Associate Pastor of Operations & Discipleship

Harvest Christian Church in Winfield, Kansas exists to help in growing God's Kingdom one person at a time, teaching them to worship Jesus, walk with Jesus, and work for Jesus!

Harvest Christian Church is seeking an Associate Pastor of Operations & Discipleship who loves Jesus, loves people, and has a passion for helping the local church grow and accomplish its mission. Harvest is a growing church committed to making disciples who make disciples. We believe following Jesus means learning to Worship Jesus as King, Walk with Jesus daily, and Work for His Kingdom. As our church continues to grow, we are looking for a ministry leader who can help strengthen our systems, develop volunteers and leaders, support our pastoral staff, and help people take meaningful next steps in following Jesus. This position is about more than managing programs or completing tasks. We are looking for someone who can help build a healthy church by developing people, strengthening ministries, and creating the structure necessary for effective ministry. The Associate Pastor will work closely with the Lead Pastor and ministry staff, providing leadership in daily church operations, ministry coordination, volunteer development, discipleship, and pastoral care. This person will also assist with Sunday morning worship and provide worship leadership for additional ministry gatherings. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who takes initiative, enjoys solving problems, works well with others, and has a genuine desire to see people grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Church Operations & Ministry Coordination
   1. Oversee and coordinate day-to-day church operations, helping ensure that ministries, events, and activities function effectively.
   2. Work closely with the Lead Pastor to implement ministry goals, priorities, and initiatives.
   3. Coordinate the church calendar, ministry schedules, and planning processes, ensuring effective communication between staff and ministry leaders.
   4. Develop and improve organizational systems and procedures that help staff and volunteers serve effectively.
   5. Assist with planning and executing church-wide events, outreach opportunities, special services, and ministry initiatives.
   6. Help oversee facility operations, maintenance needs, vendor relationships, and the coordination of facility usage.
   7. Assist ministry leaders with budgeting, purchasing, resource management, and financial accountability.
   8. Support church-wide communication efforts, helping ensure that important information is communicated clearly and consistently.
   9. Identify operational challenges and proactively develop solutions that support the mission of the church.
2. Pastoral Support & Congregational Care
   1. Work alongside the Lead Pastor in providing spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and encouragement to the congregation.
   2. Assist with hospital visits, prayer needs, pastoral conversations, and other congregational care opportunities.
   3. Help coordinate follow-up with first-time guests, individuals making decisions for Christ, baptism candidates, and those seeking to become more involved at Harvest.
   4. Assist with the planning and implementation of Next Steps opportunities that help people connect, grow, and serve.
   5. Build meaningful relationships with members, guests, ministry leaders, and volunteers.
   6. Preach and teach biblically sound messages as needed and as opportunities arise.
   7. Support the Lead Pastor in carrying out the overall mission and vision of Harvest Christian Church.
3. Discipleship & Leadership Development
   1. Help strengthen Harvest's discipleship culture by encouraging people to grow as followers of Jesus who make disciples.
   2. Assist in developing and supporting LifeGroups, smaller discipleship groups, and other discipleship environments.
   3. Recruit, train, encourage, and coach LifeGroup leaders and emerging ministry leaders.
   4. Help people identify and take their next steps in following Jesus, connecting with others, and serving in ministry.
   5. Invest personally in the spiritual development of others through intentional discipleship relationships.
   6. Work alongside ministry leaders to identify opportunities for developing future leaders.
   7. Support the growth of young adult ministry and other discipleship initiatives as needed.
   8. Help ensure that discipleship is not simply another church program but remains central to the life and mission of Harvest.
4. Volunteer Recruitment & Development
   1. Recruit, enlist, train, assign, evaluate, and appreciate volunteers and volunteer leaders across various ministries.
   2. Develop effective systems for volunteer recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, and ongoing communication.
   3. Help volunteers discover opportunities to serve that align with their spiritual gifts, abilities, and interests.
   4. Encourage a healthy volunteer culture built on teamwork, spiritual growth, accountability, and appreciation.
   5. Work collaboratively with staff and ministry leaders to identify volunteer needs and develop solutions.
   6. Continually identify and equip individuals who demonstrate leadership potential.
5. Worship & Service Leadership
   1. The Associate Pastor will provide worship leadership for designated ministry gatherings while supporting the existing Sunday morning worship ministry.
      1. Responsibilities include:
      2. Assist with Sunday morning worship services as needed, working alongside the worship team leader and ministry leadership.
      3. Plan, coordinate, and lead worship for Monday evening Celebrate Recovery ministry gatherings.
      4. Plan, coordinate, and lead worship for Wednesday evening student ministry gatherings.
      5. Help develop and lead worship for a potential Saturday evening service as the ministry grows.
      6. Recruit, develop, and encourage musicians, vocalists, and volunteers who can serve in these worship environments.
      7. Coordinate worship preparation, music selection, scheduling, and rehearsals for assigned gatherings.
      8. Work alongside production and media volunteers to create organized and Christ-centered worship experiences.
      9. Help cultivate a worship culture that emphasizes biblical worship, humility, preparation, and genuine spiritual engagement.
   2. The primary emphasis of this position remains pastoral leadership, operations, and discipleship. Worship leadership is an additional ministry responsibility designed to support the overall mission of Harvest.

Qualifications

• Education & Experience
  • A degree in ministry, biblical studies, or a related field is preferred but not required.
  • Previous ministry leadership experience is preferred.
  • Experience discipling others, leading small groups, or developing ministry leaders.
  • Experience coordinating projects, managing responsibilities, or leading volunteer teams.
  • Experience leading congregational worship, with the musical ability necessary to lead assigned gatherings.
  • Familiarity with the beliefs and ministry philosophy of the Independent Christian Church/Restoration Movement.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Must be a self-starter who is internally motivated, takes initiative, and consistently follows through on responsibilities without requiring constant supervision.
  • Strong organizational and administrative abilities, with attention to detail.
  • Ability to work independently, establish priorities, and manage multiple projects and deadlines.
  • Able to adapt to changing priorities, unexpected challenges, and last-minute adjustments.
  • Strong interpersonal skills; relates well to different kinds of people, builds effective relationships, and communicates clearly.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with multiple staff members, ministry leaders, and volunteers.
  • Ability to recruit, train, develop, and lead volunteer teams.
  • Creative problem-solver who can identify needs and develop practical solutions.
  • Ability to communicate biblical truth clearly and effectively, including preaching and teaching.
  • Willingness to learn, receive feedback, and continue growing personally and professionally.
  • Comfortable serving in a growing church where ministry systems and structures are continuing to develop.
  • Ability to lead worship vocally; proficiency with guitar or keyboard is preferred.
  • Demonstrates reliability, preparation, accountability, and a commitment to excellence.
• Spiritual & Personal Expectations
  • Have a genuine, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
  • Demonstrate biblical character, integrity, humility, faithfulness, and a servant's heart.
  • Agree with and support the biblical beliefs, mission, and vision of Harvest Christian Church.
  • Submit to the spiritual leadership and oversight of the Lead Pastor and Elders.
  • Maintain a healthy personal devotional life through prayer, Scripture, and ongoing spiritual growth.
  • Be actively involved in the life of Harvest Christian Church, including regular worship attendance and financial support.
  • Model a lifestyle of discipleship, evangelism, and service.
  • Protect and promote unity among church staff, leadership, volunteers, and the congregation.
  • Demonstrate a heart for reaching people who do not yet know Jesus and helping believers mature in their faith.

Why Harvest?

Harvest Christian Church has experienced significant growth, and we believe God is continuing to open doors for ministry in Winfield and the surrounding communities. We recognize that healthy growth requires more than additional programs. It requires strong leadership, intentional discipleship, healthy systems, and people who are willing to invest in others. We are looking for someone who wants to be part of building that kind of church. This is an opportunity to serve alongside an engaged ministry team, develop meaningful relationships, gain valuable pastoral leadership experience, and help shape ministries that will impact people for years to come. We're not simply looking for someone to fill a position. We're looking for someone who wants to help people follow Jesus and help Harvest faithfully steward what God is doing.

Reports To: Lead Pastor

Employment Status: FULL TIME

Primary Ministry Focus: Church Operations, Pastoral Support, Discipleship, and Volunteer Development

Additional Ministry Responsibilities: Worship Leadership for Monday and Wednesday gatherings, potential Saturday evening services, and Sunday morning support