Associate Pastor of Discipleship

Midland Evangelical Free Church); Midland (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Midland Evangelical Free Church in Midland, MI seeks an Associate Pastor of Discipleship who is passionate about helping people grow in their relationship with Jesus. This role provides leadership, vision, and oversight for all discipleship ministries, developing a clear pathway and cultivating gospel-centered community.

The ideal candidate will have an M.Div. or equivalent, at least five years in ministry, and a proven ability to recruit and mentor leaders, supervise adult education, care

Qualifications

• Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or equivalent degree from an accredited evangelical seminary.
• Minimum of five years of ministry experience with demonstrated discipleship leadership.
• Agreement with EFCA Statement of Faith and Midland Evangelical Free Church values.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement a comprehensive discipleship pathway from first contact to maturity.
• Provide strategic leadership for all adult discipleship and education efforts.
• Oversee care ministries (Stephen Ministry, visitation, support) and mobilize volunteers.
• Supervise Go Local/Go Global outreach and strengthen community engagement.
• Serve as an active pastoral team member with preaching, worship, and vision implementation.

Skills

Discipleship strategy development

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring leaders

Pastoral care

Collaborative teamwork

Education

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or equivalent degree

Job description

We are seeking a dynamic, relational, and compassionate Associate Pastor of Discipleship who is passionate about helping people grow in their relationship with Jesus.

The Associate Pastor of Discipleship will provide leadership, vision, and oversight for the discipleship ministries of Midland Evangelical Free Church. This pastor will cultivate a culture of spiritual growth and gospel-centered community by developing and implementing a clear discipleship pathway and overseeing the ministries that support it.

Our heart is to partner with people—walking alongside them as they learn to enjoy God more deeply, embrace His Word more fully, and engage His world more intentionally.

Key Responsibilities

1. Discipleship Pathway Development

• Design, develop, and implement a comprehensive discipleship pathway that helps individuals grow from first-time connection to full maturity in Christ.
• Collaborate with the Lead Pastor and ministry staff to ensure all ministries align with and support the pathway.

2. Adult Discipleship & Education

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all adult discipleship efforts within MEFC.
• Plan and implement Adult Education opportunities (classes, workshops, and seminars) that foster biblical literacy, spiritual maturity, and missional living.

3. Care Teams & Congregational Care

• Oversee MEFC’s Care Ministries, including Stephen Ministry, care teams, visitation, and support.
• Equip and empower volunteers and lay leaders to provide compassionate, Christ-centered care.
• Partner with the Lead Pastor and elders to ensure consistent and comprehensive pastoral care.
• Personally engage in counseling, visitation, weddings, funerals, and crisis care as needed.

4. Missions & Outreach

• Oversee MEFC’s Go Local and Go Global ministries, serving as the primary pastoral contact for the lay leaders from those ministries.
• Partner with the Lead Pastor and ministry staff to strengthen outreach and community engagement efforts.

5. Pastoral Team & Leadership

• Serve as an active member of the pastoral team, contributing to preaching, worship leadership, and church-wide vision implementation as needed.
• Participate in staff meetings, strategic planning, and leadership development initiatives.

Qualifications

• Education: Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or equivalent degree from an accredited evangelical seminary.
• Experience: Minimum of five years of ministry experience, including demonstrated leadership in discipleship, small group ministry, or pastoral care.
• Doctrinal Alignment: Agreement with and affirmation of the EFCA Statement of Faith and commitment to the mission and values of Midland Evangelical Free Church.
• Skills & Competencies:
  • Proven ability to develop and implement effective discipleship strategies.
  • Strong biblical and theological foundation with a passion for spiritual formation.
  • Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
  • Demonstrated capacity to recruit, train, and mentor leaders, with demonstrated examples of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ.
  • A collaborative spirit and a shepherd’s heart.

More information about the position and Midland Free can be found at https://midlandfree.org/associate-pastor-of-discipleship-2