Grace Community Church

Student Pastor

Flagstaff, Arizona

Why I Love This Opportunity

Vance Martin

Vice President of NextGen

This is an amazing student pastor opportunity to do Kingdom work and live in an amazing outdoor community!

Nestled at the base of the San Francisco Peaks (with its nearly 71,000 residents), Flagstaff has the charm of a small mountain town with the opportunities of a big city. Although it is rural in nature, Flagstaff is also the hub of many of the state’s major attractions, including the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Lake Powell. Northern Arizona University also calls Flagstaff “home,” the greater Phoenix area is located just two hours south.

Unlike its neighbors in the Valley of the Sun, Flagstaff is 7,000 ft. above sea level and has four distinct seasons, making it a desirable location for outdoor recreation year-round. In 2009, Kiplinger rated Flagstaff in the top 10 “Best Cities for Jobs” list, featuring areas with stable employment and the talent to create new, well-paying jobs.

Many residents of Flagstaff enjoy its slower pace, great schools, and family-friendly community. They enjoy hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and getting out and enjoying nature in some of the best weather in Arizona. In many ways, Flagstaff offers the best of Arizona with all the allure of a small town and the resources of a large community. This is an incredible ministry opportunity surrounded by the beauty of the Southwest!

About This Organization

Located in the mountainous region of Arizona, Grace Community Church has been helping people love God and love each other in the city of Flagstaff since 1994. This non-denominational, family-friendly, Bible-preaching church seeks to be a light in the community and the world.

Grace Community Church is a solid, well-respected church. In its 30-year history, the church has experienced effective long-term ministry under the godly leadership of Pastor Mark Smith. Pastor Mark and his wife Laurie, moved to Flagstaff in 1993 to lead a struggling Baptist church. They gave it a new name and location, and launched, what would become, one of the more
prominent churches in the region. Pastor Mark’s practical Bible teaching and strong sense of community is what draws and keeps people coming to Grace.

While the heritage is strong and the message has never wavered, ministry methods at Grace continue to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of this unique, Northern Arizona city. For 29 years, the church met in the auditorium at Sinagua Middle School. An amazing team of volunteers faithfully set up for church week in and week out. In 2019, Grace purchased 10 acres
of land and began making plans for a beautiful, new church campus. The building is now completed and Grace Church opened its new location on historic Route 66 in January of 2024.

Grace Community Church is a warm and friendly place made up of people who genuinely love each other. There is a strong core of volunteers who embrace its mission of reaching the world by loving its neighbor with the Gospel. Practical Bible preaching has long been a priority for the church as it seeks to be known for its pursuit of the great commission and its obedience to the
great commandment.

The staff at Grace are gifted, humble, and committed to serving well. While hard work and effective ministry is deeply valued, it is done in a highly relational context where everyone has a
voice at that table. What began with just 25 people in a school auditorium 30 years ago, has grown to a church family of 650 who continue to embrace the mission of taking the message of
God’s grace to the community of Flagstaff.

Position Description

The Director/Pastor of Student Ministries must be a lover of God and students. His passion for students is to be directed toward their growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. He must be a leader, leading students in a Jesus-following lifestyle. He is to have a passion for the gospel. He is to have educational credentials in this area with a desire to grow in shepherding and growing a local church youth ministry. He is to able to confidently and graciously share the gospel with non-believers, of all ages. He is to fit the culture of Grace and the ministries represented and represent well within the Flagstaff community.

 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide oversight, lead, plan, and execute all high school and middle school ministry meetings. Ensure that the ministry is functioning in an effective, focused manner.
  • Recruit, train, and mobilize a leadership team of adult volunteers.
  • Grow students in Christian maturity and discipleship with a plan for developing youth leaders and ministry opportunities within the church and within the community.
  • Study to teach the Bible to students.
  • Create and distribute small group materials for leaders and create a ministry calendar in a timely manner.
  • Promote all student ministry events via various social media outlets and online communications.
  • Communicate well and regularly with the parents of students.
  • Create and maintain an online GSM presence via the Grace website to plan and execute camps and retreats for Grace students.
  • Maintain a continued growth of personal calling and walk with the Lord through Bible study and prayer.
  • Develop and exercise personal evangelism within and outside the church.
  • Give faithfully and graciously to the church through tithes and offerings.
  • Attend staff meetings, Grace events, and weekly worship services, and supports the church ministries and activities as a whole.

 

What a Strong Candidate Would Look Like:

  • Loves Jesus: Has a continually growing in your relationship with Jesus and a passion for caring for and helping people grow closer to Jesus.
  • Loves students and parents: Has a heart for people and a passion to help youth and their parents take the next steps toward Jesus.
  • Builder + Leader: Energized by an opportunity to shape and continue to build upon a thriving ministry with expected future growth as they transition locations.
  • Team Player: Thrives in a collaborative environment, and has a “we,” not “me” ministry approach as leaders love ministry and seek to be “led and heard.”
  • Organized: Gifted at providing systems, structure, and administration to help power middle school and high school student ministry healthily and sustainably.
  • Biblical Teacher: Engaging and effective communicator with foundational Biblical foundational training. Ability to speak the Word to students in a relevant and life-changing way.
  • Culture Fit: Flagstaff is an amazing and unique Arizona mountain and college-town community with so much opportunity for adventure.

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