PRESENTS



LEAD PASTOR

ROSWELL COMMUNITY CHURCH - ROSWELL, GA

www.roswellchurch.com

HISTORY & CURRENT STATUS

RCC was born out of a Wednesday night prayer meeting that “accidentally” turned into a church by 2004. It was initially formed by a set of local families that felt called to start a simple church where the Bible would be preached, and global missionaries would be supported. 

In April 2010, Matt Miller was brought on as the first Lead Pastor for the church and began to shift the focus, energy, and direction of the church mission. 

Over the next 5 years, the church grew and continued to clarify its purpose, and deepen its community. In 2012, our church moved into a local public school, where we remained for 6 years. 

The year 2016 brought a key shift in the church as the associate Pastor, also the primary communicator, resigned over differences in ministry philosophy, primarily around the area of community. These differences led to some leaving the church. Other church members that were particularly connected to his preaching style and gifts also left during this time. 

2017 was a year of stabilizing community, re-structuring leadership, and stepping out into new ministry partnerships. Our church, along with another local church, started the “Conversations” movement, meant to initiate conversations about the racial tension and divide in our local community and the church.  Here’s a local news article documenting that effort: 

https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/north_fulton/education/roswell-pastors-jenkins-and-miller-collaborate-to-unite-congregations-with-conversations-movement/article_9dbe4cc6-e1ad-11e6-a401-6ff1440211bc.html

In 2018, we received an unexpected request by the elementary school that was hosting us on Sunday mornings. We were asked to vacate their facility 2 years ahead of schedule, which brought about a substantial crisis as we sought to find a place to relocate 350+ people on short notice. 

By God’s grace and miraculous door-opening, we were able to secure a new location. With the generous and sacrificial buy-in of over 100 families, we raised nearly $1 million in less than a year to build out our current facility, located in the heart of Roswell. 

We moved in with a great deal of celebration and a sense of renewed momentum in November 2018. 

With a new building and developing leadership team, RCC began to create a fresh 6-year mission for the spiritual formation of the church. Year 1 focused on hearing and responding to God through faith-filled steps of courage. Year 2, we read through the entire Bible together as a church as we endeavored to become the kind of people who are grounded on God’s word.

At the start of this 2021-22 ministry year, RCC began year 3 in our 6-year mission: living out our calling in community. Using the tools from Life Younique, we are inviting the church into discovering and delighting in our individual and unique callings from God. We are also challenging the church to live out these unique callings in committed communities, as well as in their families, friendships and workplaces. 

We are looking forward to years 4-6 where we seek to become kind of people who: pray like our lives depend on it (Year 4), make disciples as we go (Year 5), and worship from a whole heart (Year 6).



BELIEFS

Roswell Community Church is one local manifestation of God’s global Church. Once someone comes to faith in Him, they are given the Church as part of their new life, their new family.

  • The Church is the people of God—the called-out ones—who, beginning with Abraham, were chosen by the Creator from among the nations to be His covenant people.
  • The Church is the Bride of Christ, his treasured possession whom he purchased from death and slavery to make his own.
  • The Church is a community of saints who reflect the divine image of Trinitarian life by relating to one another in deference to the needs and desires of the other.
  • The Church is the light of the World, a city on a hill that is meant to live in such a way so that all who see it are drawn towards the God who has called people out of darkness and into his marvelous light.
  • The Church is the Good News-Givers of the World, who declare with their works and with their words the Gospel of what Jesus has accomplished for the whole creation.
  • The Church is the Body of Christ, which works together to heal and build up one another into becoming reflections of Christ on the earth.
  • The Church is those who submit themselves to the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, which reveal the love of God and his purposes in the World.
  • The Church is heaven’s citizenry, who live in the midst of a broken world but see it as their calling and privilege to bring the culture and heart of their home country—God’s kingdom—into the kingdom of this World.
  • The Church is a people who live sacramental lives—declaring the new birth in baptism and receiving, remembering, and rejoicing in Christ’s work on the cross through communion.

