The opportunity to become Lead Pastor at Grace Church excites me since their gospel-centered mission closely connects with my passion for discipleship and community transformation through biblical preaching. The church’s mission to challenge suburban comfort matches my passion for leading people towards a Christ-rooted missional life. The church demonstrates its complete vision through its commitments to gather together believers, develop their faith, share resources generously, and send them out on mission which expresses how I think Christ’s followers should manifest the gospel through deeds and teachings. The collaborative leadership approach attracts me because it builds unity and shared responsibility in working together to advance God’s Kingdom. Grace Church demonstrates a group that actively seeks biblical formation and purposeful mission, and leading them would bring me great joy.
The Grace Church of Ridgewood, New Jersey has maintained a consistent presence in its community since starting operations in 1946. On October 6 of that year the church was established when Mrs. Leah Stanton’s home hosted its 39 charter members led by founding pastor Larry McGill. The congregation bought land at the corner of Meadowbrook Avenue which led to beginning the construction of their first sanctuary in May 1947. By November the basement was ready for services while full completion of the building occurred in 1952. Since its construction in 1964 the existing sanctuary functions as the main center for church worship and ministry work.
From its establishment to the present-day Grace Church has demonstrated unwavering dedication to its original doctrines which stress both the importance of Scripture and Christ as the focal point. The church’s recent mission centers on breaking the suburban cycle of comfort and complacency to empower and send gospel-transformed people into mercy work and growth-focused ministry.
Ben Spalink became part of the pastoral team in June 2023 and contributed his considerable church planting and spiritual formation expertise to the team. His role as Pastor of Adult Spiritual Formation involves directing discipleship programs through classes and small groups to create an environment where community members share their spiritual journeys and develop into Christ-like individuals.
Grace Church remains a flourishing non-denominational community that devotes itself to understanding Jesus and sharing His message. The church uses its ministries and community work to prepare its members for meaningful lives based on gospel teachings.
Grace Church of Ridgewood is seeking a gospel-centered, relational, and mission-driven Lead Pastor to provide spiritual leadership and shepherd our congregation in alignment with our core convictions to Gather, Grow, Give, and Go. The Lead Pastor will be responsible for preaching and teaching the Word of God with biblical faithfulness and theological depth, guiding the church toward spiritual maturity and outreach impact. This role involves vision-casting in partnership with elders and staff, equipping the church to live missionally in Ridgewood and beyond, and cultivating a culture of discipleship, mercy, and multiplication. The ideal candidate will exhibit humility, relational warmth, and a deep love for Jesus, while embracing our commitment to disrupt suburban complacency with gospel transformation. This full-time position requires strong leadership, pastoral experience, and alignment with the church’s doctrinal convictions and vision.
Key Responsibilities:
What a Strong Candidate Would Look Like: