PRESENTS

NEXTGEN PASTOR


GROVER BEACH, CA


http://www.oakparkchristian.org


HISTORY & CURRENT


Oak Park Christian Church was formed in the mid-1980's by a group of families who were attending a church in San Luis Obispo but lived in the "5 Cities", which is about 10 miles south. The group began meeting together for Bible study and prayer. The group grew and soon began discussing and dreaming about forming as an independent congregation. In 1986 the group officially formed as the Oak Park Christian Church and placed an offer on the property of a Nazarene church that was for sale. The core group of about 20 adults purchased the property and the Oak Park Christian Church was not only formed but had a ready-made home in an excellent location.

Since then, Oak Park has had a faithful and fruitful ministry. The original core group was focused on building a church where people would be "loved as family"; always seeking to be a church where the love of Jesus was proclaimed and displayed.

There have been a number of years with great growth, reaching a peak of nearly 350 in 2012. However, there have also been seasons with pastoral turmoil that had devastating effects on the church. In spite of these leadership challenges, the people who constitute the Oak Park family continue to love Jesus, one another, and the wonderful community of the 5 Cities.

Oak Park Christian Church is an Independent Christian Church that shares a rich heritage with nearly 6,000 other congregations in the United States known as the "Christian Churches/Churches of Christ." Oak Park is a healthy church. They are an intergenerational church, but skew a bit older, and have people from a wide variety of backgrounds, both faith-wise and in life-experience.

A common sentiment expressed by newcomers is that Oak Park feels like a church for "real people."  They have a solid small group ministry that has created a place with strong friendships and bonds. There is a lot of love and harmony among their members.



FOCUS & VALUES

OUR FOCUS

“THE GREAT COMMANDMENT AND THE GREAT COMMISSION"

As a church, we believe that God’s unconditional love is the most compelling thing we have to offer the world. Because there is no sin beyond God’s grace, Grace is for everyone. 

OUR VALUES

GRACE: Grace is rooted first and foremost in the manner in which God has acted toward us.  We are, in turn, compelled to offer that same grace to others.

TRUTH: The word of God must be the foundational truth for all of ministry in the faith community.

MEANING: Only God is eternal, therefore, any true meaning for life must be found and rooted in Him.

COMMUNITY: Jesus instructed that the only way the world would take notice of his followers was because of the depth and vitality of love that they demonstrated to one another. (John 13:34-35)

The beliefs for Oak Park Christian Church can be found at https://www.oakparkchristian.org/about-us



FAMILY MINISTRY APPROACH


Oak Park Christian Church children's ministries is in a great place prepared for building a ministry that can reach families in the community. The children's ministry volunteer team are very committed to the weekend ministry and are ready to serve with a new ministry leader. The desire is that the children's ministries can gain an impact that reaches beyond Sunday morning. Due to COVID some families have yet to return to the weekend "on campus" worship services.

Oak Park Christian Children's Ministries includes all children birth - 6th grade. Currently the ministry is being led by a volunteer leadership team of 3 key leaders and they support and recruit the other ministry volunteers for the weekend programming. Oak Park Christian Church has a strong presence in the community as a place that cares for their community. Their outreach events like the "Drive-Thru Nativity" and the "Back To School Bash" have hundreds of people come and give a great opportunity for families to be connected to the church.

The Youth Ministry for Oak Park Christian is intentional to build into families as they develop their teenagers to grow in their relationship with the Lord. The weekend gatherings have the youth meeting in the main worship service creating a intergenerational experience on the weekends. The church leadership for Oak Park Christian desires to invest into future ministry initiatives that will engage students to want to be a part of the church community.


LEADERSHIP


SENIOR PASTOR, MIKE GUNDERSON

Mike came on staff as the associate pastor/co-pastor/heir apparent in August of 2006. The senior pastor at that time, Jim Shields, was a long-time friend and mentor. Due to some difficult health conditions Jim retired from ministry in January 2008, at which time Mike became the Senior Pastor.

Mike is a 1990 graduate of Puget Sound Christian College and a 1994 graduate of Lincoln Christian Seminary. Prior to Oak Park, most of his ministry experience was in the Seattle area. Mike served in youth and associate ministry for nearly 15 years.

Mike grew up in Eastern Washington and was not reared in a Christian home, his parents divorced when he was 5. He got connected to a church through Vacation Bible School after 3rd grade and, through the influence of some wonderful Sunday School teachers and a great youth pastor, Mike came to faith in Christ while in 7th grade when he confessed his faith in Jesus and was baptized on November 4th, 1979 at the age of 12.

Mike has been married to Juanita since March 1990 and they have two sons, Jared and Jordan. Jared is 24 and lives in Santa Barbara. Jordan is 21 and is a senior at Westmont College. Mike is a huge sports fan, devoted to the Mariners, Seahawks, and Washington State Cougars.

Mike is a "Type B" in terms of personality and approach to leadership. He is more relationship-driven (Enneagram 9 - peacemaker) than task-driven and places a high priority on having a harmonious and enjoyable office/working environment. Mike believes that healthy relationships among staff leadership are best for healthy productivity and setting the right example for the congregation. He allows his team to have a lot of autonomy and freedom to direct their ministry as they see fit as long as things are organized, work is getting done, and goals are being met. The ministry team does a lot of team collaboration for input and idea generation for ministries. Oak Park Christian is a staff led church with elders giving governance and guidance for the church.

CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY

VISIONARY LEADER

Oak Park Christian Church needs a leader who can envision and develop a new chapter of dynamic ministry to the families of the church and their greater community. The leader will need to develop and cast vision from a heart for reaching and discipling children and youth in this community. The weekend ministries need to be retooled with a vision that is engaging and energetic for the kids and those who serve. There is also a need to envision and develop ministries that reach unchurched children, students, and families in the 5 cities area.

EQUIPPER TO FAMILIES

Oak Park Christian Church desires to develop an overall birth through college ministry plan that reflects a discipleship strategy for each child and student. The leader of this area will need to create “new” and innovative ways to attract and equip families on how to spiritually grow together.  This will require a leader who is relational and has energy to reach the unchurched and get them connected to the church family.

INSPIRING TEAM BUILDER

Oak Park Christian Church needs a leader who can inspire passion in leaders and a desire to serve within these ministry areas.  They need a ministry champion who can bring creativity, passion, intentionality, and a pastoral presence to the ministry and volunteer teams.  The Next Gen Pastor has the opportunity to cast a compelling vision that children’s and student ministry matters, both to those who are already faithfully serving every week and to others within the church community.


LOCATION & DEMOGRAPHICS

Oak Park Christian Church is located in Grover Beach, California which is in San Luis Obispo County and is part of the "5 Cities" community. Grover Beach has a beautiful sandy beach and is surrounded by rolling hills. This combination makes it a very popular destination and the city really knows how to pamper its tourists by providing them with a wide variety of entertainment. Fishing, clamming, dune hiking, golfing, wine tasting, horse riding and skateboarding are only some of the popular activities.

The population is very eclectic and changing rapidly due to the number of people moving to and from the area. The area is very attractive and enjoyable with great weather, a easy going pace of life, educational opportunties, family activities, and so much more that make this a wonderful place to live and raise a family.

GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Next Gen Pastor needs to be a pastor/shepherd leader that will give leadership to equipping families to grow and nurture in their relationship with Christ. The Next Gen Pastor is responsible for overseeing the children and youth ministry departments and their volunteer ministry staff.

MINISTRY LEADERSHIP AND OVERSIGHT:

The following responsibilities are overseen by the Next Gen Pastor.

In the Children's Ministry area overseeing birth through 6th grade:

  • Plan and grow a comprehensive and balanced program which will include:
    • An inviting and effective ministry for children during both Sunday morning worship gatherings.
    • Occasional and/or annual outreach events to attract new children and families.
    • Strategizing, developing, and implementing new online and in person ministries for reaching and teaching children.
  • Develop a team of adult volunteer staff.
    • Recruit the necessary number and quality of adult volunteers to serve the needs of the Children's Ministry.
    • Contribute to the discipleship of those adults for spiritual growth.
    • Train the adult staff with specific skills for "leading by serving and serving by leading."
    • Empower and maintain regular communication with parents.

In the Youth Ministry area overseeing junior high and high school ages:

  • Plan and grow a comprehensive and balanced program (evangelism, discipleship, ministry, fellowship, and worship).
  • Develop student leadership.
    • Select students with interest and abilities to serve on a Leadership Team. Train students to develop these skills to accomplish their responsibilities.
    • Disciple students for spiritual growth.
    • Empower students as servant-leaders within the youth ministry and in the life of the church overall.
  • Create a ministry for College Age/Young Adult ministry.
  • Create and oversee a comprehensive ministry for developing healthy, biblically-oriented marriage relationships at all stages.
  • Create and oversee a comprehensive ministry for encouraging, equipping, resourcing, and networking parents of children up through high school.
  • General Pastoral Ministry:
    • Serve as an integral part of the pastoral and staff team.
    • Regular preaching for Sunday morning worship gatherings (minimum of 4 times per year).
    • Counseling and pastoral care as opportunities arise.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • A passionate and growing personal faith in Jesus.
  • A Bachelor or Master's degree in Bible or Theology. Preference will be given to those who graduated from a college or seminary affiliated with the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ.
  • A deep love for the Word of God and a high commitment to communicate it passionately and compassionately.
  • A deep love for the local church and commitment to "lead be serving and serve by leading."
  • At least three years' experience leading children's ministry in a similar sized congregation or larger.
  • Experience in, or be acclimated to, ministry within the culture of the west coast.
  • A commitment to team-based ministry.
  • A Christ-centered marriage and home life.

REPORTS TO:

  • Senior Pastor

COMPENSATION PACKAGE:

  • A competitive compensation package with multi-faceted benefits will be discussed and negotiated in the hiring process.


CONTACT

To find out more, please visit http://www.oakparkchristian.org to review core beliefs, mission, strategies and the other ministries of the church.

If, after prayerfully reviewing this information, you sense this role and church culture could be a good fit for you, please email your current resume to Traci Tront at ttront@slingshotgroup.org