Faith Bible Church (Lawton, OK) – Pastor
The Big Picture
Faith Bible Church (https://faithbiblelawton.churchtrac.com) is seeking a full-time Pastor.
The Overview
Faith Bible Church (faithbiblelawton.churchtrac.com), part of the US Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (usmb.org), seeks a pastor who will preach the Word of God and shepherd the Body of Christ at our church in Lawton, Oklahoma. Our 45 active-member congregation meets Sunday mornings for a worship service with approximately 60 in attendance, in-person and online, and Sunday School and Wednesday evenings for Bible Study. Being debt-free, our church has the financial freedom to generously support various missions. We support five individuals in different mission organizations along with two local organizations: a pregnancy center and a prison ministry. We allocate every fifth Sunday’s offering to missions, either individuals or organizations, provided the monthly budget has been met.
Lawton (pop. 93,000), is a mid-size city situated in southwest Oklahoma, 40 miles from the Texas border and serves as the seat of Comanche County. Lawton is home to Cameron University, a regional public university, and Great Plains Technology Center. Adjacent to Lawton is Fort Sill, home of the US Army’s Field Artillery consisting of 20,000 military and civilian personnel and 33,000 military family members. Thus, the population of Lawton/Ft. Sill is large enough to attract major chain stores and restaurants but has kept its small-town feel. Local governments actively partner with area churches to improve the quality of life for all residents.
Lawton may be best known for the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge located north of town, The refuge is the oldest national preserve in the US, consisting of 60,000 acres of prairie and freshwater lakes managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. God’s creativity is on full display as this small mountain range rises from the middle of the Great Plains providing breathtaking views, a home for buffalo and elk herds, granite mountains, and multiple recreational opportunities. Lawton’s proximity to the refuge, the military base, as well as nearby tribal lands, makes the area historically rich and culturally diverse.
Someone longing for a small-town life would appreciate Lawton; however, anyone desiring big city amenities, Oklahoma City and Dallas/Ft. Worth are an easy day trip (1 hour and 2.5 hours, one-way, respectively).
Our Expectations for a Pastor
We are seeking a full-time Pastor who is “called” and will serve as the “lead shepherd” among our flock. He will do this by:
Meeting the qualifications of an overseer as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Titus 1:5-
• Aligning theologically with our Statement of Faith
• Carefully handling the Word and seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit in delivering the message to the body
• Being a compassionate and willing counselor who operates in confidentiality
• Being approachable among leadership and the body
• Having long-term vision and the ability to develop a plan to execute the vision
• Serving as a mentor to other church staff and members of leadership
• If married, being joined with a wife who is supportive of the ministry
Minimum Qualifications
1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited Bible college or seminary is preferred.
2. Previous experience in effective pastoral leadership is preferred.
3. Be ordained, or eligible to be ordained, by the US Conference of Mennonite Brethren (see usmb.org for additional information).
Compensation $50,000 - $60,000 depending on experience; benefits negotiable.
The Process
Please look over this job description and the church website. Along with your resume please answer these three questions:
Why do you believe that you might be a good fit as the Pastor at Faith Bible Church?
Describe your experiences in ministry and how you may be qualified to serve as the Pastor at Faith Bible Church?
In just a few sentences please give a summary of your theology and how that is in line with the doctrine of Faith Bible Church https://usmb.org/what-we-believe/?
Please send your resume and the answers to these questions to [email protected]