Church planter Full Time

Church Planter / Campus Pastor

Freshwater Church — California, Missouri Campus

Position Summary

The Church Planter and Campus Pastor will lead the effort to replant an existing congregation and establish a healthy Freshwater Church campus in California, Missouri.

During the initial phase of the replant, the Campus Pastor’s primary responsibilities will be preaching faithfully, shepherding the congregation, developing leaders, engaging the surrounding community, and ensuring that Sunday morning services are organized and executed with excellence.

Freshwater Church’s Jefferson City leadership, staff, elders, systems, and ministry resources will provide substantial support during the early stages of the replant. As the California campus becomes increasingly healthy and established, the Campus Pastor will assume greater responsibility for its leadership, ministries, operations, budget, and overall direction.

The long-term goal is to develop a healthy, locally led, financially sustainable congregation that increasingly carries responsibility for its own ministry while remaining aligned with Freshwater Church’s doctrine, mission, vision, values, and leadership expectations.

A parsonage located next to the church facility will be provided as part of the compensation package.

Primary Responsibilities

Preaching and Teaching

Preach approximately 40 Sunday mornings each year at the California campus.
Prepare and deliver biblically faithful, theologically sound, Christ-centered, and practically applicable sermons.
Teach in alignment with Freshwater Church’s doctrine, preaching philosophy, ministry direction, and annual teaching calendar.
Work with Freshwater Church leadership to coordinate guest preachers and preaching coverage for the remaining Sundays.
Help the congregation understand and apply Scripture in every area of life.
Develop other qualified teachers and potential future preachers as the congregation grows.
Sunday Morning Leadership

During the initial phase of the replant, the Campus Pastor’s primary operational responsibility will be ensuring that Sunday morning services are well planned, properly staffed, and executed with excellence.

The Campus Pastor will:

Provide overall leadership for Sunday morning services.
Coordinate with worship, children’s ministry, first impressions, hospitality, prayer, safety, technology, and facilities teams.
Ensure that ministry leaders understand their responsibilities and are prepared to serve.
Maintain clear Sunday morning systems, schedules, expectations, and communication.
Anticipate and resolve problems before they negatively affect the ministry.
Create an environment that is welcoming, organized, spiritually focused, and consistent with Freshwater Church’s ministry culture.
Evaluate Sunday morning ministries regularly and make appropriate improvements.
Ensure that visitors are welcomed, followed up with, and connected to appropriate next steps.
The Campus Pastor is not expected to perform every Sunday morning task personally. He must build, equip, and deploy capable ministry teams that can carry meaningful responsibility.

Shepherding and Discipleship

Know, love, pray for, and shepherd the people of the California campus.
Meet with individuals, couples, families, and leaders as pastoral needs arise.
Provide biblical counsel and spiritual guidance within the scope of the position.
Visit members during significant illnesses, crises, hospitalizations, or other major life events.
Help people take meaningful next steps in following Christ.
Develop a culture of personal discipleship rather than dependence upon programs alone.
Identify and invest in believers who can disciple others.
Work with Freshwater Church’s broader pastoral care systems when needs require additional support or expertise.
Promote unity, biblical reconciliation, accountability, and healthy relationships within the congregation.
Leadership Development

The long-term health of the replant will depend upon the Campus Pastor’s ability to identify, recruit, develop, and deploy leaders.

The Campus Pastor will:

Identify individuals with proven character, spiritual maturity, and leadership potential.
Recruit and equip leaders for ministry responsibilities.
Establish clear expectations and provide regular training, encouragement, and feedback.
Delegate meaningful responsibility rather than attempting to carry the ministry personally.
Develop team leaders who can recruit, train, and lead others.
Create leadership pipelines for ministry volunteers, deacons, teachers, small-group leaders, potential elders, interns, residents, and future ministry staff.
Give emerging leaders opportunities to serve, lead, teach, and grow.
Build a ministry culture in which leadership development is intentional, relational, and ongoing.
Continually work toward reducing the ministry’s dependence upon outside leadership from the Jefferson City campus.
Community Engagement and Evangelism

Develop a growing understanding of California, Missouri, and the surrounding community.
Build relationships with community leaders, schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, churches, and residents.
Maintain a visible and positive presence within the community.
Lead the congregation to pray for, serve, evangelize, and invest in its neighbors.
Identify community needs that align with Freshwater Church’s mission and ministry priorities.
Develop evangelistic opportunities that connect people to the gospel and the life of the church.
Encourage members to view themselves as missionaries in their homes, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods.
Represent Freshwater Church with integrity, humility, wisdom, and hospitality.
Vision and Cultural Alignment

