At our annual Congregational Meeting in December, we made two important announcements: first, that Associate Minister Zach Ellsworth (and his wife Hanna) would be shifting away from overseeing ministry to students grades 6-12; and second, that Olivia Halliburton would be stepping back from overseeing our women’s ministry.
These people have done great work in their respective areas of ministry for many years, and we deeply appreciate both of them. We’re also pleased that neither of them is giving up these responsibilities under pressure, or on “bad terms”; Zach simply needed to focus more of his attention on music, and Olivia needed a break to focus on herself, her home, and her family. In that sense, we’re not “sad” about these changes; it’s not like Zach, Hanna, and Olivia are no longer around! Zach and Hanna still care for students grades 6-12, and Olivia still cares for the women of our church; they’re just all in seasons where it makes sense for someone else to take the reins.
Of course, that does leave us with holes to fill. We think it’s very important that we have thriving ministries uniquely targeted to students and women, and have no intention of letting those ministries simply fade away. That’s why Zach and Hanna, and Olivia – along with some input from me and the Elders – have developed “Ministry Team Leader Position Descriptions” for both areas of ministry. Those can be found in our Sunday morning bulletin; I’ve also included them at the bottom of this post.
If you care about the students and women of our church – if you’ve ever been in their shoes, and been blessed by someone who cared about you enough to lead a ministry dedicated to your growth in Christ – we ask that you prayerfully consider whether you might be a good fit for either of these positions. We recognize that as a volunteer, you may only be able to commit so much time, attention, and energy – but do not underestimate the good God can do through one faithful servant in his church. In addition, don’t underestimate God’s power to use someone like you to do that good (even if you’ve never imagined yourself serving in one of these positions, or have doubts about your abilities).
If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Zach, Hanna, Olivia, me, or one of our Elders. We are hopeful that one of you will step up the challenge and take advantage of the opportunity to continue these ministries – for the good of your brothers and sisters in Christ, and for God’s glory.
PVCC STUDENT MINISTRY TEAM LEADER
Position Description
To organize and lead regular gatherings for the students of PVCC, grades 6-12. These meetings foster student-to-student as well as student-to-leader relationships with the intent of following and fulfilling the many “one another” commands of the Bible:
- Love one another (John 13:34)
- Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)
- Pray for one another (James 5:16)
- Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)
- Rejoice with one another (Romans 12:15)
- Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
In addition to fostering meaningful relationships, managing the dynamics of students within a wide range of developmental stages and cultural contexts is an essential part of this ministry. There are significant differences between an 18 year-old girl preparing for college and a 12 year-old boy in sixth grade, but within PVCC’s structure, there will often be times when you will be addressing both.
Along similar lines, students need to be equipped with a working knowledge of God’s Word in order to know the Gospel and live faithfully, discerning right from wrong, good from evil. Teaching Scripture in a way that is understandable and applicable to a small, but potentially broad group will be necessary.
PVCC provides a modest budget that can be used for meals, events, and other odds and ends which support this ministry.
PVCC WOMEN’S MINISTRY TEAM LEADER
Position Description
Prairie View Christian Church exists to make devoted, maturing, and multiplying followers of Jesus. We seek to do this by teaching the Bible, living in unity, loving our neighbors, equipping one another for ministry, and sharing our hope.
The PVCC Women’s Ministry exists for the same reasons, and seeks to uniquely apply the efforts listed above through, for, and with the the women of our church.
Our church’s leaders believe this is best accomplished by appointing a volunteer Ministry Team Leader. After Olivia Halliburton’s faithful service for many years, we are currently looking for a woman within our church to carry that task forward.
Primary responsibilities for this position include:
- Organizing periodic studies, gatherings, and events for the women of our church (where the tasks listed above can be pursued)
- Pastoral care (regular and intentional forms of care, encouragement, and prayer)
- Administration (namely, managing a budget set by PVCC’s Administration Team)
Qualifications/skills include:
- A shepherd’s heart for the women of our church
- A godly character
- A healthy level of confidence, competence, and graciousness in teaching Scripture
- An ability to manage time well and remain organized
- A PVCC member in good standing
