Associate Pastor Opportunity
Living Word Church in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania is seeking a biblically grounded, relationally mature Associate Pastor who can serve faithfully now, strengthen ministry, shepherd people, and potentially grow into a future successor role.
A church seeking a faithful pastor for present ministry and future leadership.
Living Word Church is a Christ-centered congregation in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, seeking an Associate Pastor who can join the ministry team with humility, biblical conviction, and a servant’s heart. This opportunity is especially meaningful because the right candidate may have the opportunity to grow into a future senior leadership role as the church discerns God’s long-term direction.
Living Word Church desires pastoral leadership that is rooted in Scripture, faithful to the Gospel, and committed to helping people grow in their walk with Jesus Christ.
The church needs a pastor who loves people, builds trust, shepherds with care, and serves alongside leadership with humility and wisdom.
This role is not merely a support position. It is an opportunity to serve faithfully, learn the church, strengthen ministry, and potentially grow into broader leadership responsibility.
A ministry opportunity centered on preaching, shepherding, discipleship, and leadership.
The Ministry Need
Living Word Church is seeking a pastor who can serve alongside existing leadership, preach and teach faithfully, care for the congregation, develop leaders, support ministry systems, and help strengthen the church’s long-term health.
The Future Opportunity
For the right candidate, this role may become a pathway toward future succession. The church is looking for a man who can earn trust over time, learn the culture, demonstrate pastoral maturity, and help lead the church into its next season of ministry.
The values shaping this opportunity.
A strategic moment for pastoral partnership.
Living Word Church is looking for an Associate Pastor who can come alongside the church’s leadership, help strengthen current ministry, and serve as a trusted pastoral presence within the congregation. The ideal candidate will not simply be looking for a title, but for a place to love, serve, invest, and grow.
Immediate Ministry
The Associate Pastor will help carry meaningful pastoral responsibilities, including preaching, teaching, congregational care, discipleship, ministry leadership, and support for the ongoing health of the church.
Long-Term Discernment
Because this role may develop into a future successor opportunity, the church is looking for a leader who is patient, relational, teachable, trustworthy, and willing to build credibility over time through faithful ministry.
Duties of the Associate Pastor.
The next Associate Pastor will be called to serve with humility, preach and teach Scripture, care for people, strengthen ministries, and help Living Word Church move forward with biblical faithfulness and pastoral wisdom.
Preach and Teach the Word of God
The Associate Pastor will preach and teach Scripture faithfully, helping the congregation understand, apply, and live out the truth of God’s Word.
Shepherd and Care for the Congregation
He will provide pastoral care, prayer, encouragement, counseling, visitation, and spiritual support to individuals and families within the church.
Support the Senior Pastor and Leadership Team
He will serve alongside existing leadership with humility and loyalty, helping carry ministry responsibilities and strengthen the overall health of the church.
Equip and Develop Leaders
He will identify, train, encourage, and empower volunteers and ministry leaders so the church is equipped for effective service and discipleship.
Strengthen Discipleship and Ministry Systems
He will help develop pathways for spiritual growth, small groups, classes, mentoring, service opportunities, and leadership development.
Engage the Community with the Gospel
He will help lead the church in outreach, evangelism, hospitality, and community engagement, modeling a heart for people who need Jesus Christ.
Prepare for Future Leadership
If God confirms the fit over time, he may grow into greater responsibility and potentially a future senior leadership role through faithful service, maturity, and trust.
Are you the right fit?
Character
The successful candidate will be a man who loves Jesus Christ wholeheartedly, shepherds his family faithfully, and models a life of personal holiness and integrity. He will demonstrate spiritual maturity through consistent devotion to prayer, Scripture, and servant leadership.
He will be humble, teachable, relationally warm, emotionally mature, and able to work well with church leadership. Because this role may develop into future succession, character, trust, patience, and alignment are essential.
Skills You Possess
- Demonstrates strong preaching and teaching ability, with a commitment to biblical accuracy and practical application.
- Has proven experience in pastoral ministry, discipleship, small groups, leadership development, or church staff leadership.
- Communicates clearly and relationally with church members, volunteers, ministry leaders, and staff.
- Shows strong organizational skills, managing ministry responsibilities, communication, and follow-through with excellence.
- Builds trust with people through humility, consistency, wisdom, and genuine pastoral care.
- Works well as part of a team, honoring existing leadership while contributing ideas, energy, and initiative.
- Thinks strategically about discipleship, leadership development, church systems, and long-term ministry health.
- Understands stewardship and can help oversee ministry budgets, volunteer teams, and ministry planning with accountability.
Your Walk with Jesus
- A committed follower of Jesus Christ.
- Displays a heart for ministry and the local church.
- Pursues purity and unity.
- Displays a humble servant’s heart.
- Aligns with the doctrine, mission, and ministry direction of Living Word Church.
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to prayer, Scripture, and daily devotion.
Educational Background
A bachelor’s degree with a concentration in Pastoral Studies, Theology, Biblical Studies, Ministry, or a related field is preferred, providing a strong foundation for preaching, shepherding, discipleship, and church leadership.
A Master of Divinity degree or equivalent theological training is strongly valued. Additional experience in pastoral ministry, staff leadership, discipleship systems, church administration, counseling, or preaching is highly preferred.
Small-town life, regional access, and a beautiful place to build ministry roots.
The New Wilmington region of western Pennsylvania offers a peaceful, relational setting for pastoral ministry. It is the kind of area where a pastor can become known in the community, invest deeply in church life, and enjoy a slower pace while still having access to schools, healthcare, shopping, colleges, recreation, and larger regional centers.
A place where pastoral ministry can be deeply personal and long-term.
This part of western Pennsylvania offers many of the qualities pastors and families often desire: a close-knit community, a quieter pace of life, room to build relationships, access to nearby towns and regional services, and a setting where church ministry can become woven into everyday community life.
Small-Town Relationships
In a smaller community, pastoral presence matters. A pastor can build trust over time, know families by name, and become a meaningful part of the life of the church and community.
Regional Access
The area provides access to nearby towns, schools, medical providers, shopping, colleges, and larger regional communities throughout western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.
Family and Ministry Balance
The slower pace and relational environment can support family life, hospitality, discipleship, and the kind of long-term ministry investment many pastors desire.
Higher Education Nearby
Westminster College in New Wilmington gives the region an educational and community anchor, adding cultural, academic, and local engagement opportunities.
Outdoor Recreation
Western Pennsylvania offers parks, trails, lakes, fields, hunting, fishing, seasonal beauty, and outdoor activities for families who enjoy time outside.
Strategic Ministry Setting
This is a region where a pastor can serve faithfully, develop leaders, build credibility, and help a congregation reach its neighbors with the Gospel.
A compelling place to live, serve, and belong.
Education and Community
The nearby college presence adds community life, events, learning opportunities, and a broader relational network.
Local Character
Historic streets, smaller-town rhythms, and local businesses create a setting where relationships are central.
Rural Beauty
The surrounding countryside gives the area a distinct western Pennsylvania feel with open space and quiet roads.
Outdoor Enjoyment
Families can enjoy parks, trails, seasonal beauty, and the recreational opportunities of the broader region.
Community Highlights
- Small-town atmosphere with strong relational connections.
- Access to nearby regional communities in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.
- Family-friendly setting for ministry and church life.
- Opportunities for local outreach and community engagement.
- A strategic place for a pastor to invest deeply and build trust over time.
Education
Families in and around the region have access to local schools and regional educational opportunities. The broader western Pennsylvania region also provides access to colleges, universities, trade programs, and continuing education options.
Healthcare and Services
Residents have access to local and regional healthcare providers, family medical practices, urgent care options, hospital systems, shopping, and other practical services within the surrounding region.
Apply Today for the Associate Pastor Position at Living Word Church
If you believe God may be leading you to explore this opportunity, Premier Church Staffing would love to hear from you.