Description
The pastor is to provide spiritual and pastoral leadership to the congregation of Northwest Community Church and to lead us in evangelism to our community. This includes providing spiritual leadership through example, preaching / teaching, working with the church council and implementing the vision of the church, equipping and mobilizing the congregation for the various works of ministry, and through the shepherding of the people in partnership with the council and staff.
Accountability
The pastor reports directly to the church council. This position will be evaluated annually under the direction of the council in addition to informal feedback.​
Qualifications
- Professes faith in the work of Jesus Christ for salvation and has a solid personal relationship with Christ
- Demonstrates a life-submitted to Christ through lifestyle choices, words and practice
- Able to be credentialed with the Saskatchewan Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches
- Proven leadership in an outreach-minded church
Areas of Involvement
Leadership / Leadership Development and Discipleship
The Pastor is:
Duties/Responsibilities:
- A cooperative self-confident motivator
- An inspirer of all with the vision of the church
- An effective team builder
- Someone committed to developing the congregation to their highest level of spiritual maturity and giftedness
- An equipper who gives ministry workers tools for their jobs
- A disciple maker who leads others into greater commitment
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Works alongside the church council in maintaining our vision
- Schedules and participates in the planning and leadership of an annual board retreat that educates, motivates and supports council members
- Provides mentorship
- Gives leadership to the staff
- Creates a process to develop key leaders and emerging leaders in the ministries of the church
- Mobilizes leadership for the programs and ministries in the church
- Encourages the training of the congregation through the availability of workshops, discipleship experiences, mentorship and coaching
- Teaches a new member class as needed that provides a forum to integrate new congregants into an understanding of the statement of our faith, our small groups and the various opportunities for service within the church and community
- Teaches a baptismal class as needed to guide believers in understand the importance and significance of baptism
- Attends council meeting and congregational meetings
Preaching / Worship
The Pastor is:
Duties/Responsibilities:
- An effective communicator in accurately taking the whole word of God and providing avenues of application that the congregation understands
- Someone whose genuine spiritual life shows in preaching
- An evangelist who speaks the message of Jesus to those who need to hear
- A believe who shows spiritual maturity and speaks from experience
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Preaches the whole truth of God and mobilizes the congregation in their daily walk of faith to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ
- Prepares preaching schedules in advance and review with the church council
- Communicates with the weekly worship leaders to plan services
- Ensures that worship services are effective regarding content, style, structure and design
- Creates opportunities for people to respond to the message of Christ through evangelistic and challenging messages
- Administers the Lord's supper
Outreach / Community Engagement
The Pastor is:
Duties/Responsibilities:
- An example of Christ in the community
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Engages in the community according to passion, giftedness and interest
- Equips and mobilizes key leaders and volunteers within the church in the role of evangelism and in the development of strategic outreach ministries and initiatives
- Represents Northwest Community Church in the Meadow Lake Ministerial Association and those interchurch activities that can be supported by our church without compromising our witness
- As Northwest Community Church is a part of the ownership of Bethel gospel Camp the pastor encourages and demonstrates involvement at Bethel Gospel Camp
- Takes part in Sunday evening services at the lodge every 4 to 5 weeks
- Is encouraged to be part of the 50 Plus ministry, monthly from September to April
Pastoral Care
The Pastor is:
Duties/Responsibilities:
- A compassionate and empathetic shepherd
- An effective team builder and motivator to bring other shepherds alongside
- A discerning peacemaker
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Inspires the congregation to spiritual maturity through personal example by acting as a missional connection to the wider work of God
- Cares for spiritual, emotional and physical needs in partnership with other church leaders
- Visitation
- Hospital visitation
- Provides basic counseling and refers to professionals for those needing more extensive counseling
- Conducts baptisms, funerals, premarital counseling, weddings, baby dedications, baptismal and membership classes as required
Professional Development / Personal Growth
The Pastor is:
- A lifelong learner
- One who maintains a God honoring balance between work and family
- Attends approved courses/workshops
- Takes time for personal spiritual growth (ie: retreats, study leave) in discussion with church council
- Observes statutory holidays when possible and take a day in lieu if necessary
- Vacations and holidays will fall under the Province of Saskatchewan guidelines with consideration given for years of experience
Northwest Community Church
Northwest Community Church (NWCC) grew out of a Mennonite Brethren mission outreach which formed a German speaking country church in 1938. This church transitioned to English in 1951 under a pastor with a passion for evangelism. Another Mennonite Brethren mission outreach formed a church in a nearby district in 1957 and the two merged in 1958. This new congregation moved into the town of Meadow Lake in 1961 and became Meadow Lake Mennonite Brethren Church. There were two subsequent church builds and in 1994 the church changed to its current name.
We have an active membership of 36 people with an average attendance of 45 people. While we do have a wide range of ages, the congregation is mostly made up of retired and older members, with a few young families. Our congregation is comprised of farmers, health care and teaching professionals, laborers, and other fields.
We have a Sunday morning service at 10:30am, as well as Sunday School for all adults at 9:30am (children's S.S. is currently on hold). There is a program for preschoolers during the Sunday morning service and a nursery that is open for moms with infants to use.
​Outside of the Sunday morning service we run the following programs;
We are also one of the ownership churches in Bethel Gospel Camp, a summer camp located 40 miles north in Meadow Lake Provincial Park.
There are a number of ministries in the community that many NWCC members are a part of such as;
We have an active membership of 36 people with an average attendance of 45 people. While we do have a wide range of ages, the congregation is mostly made up of retired and older members, with a few young families. Our congregation is comprised of farmers, health care and teaching professionals, laborers, and other fields.
We have a Sunday morning service at 10:30am, as well as Sunday School for all adults at 9:30am (children's S.S. is currently on hold). There is a program for preschoolers during the Sunday morning service and a nursery that is open for moms with infants to use.
​Outside of the Sunday morning service we run the following programs;
- Small groups - currently two are running, one in town and one out of town
- Kid's Club - ages 5 -12 on Friday evenings
- Fifty Plus - dinner & program outreach once a month
- Moms group - playtime for kids & coffee for moms every two weeks
- Women's group - activity (paint night, crafts, gift making, dessert) for women every few months
We are also one of the ownership churches in Bethel Gospel Camp, a summer camp located 40 miles north in Meadow Lake Provincial Park.
There are a number of ministries in the community that many NWCC members are a part of such as;
- Meadow Lake Outreach Ministries
- The Door of Hope Soup Kitchen
- Meadow Lake Food Bank
- Turning Point Youth Centre
- Meadow Lake Thrift Mission
The MB Confession of Faith
The MB Confession of Faith (full text) – Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches