Our Vision:
Helping People See God and Participate in His Redemptive Story
Our Guiding Value:
It is our role as a church to come alongside those in our community and show them the hope found in Jesus.
Our Mission:
- Loving God
- Loving Others
- Loving Truth
- Loving Culture
- Loving Sacrifice
- Peoples Church is led by Lead Pastor Dale Oquist, who has served in that role since 2010. Pastor Dale grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated with a degree in vocational ministry from North Central University in Minneapolis. He later earned a master’s degree in missional leadership from Northwest University, where he formerly served as adjunct faculty, and he serves on the board of trustees for Vanguard University. He is known for teaching the Bible in a fresh and practical way that engages those new to faith and seasoned believers alike. Pastor Dale and his wife, Joni, who serves as our Women’s Ministry Pastor, have been married since 1986 and have three married children and four grandchildren.
- Peoples Church is a pastor-led church with a supporting board, and our culture gives leaders real ownership of their areas. You will be handed genuine authority, staff, budget, an office, and the freedom to lead with a wide berth, in a place where vision and philosophy are genuinely respected. Our staff are self-starters who set their own goals, take initiative, and move toward them, supported by leadership that trusts them to lead. Our communication culture is direct and honest, and the people who thrive here are competent, steady, and ready to run. This is a family-oriented church where staff and members alike will bring you in and make you part of the community, and where leaders who serve well are given more and rewarded well.
Peoples Church is a non-denominational church. Pastor Dale is affiliated with the Assemblies of God, and other pastors on staff come from a variety of backgrounds. We hold firmly to historic Christian orthodoxy: the inspired and authoritative Word of God, salvation through Jesus alone, and the core truths of the virgin birth, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. We believe in the present work of the Holy Spirit, while holding our distinctives with humility rather than as hills to die on. Our theological hallways are wide. We are centered on the gospel and generous on the secondary debates, and we are home to staff and members from a range of church backgrounds. Women serve in ministry at Peoples Church, including as pastors on our staff.
- Lead and shape the overall discipleship strategy for Peoples Church, including our framework of individual, collaborative, and group discipleship.
- Oversee our volunteer teachers for classes, our recovery programs, and our men’s ministry, an area we are eager to invest in more deeply.
- Direct our pastoral care ministry, including hospital visits, the pastor-on-call rotation, and the deployment of pastoral staff to care for the congregation.
- Serve as a primary provider and overseer of pastoral counseling, including premarital counseling.
- Develop and train our teachers and leaders, investing in those who lead classes and groups.
- Lead and develop administrative support connected to discipleship and pastoral care.
- Continue building integrated discipleship resources, such as Bible reading plans connected to weekend teaching, that help people take real next steps with Jesus.
- Remain open to refining, and even overhauling, our current discipleship philosophy as you lead.
- A bachelor’s degree minimum, preferably in biblical studies, theology, or a related field. A master’s degree is a plus.
- Two to five years of discipleship or comparable experience preferred, or broader pastoral experience that demonstrates the substance this role requires.
- A self-starter who sets their own goals and a team player willing to work within the wide hallways of our leadership culture.
- An excellent communicator, both in person and electronically, capable of preaching from the main platform several times a year.
- Experienced in leading and developing volunteer teams and in working with administrative staff.
- A thoughtful approach to pastoral counseling, including comfort overseeing or referring premarital counseling.
- Aligned with our theological convictions.
Shape the Discipleship Vision: Our discipleship philosophy has guided us well for the last few years, and we are genuinely open to a leader who will refine or even overhaul it. For a pastor with vision, this is a rare opportunity to build inside an established church.
Build the Leaders Behind the Ministry: With administrative support and a budget already in place, the right leader can invest in training teachers and developing volunteers, multiplying their impact rather than carrying the load alone.
Lead With a Long Leash: Peoples Church will give you wide latitude to lead your area, which is a gift for a self-starter. The right person thrives with that freedom and navigates with grace the occasional moments when leadership weighs in on a decision.