start arriving, and by the end of January, there can be over 500,000 people in our small little town. With nighttime temperatures down to the 20s.

Our church is small to medium size. In the summer, our attendance ranges from 50 to 100 people. In the wintertime, it can grow to almost 300. We rely on the winter visitors and snowbirds for the financial life of the church.

The teens of Quartzsite have a rural mindset. Many come from broken families. Living with just mom, or just dad, or grandma and grandpa. Many families come to Quartzsite as a last resort, seeing it more as the bottom of the economic scale.

I love this town and the people in it. I have seen God do amazing work in the lives of people in my tenure here. Quartzsite is a harsh environment, and it will take a person who is committed to the work of God to meet the labor that is before us. Below is a list of duties, responsibilities, expectations, and compensations. I ask that you prayerfully consider this position. Not as simply a job to be had, but a calling to be responded to. Let us move forward in the power and the direction of God, who has saved us for his work. Amen.

Let me give you a brief outline of the process we foresee.

If you are in agreement with the following Qualifications, Compensation, Responsibilities, and Expectations sections of this position, the Christian and Missionary statement of faith, and with our church’s Bylaws (these can be found by following the link: http://www.quartzsitealliance.com/assets Quartzsite_Alliance_Bylaws_PDF_Version.pdf), then we invite you to send in a simple resume and complete the personal/theological questionnaire at the end.

After reviewing your initial resume and questionnaire, if you meet the standards that are laid out below, we will extend to you an interview, it will be conducted by myself, over Skype or FaceTime.

If you pass this first interview, we will contact your references. If the references are well taken, then you will be asked to interview again in front of several of our leadership members. Which will include: the Lead Pastor, an Elder, a Ministry Board Member, and a Teen.

If you do not pass this second interview, I will contact you, letting you know the decision. If you pass the interview, you will have moved into our top picks for the position. We will let you know where you stand on this list. This top list will be asked to participate in a candidating process. The top candidate will be given priority, being invited to come to Quartzsite and spend the weekend interviewing with the church (fully paid for by the church). This will give us an opportunity to interact with them. If this candidate does not pass this third interview, we will move on to the second, and so on.

If you do not pass, I will contact you and let you know of the decision. If you pass the candidate weekend, you will be offered the position of Student Ministries Pastor. To which the church will extend you a stipend for your moving expenses.

We foresee this process taking 6 to 12 months.

Please makes sure in your initial resume you have the following: a brief biography, ministry experience, references, and the way in which you would like to be contacted (email or phone) at the various steps along the way

Thank you for your interest in this position, and I pray that God leads us both to the place he has for us.

Sincerely,

Jeremiah Holcombe, Lead Pastor

• Ideal Candidate:
• The following is what the Board of Elders of the Alliance Church of Quartzsite, believes is the basis for the best candidate to fill the Student Ministries 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 Student Ministries Pastor of the Alliance Church of Quartzsite are as follows:
• Young Married Couple. (Straight out of college or recently graduated are encouraged)
• Both are believers, and both are ministry-minded.
• Agree wholeheartedly with the Statement of Faith of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Agree wholeheartedly with the Bylaws of the Alliance Church of Quartzsite.
• Live a godly lifestyle in both a professional and personal setting.
• Willing to build upon the work of the previous Student Ministries Pastor's work.
• Keep our philosophy of “Play, Make Their Day, Be There, and Choose Your Attitude.” When interacting with teens.
• Be Theologically grounded.
• Be Willing to be accredited/licensed with the Christian and Missionary Alliance.
• Be Willing to make a 5-year commitment to the ministry of the Alliance Church of Quartzsite.
• Our Goal
• The Student Ministries 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 Student Ministries Pastor will seek to accomplish both.
• We strive to be motivated by God’s love, to lift 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, and adults be integrated into one church community where all participate. The Youth Pastor will be one of the facilitators to this goal.
• Qualifications:
• An acknowledgment that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior.
• A desire to continue a strong, committed, and mature relationship with Christ.
• Excitement and interest in teaching youth about God.
• A Bachelor’s degree in ministry.
• Experience in youth ministry.
• Pass a background check.
• Have a Valid Driver’s License
• Compensation:
• $24,000 annual salary; paid every two weeks.
• Housing provided, with all utilities paid.
• Cell Phone provided.
• 2 weeks vacation a year during the “off-season.”
• A monthly health stipend of $500 added at the start of the 2nd year of work.
• Ministry Calendar:
• Weekly:
• Regular Office Hours - 9am-12pm Tuesday-Saturday
• Fridays - Youth Wreck Night, 4pm-9:30pm
• Saturdays - Youth Work Projects (as scheduled)
• Sundays - Worship Service(s); Sunday School, 9:30am; Youth Bible Study, 6pm-8pm
• Quarterly: 1/2 Night Outreach Events, 4pm-1am
• Yearly: In-Town Trip/VBC
• Biannually: Out-of-Town Trips - Winter Camp & 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.
• Pastors 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 and Children’s Director (as available)
• Presentation to the Board of Ministries (Outreach coordination) and the Board of Elders.
• Keep regular office hours of 9am-12pm, while understanding that this does not include all the hours that it takes to run a ministry.
• Foster relationships with students 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 problem solver.
• Be able to work independently, willing to grow, and be challenged.
• Develop skills in preaching, teaching, and counseling.
• Work under the leadership of the Lead Pastor and the Board of Elders.
• Develop fundraisers to fund all youth activities.
• Apparel: Business casual clothes (polo/button-up shirt, denim/slacks, dress shoes) on Sunday mornings. All other times would be appropriate casual.
• Student Ministry Responsibilities and Duties:
• Build upon the work of the previous Student Ministries Pastor.
• Develop, promote and coordinate a balanced program of activities and discipleship ministry to youth and children, that accomplish the vision of the Alliance Church.
• Continue the Teen Leadership Program that seeks to develop interested youth in their leadership abilities. This includes teaching them how to counsel, preach, teach, and run small groups.
• 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 VBC trip.
• Plan and execute quarterly 1/2 night outreaches.
• Involve youth in ministry and mission projects.
• Be available for counseling.
• Support youth in their school setting.
• Have a valid driver’s license.
• 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.
• Be available to fill the pulpit, conduct funerals, assist in hospital visitations, etc. in the pastor’s absence.
• Assist in and serve as a resource person to the Children’s Ministry, overseeing the Hideaway Street program (puppet ministry).
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Lead Pastor.
• Organize and Run the Hideaway Street Puppet Program on Sundays.
• Have Fun doing it.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $24,000.00 per year

Questionnaire

Personal:

Please give a brief biography:

What are your three top favorite things to do?

Give a brief statement about how you became a Christian:

Why do you feel led to work with youth?

What would you like to accomplish as a Youth Pastor?

List any past experiences (ministry, personal life, school, etc.) that you have had that you feel will help you as a Youth Pastor that are not on your resume. And explain why they will help you. 

Please describe your current relationship with Jesus (Bible reading, Scripture Memorization, Spiritual Disciplines, devotional life, prayer, etc.)

What does the word “mentor” mean to you?

In what ways would you like to see the leadership over you, mentor you?

Theological:

What does it mean that Scripture is “Inerrant” or without flaws?

What does it mean that Scripture is “Verbally inspired by God”?

What does it mean that the Bible is the “Only rule for our lives”?

What does it mean that humans are created in the image of God?

Explain the “Trinity” using both theologically and common language.

Explain why Jesus had to come as a human, die on the cross and be raised from the dead. 

Explain “sinful nature”.

Explain what Salvation is.

Explain what belief is.

Explain what justification is.

Explain what sanctification is.

Explain what it means to “spread the Gospel”.

What is your understanding and stance on Premillennialism, Postmillennialism, and Amillennialism?

What is your understanding and stance on “once saved always saved”, and “one can lose their salvation”?

What is your understanding and stance on the rapture; pre, mid, post?

What is your understanding and stance on the gifts of the Holy Spirit for today?

On a spectrum of theological worship interaction, where would you fall if conservative is on one end, pentecostal is on the opposite, and charismatic is in between? Why?