The Church is all of these things and more. At Roswell, we embrace, with a healthy dose of humility, all of these wonderful and transcendent truths, and we see ourselves as a small part of a much larger and ancient story. This is why if you come to Roswell, you’ll hear words and witness practices that anchor us in the many centuries of our rich history. 

For us, Church isn’t a building, a program, or even an institution. It is a people who have been made alive through Jesus, who gather together around word and sacrament to worship God and, through the Spirit, bear one another’s burdens. We hope you will come and experience the Church at Roswell Community.

We believe that our only hope is that we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, our desired goal is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The following “We Believes” are the foundation of that “Only Hope” and “Desired Goal.”

https://www.roswellchurch.com/beliefs/


LOCATION/DEMOGRAPHICS

Roswell Community Church is in North Atlanta, roughly 27 miles north of downtown. The City of Roswell has 13 parks with over 900 acres of active and passive parkland and facilities.

Roswell is now Georgia'sGeorgia's eighth-largest City, but its major population growth has just happened in the last twenty years. The City has been chosen twice by "Atlanta Magazine" as the best place to live in the Metro-Atlanta area.

Close to the City, but feel worlds away, you'll be in a small southern town surrounded by nature. Whether you consider yourself a history buff, the outdoorsy type, a treasure hunter, an art aficionado, or a foodie, everyone will find something they love in Roswell.


CHURCH CULTURE/STYLE

The personality of RCC, we believe, can be described as inviting, intentional and interactive.

In the lobby and halls at RCC, you’ll likely hear ordinary people building genuine relationships and investing in others who desire friendship, discipleship, and mentoring. No one gets lost in the crowd here. Everyone is seen. That’s proven by members reaching out to newcomers on Sundays or the elders calling each attendee throughout each quarter.

We know that culture is shaped by leadership. So, each leader at RCC endeavors to be the same person on stage as off-stage, promoting a culture of not only integrity but one that invites others to be vulnerable and authentic within their families, church, communities, and workspaces.

At RCC, we have an environment of inclusion, where the voices of both men and women are highly valued and all ages and stages are represented. That is demonstrated not only in leadership but key influential volunteer teams. The leadership at RCC is intentional to build a diverse set of voices each Sunday morning, from our worship team, readers, announcers, and storytellers.

We believe that you become what you celebrate, so we celebrate the ordinary family moments as often as possible, not just the extraordinary. However, as a church, we are also unafraid to grieve when it’s fitting, being honest with where we are.

Leadership is driven, not by numbers in seats or on a spreadsheet but by the stories of real change experienced by people willing to come as they are and be a part of a committed community.

Generosity is also a common thread within our culture, not only in seasonal giving initiatives but also within the community. We often see our church body spending themselves for the sake of their families, communities, workplaces, and friends. Throughout the year, you’ll hear the words “love shares” spoken at RCC. It’s not just a leadership initiative but away our people show up and share themselves, their gifts and talents, time, and finances with those around them.


MISSION & VISION

The philosophy of ministry for the three core areas of RCC life:

WORSHIP TOGETHER

Worship is the active response of God’s people to God’s glory, grounded in Scripture and empowered by the Spirit, reorienting us to ultimate reality in a way that: deepens our communion with God, strengthens our unity with one another, and increases our love for the world. Above all, Worship brings delight to the heart of God.

“Worship Together” is the local manifestation of Worship at Roswell Community Church.

Derived from both the liturgical church calendar and the preaching series, our Worship Together is undergirded by Scripture and permeated with prayer.

We Worship Together:

  • through the sacraments of Baptism and Communion,
  • through the preaching of the Word of God,
  • through the musical expressions of praise and Worship,
  • through the liturgy of confessions, creeds, corporate prayers, and Scripture readings, and testimonies, child dedications, and church membership.

ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY

The purpose of committed communities at RCC is to stir up the life of Christ in each other through the Holy Spirit to grow in holiness of character, love for one another, and mission to a neighbor.

The Five Values of Community at RCC: Humility, Curiosity, Vulnerability, Accountability, and Courage.