Lead the California congregation to understand and embrace Freshwater Church’s mission, vision, doctrine, values, ministry philosophy, and expectations.
Regularly communicate why the replant exists and what Freshwater Church is seeking to accomplish.
Help the existing congregation navigate change with patience, clarity, compassion, and conviction.
Honor the history and people of the existing church while leading it toward a healthy future.
Distinguish between biblical convictions, organizational preferences, and temporary transitional decisions.
Build trust before making unnecessary or premature changes.
Address unhealthy practices or expectations when necessary.
Develop a unified culture rather than allowing separate groups, traditions, or personal preferences to compete for control.
Lead the congregation to see itself as part of Freshwater Church’s broader mission to reach people, develop disciples, plant churches, and revitalize congregations.
Replanting and Ministry Development

Assess the current health, culture, leadership, ministries, facilities, and systems of the existing congregation.
Work with Freshwater Church leadership to establish short-term and long-term replanting priorities.
Develop ministry structures appropriate to the congregation’s current size and stage.
Avoid creating unnecessary programs before the church has the leaders, people, and resources required to sustain them.
Focus the church’s time, energy, finances, and volunteers on a limited number of ministries that directly support its mission.
Develop healthy systems before pursuing rapid expansion.
Evaluate ministry effectiveness regularly and recommend appropriate changes.
Lead the congregation through gradual, intentional, and sustainable development.
Maintain patience with the replanting process while consistently moving the church forward.
Freshwater Church seeks to do a limited number of ministries with excellence rather than attempting to provide every possible program. The Campus Pastor must protect this focus and resist unnecessary ministry complexity.

Budgeting and Financial Stewardship

Develop a proposed annual budget in collaboration with Freshwater Church leadership.
Ensure that the budget reflects the mission, priorities, and current stage of the California campus.
Manage ministry spending within the approved budget.
Follow all Freshwater Church financial policies, approval processes, purchasing procedures, and accountability standards.
Review budget performance regularly and communicate financial needs or concerns promptly.
Help the congregation grow in biblical generosity and financial stewardship.
Develop a long-term plan for increased local financial sustainability.
Ensure that ministry plans are financially responsible and do not create obligations the congregation cannot sustain.
Work with appropriate staff members, elders, finance leaders, and ministry leaders regarding financial decisions.
Operational Leadership

As the campus becomes more established, the Campus Pastor will assume increasing responsibility for its operations.

Responsibilities may include:

Developing and executing an annual ministry plan.
Maintaining a comprehensive ministry calendar.
Coordinating facilities use and maintenance.
Overseeing local ministry teams and team leaders.
Managing communication with the congregation and community.
Coordinating special services, events, outreach efforts, and ministry initiatives.
Working with Freshwater Church staff regarding children’s ministry, worship, communications, discipleship, missions, technology, and administration.
Ensuring that ministry policies and safety procedures are followed.
Providing regular updates regarding attendance, giving, ministry health, leadership development, community engagement, and identified needs.
Helping establish administrative systems that support long-term ministry health.
Support of the Jefferson City Campus

During seasons when the California campus does not require the full use of the Campus Pastor’s available ministry hours, he may assist with ministry needs at Freshwater Church’s Jefferson City campus.

Responsibilities at the Jefferson City campus will be coordinated with the Campus Pastor’s supervisor and will not replace his primary responsibility to lead the California replant.

Phases of Leadership Development

The exact timeline will depend upon the health, growth, leadership development, and financial stability of the California campus.

Initial Phase

The Campus Pastor’s primary emphasis will be:

Preaching faithfully.
Shepherding the congregation.
Ensuring Sunday mornings operate effectively.
Building trust with the existing congregation.
Learning the community.
Developing relationships.
Identifying potential leaders.
Establishing healthy ministry systems.
Leading the congregation to understand Freshwater Church’s mission and vision.
During this phase, Freshwater Church’s Jefferson City staff and elders will retain substantial responsibility for administration, ministry systems, major decisions, finances, policies, and strategic direction.

Development Phase

As leaders are identified and the congregation becomes healthier, the Campus Pastor will assume greater responsibility for:

Volunteer recruitment and development.
Local ministry planning.
Community engagement.
Budget development and management.
Discipleship structures.
Pastoral care systems.
Local communications.
Ministry-team oversight.
Annual goals and strategic planning.
Established Phase

As the church becomes increasingly established, the Campus Pastor will provide broader pastoral and organizational leadership.

The long-term objective is for the California congregation to become:

Biblically healthy.
Locally led.
Financially sustainable.
Capable of developing its own leaders.
Actively engaged in evangelism and missions.
Able to carry increasing responsibility for its ministries and operations.
Positioned to reproduce disciples, leaders, ministries, and churches.
Any transition toward greater operational or organizational autonomy will occur under the direction and approval of Freshwater Church’s elders. The only remaining attachment to Freshwater JC after autonomy will be giving 5% of their annual budget towards Vision 50 and the continued planting and replanting of Churches.

