Packsaddle Fellowship seeks a humble and transparent believer to serve as our Associate Pastor – Small Groups/Discipleship, a new position within our church. The ideal candidate will have the spiritual gifts of teaching, administration, encouragement and be passionately committed to clearly proclaiming the gospel of grace and helping believers cultivate spiritual maturity. One of the primary objectives of this new position is managing and enhancing existing small groups within our church, and timely create new groups to facilitate the study of God's word among those who are a part of our fellowship.

Responsibilities:

Under the Lord's guidance:

Ensure Enriching Small Group Environments: Assist each small group in establishing a safe and encouraging environment for Christian fellowship where closeness and open communication can be both safely given and received by all participants. Help each small group member and leader develop a sense of belonging and a deepening appreciation of God's love. Assist and encourage each small group leader to develop these traits within his/her group.

Apply Organizational Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Encourage and facilitate the connection of all small groups to one another (the other small groups), as well as to other ministries within the church. Develop guidelines to ensure that the small groups are not simply isolated islands within the church, but that the small groups become an integral, and essential, part of the Packsaddle Fellowship church body.

Cultivate the Small Groups Program: Develop an understanding of the makeup of existing small groups and use that knowledge to effectively connect those who attend our church with an appropriate small group. When considering a placement into a small group, consult with small group leaders to find or confirm an appropriate placement recommendation with the make-up of small groups may being diverse or non-diverse. The extent of the diversity within each small group will be determined under the Lord s guidance.

Identify, Train and Improve Small Group Leaders: Identify and cultivate small group leaders who demonstrate an ever-increasing Christian maturity. Develop and implement a training program to prepare and equip new and existing small group leaders to lead. In a spirit of kindness and Christian love, periodically monitor new small groups and new leaders to provide any necessary assistance. Stay proficient by conducting small groups in the absence of the regular leader, or upon request.

Develop and Use Curricula: Work with the Senior Pastor and the elders to develop curricula (and underlying lesson plans) which may be used by small groups. In cases where a small group has developed its own curriculum, encourage, under the Lord s guidance, the sharing of that curriculum among the other groups. Work with the Senior Pastor to develop a curriculum than could be used in conjunction with weekly sermon notes.

Handle Conflict Quickly and Appropriately: Work in partnership with the Senior Pastor, elders, and small group leaders to anticipate and identify conflict and respond to that conflict according to the Lord's application of Scripture. To this end shepherd the small groups toward healthy group dynamics.

Prepare and Delivery Sermons: As scheduled or as requested by the Senior Pastor or elders be available, prepare, and deliver Sunday sermons (but not on a full-time basis).

Assist the Senior Pastor and Support Team: As needed, assist the Senior Pastor with conducting Sunday morning activities, as well as coordinate with, and assist other members of the Packsaddle Fellowship team (staff and volunteers), to ensure the delivery of the Gospel. Perform such other duties as assigned.

Manage Budget: Manage any budgets allocated to the Small Groups Ministry.

Packsaddle Membership: Be a regular participant in public worship at Packsaddle Fellowship and remain a member in good standing.

Residence:  Once hired, live in Kingsland, Texas, or the immediate surrounding area.