LIVE ON MISSION

Living out of my renewed identity in Christ, I listen to God and respond to his calls and leading, stewarding how he’s gifted and prepared me, and where he’s placed me, and spending myself for the redemptive good of my family, neighbor, church, and world.

RCC is known for being a resource for other churches. For example, our creative initiatives during covid are being used in several other churches in the US.

We are known in our business complex community for our annual Christmas Starbucks/Chick-Fil-A biscuit breakfast. We started this tradition during our time at the elementary school. We would choose one morning during December and deliver breakfast to all the teachers and when we moved into the business complex, we continued the tradition here. Each year, while delivering biscuits in the business complex, we have sought to build connections, invite them to the Christmas Eve service and even pray for workers in those businesses. 


LEADERSHIP

The elders are the governing authority at Roswell Community Church. The Senior / Lead Pastor is a member of the elder team. Elder qualifications are outlined in the following scriptures:

1 Timothy 3:1-7 - Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

Titus 1:6-9 -6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

1 Peter 5:2-3- Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.


THE CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY

There is a unique opportunity to build, unite and steer a newer leadership team toward a common mission. Organizational shifts made over time, have led to the transition of some longtime staff members in the last 24 months. These shifts, while necessary, have left gaps in the leadership of Roswell Kids and Live On Mission directives. However, the remaining staff are deeply committed to both RCC and its mission. We have also experienced an erosion in the serving deacons which was accelerated by COVID, with the exception of our women’s deacons. Because the deacons to women function more as ministry directors, they have continued to be intentional in prayer for and engage with the women of RCC. So, the greatest opportunities would include new hiring, integrating new hires, expanding the leadership teams while building trust within the current teams.

Our greatest challenge is not unlike most churches in America right now, suffering from reduced attendance and engagement due to COVID. With half of our church body regularly attending, our challenge is getting those at home to attend and those attending in-person to volunteer. Additionally, because of the nature of how COVID has affected people, RCC has shifted from being motivated by programs to being more centered around the overall teaching personality of our pastors. So, another challenge would be reorienting RCC members around the centrality of mission and vision of the church, rather than programs, other people, or the personality of a pastor. 

We have seen a steady stream of newcomers and new members during the past 18 months, which is highly encouraging. However, our church body, as a whole, is struggling with engaging in services, events, volunteering and participating in ministry outreach initiatives. 


POSITION PROFILE

Position: Senior / Lead Pastor

Roswell Community Church is searching for a Senior / Lead Pastor of vision, dedication, depth, and maturity whose heart is centered on making and developing disciples, transforming lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Desired Attributes

  • Effectively preaches God’s Word in a Christo-centric, gospel-saturated, God-exalting manner, consistent with the RCC Preaching Model
  • Gifted to lead individuals and teams in strategic thinking, planning, and evaluation in church-wide vision or specific arenas of ministry
  • Clearly articulates vision and direction of the church across generations through speaking and writing
  • Enthusiastically leads and develops the staff team, fostering a culture of teamwork, unity and creative focus on the mission of RCC
  • Owns and oversees all teaching and equipping arenas at RCC (teaching team, Equipping Courses, incorporation w/ Worship)
  • Qualified and serving on the Elder board, yet operates under the authority of the Elders
  • Engaged in pastoral shepherding & care alongside elders & other pastors

Competencies

  • Seminary trained – MDiv preferred
  • Spiritual gifts of teaching and leadership with 8-10 years of experience in teaching and leading with multiple direct reports
  • Understands the role of preaching and vision in the Sunday service and the life of the church
  • Devoted disciple of Jesus Christ as evidenced in character, choices, disciplines, etc
  • Evidences brokenness and humility in his relationship to God and others
  • Teachable, flexible and approachable - relates easily with all people
  • Team-oriented, glad to share the pulpit and eager to build up other leaders and teachers
  • Fits naturally in the culture of RCC yet able to challenge internal and external cultural incongruities
  • Loves people and desires to see them flourish spiritually and live on mission

CONTACT

To find out additional information, please refer to the church’s website at roswellchurch.com to learn more about their doctrinal beliefs, mission vision and values, and 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 contact :

Todd Clark - tclark@slingshotgroup.org