Biblical Qualifications

Because this is a pastoral position, the candidate must meet the biblical qualifications for pastoral leadership described in passages including:

1 Timothy 3:1–7
Titus 1:5–9
1 Peter 5:1–4
The candidate must:

Demonstrate a credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
Be above reproach in personal, relational, financial, familial, and ministry conduct.
Demonstrate self-control, humility, hospitality, faithfulness, wisdom, and spiritual maturity.
Maintain a healthy personal devotional life.
Demonstrate a shepherd’s concern for people.
Be able to teach sound doctrine and respond appropriately to theological error.
Lead through service rather than position, personality, or control.
Demonstrate faithfulness in his marriage and family responsibilities, when applicable.
Maintain appropriate boundaries and accountability.
Fully affirm and support Freshwater Church’s doctrine, constitution, bylaws, mission, vision, values, and philosophy of ministry.
Become and remain a faithful partner of Freshwater Church.
Ideal Candidate Profile

Freshwater Church will evaluate candidates according to the following priorities:

Proven Character

Character is the most important qualification for this position.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

A consistent and credible walk with Christ.
Integrity in public and private life.
Humility and teachability.
Emotional and relational maturity.
Faithfulness in responsibilities.
A willingness to receive correction.
A pattern of serving without requiring recognition.
The ability to handle authority, influence, conflict, criticism, and confidential information appropriately.
Genuine love for the church and the people he leads.
Freshwater Church is seeking more than a gifted preacher or capable organizer. We are seeking a godly man whose life supports the message he preaches.

Preaching Ability

After character, preaching ability is the highest priority.

The ideal candidate will be able to:

Interpret Scripture accurately.
Explain biblical truth clearly.
Preach Christ faithfully.
Apply Scripture wisely.
Communicate in a manner that is engaging without being personality-driven.
Preach to believers and unbelievers.
Address difficult subjects with courage, grace, and pastoral sensitivity.
Develop sermons through disciplined preparation rather than relying upon last-minute work.
Continue developing as a preacher through feedback, study, and practice.
Leadership Ability

The ideal candidate must be able to lead people and move ministry forward.

He should demonstrate the ability to:

Cast a compelling biblical vision.
Turn vision into practical plans.
Build trust with different generations and backgrounds.
Recruit and rally people around a shared mission.
Develop teams and team leaders.
Make timely decisions.
Address problems directly.
Lead change wisely.
Delegate responsibility.
Evaluate effectiveness.
Maintain focus over an extended period.
Help people take ownership of the ministry.
Additional Characteristics

Organized

Able to manage calendars, people, responsibilities, budgets, communication, services, events, and ministry plans with consistency.

Driven

Possesses the internal motivation to identify needs, solve problems, complete responsibilities, and move ministry forward without constant supervision.

Committed to Excellence

Desires to honor Christ by preparing well, following through, paying attention to details, and continually improving the ministry.

Excellence does not mean perfection or unnecessary complexity. It means doing the right things faithfully, intentionally, and to the best of the church’s ability.

Focused

Able to maintain attention on Freshwater Church’s primary mission and resist distractions, unnecessary programs, and ministry activity that does not produce meaningful fruit.

High-Functioning

Able to accomplish a significant amount of meaningful work within reasonable and clearly established ministry hours.

Freshwater Church is not seeking someone who regularly works an unhealthy or unsustainable number of hours. We are seeking someone who:

Uses time wisely.
Prioritizes effectively.
Plans ahead.
Makes decisions.
Communicates clearly.
Completes responsibilities.
Avoids unnecessary inefficiency.
Maintains appropriate personal and family rhythms.
Effective at Delegation

Able to entrust responsibility to qualified people, provide clear expectations, and hold leaders appropriately accountable.

Capable of Developing Leaders

Demonstrates a high capacity for identifying potential, investing relationally, providing opportunities, giving feedback, and helping others grow into meaningful ministry responsibility.

Committed to Discipleship

Views ministry success not merely in terms of attendance, events, or programs, but in the development of mature believers who follow Christ, serve others, disciple people, and participate in the mission of the church.

Accountability and Supervision

The Church Planter and Campus Pastor will serve under the authority of Freshwater Church’s elders and will report to the pastor or supervisor designated by the elders.

The Campus Pastor will:

Participate in regular supervisory meetings.
Provide ministry updates and reports.
Participate in staff meetings and planning processes as requested.
Establish annual ministry and leadership-development goals.
Receive regular coaching, feedback, and evaluation.
Work collaboratively with Freshwater Church pastors, staff members, elders, deacons, and ministry leaders.
Submit major ministry, personnel, financial, facility, and strategic decisions through the appropriate leadership processes.
Housing

A parsonage located next to the church facility will be provided as part of the position’s compensation package, along with paid utilities.

The use of the parsonage will be governed by the terms established in the employment agreement and applicable Freshwater Church housing policies.

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