Snapshot

Denomination: Non-denominational

Weekly Attendance:  600

Location: Alameda, California

The Role: Senior Pastor

Meet Bay Area Chinese Bible Church:

Bay Area Chinese Bible Church (BACBC) is a Bible-teaching, gospel-centered church, passionate about reaching people and growing them into passionate followers of Jesus Christ. We are a multicultural and intergenerational body of Christ that is growing in our love for God, each other, our local community, and the world.

BACBC’s rich and interesting history in the San Francisco East Bay Area began in the summer of 1956 after a two-week Vacation Bible School for neighborhood children held in a duplex apartment. Most of these children were American born Chinese, who would be the first in their family to attend church. Over the next 65+ years, many of those original attendees grew with our church and served it faithfully throughout its transitions from Oakland to San Leandro and now to our current home in Alameda. Our English congregation grew as the members served faithfully, brought their immigrant parents to church, and began raising their own families in the church. Our Cantonese and later Mandarin congregations also grew steadily consisting of mainly overseas born Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong (Cantonese congregation), and Mainland China and Taiwan (Mandarin congregation). BACBC is a true family church that ministers to different members within the same family (e.g. parents are immigrants from overseas, attending Cantonese or Mandarin services and children are local-born Chinese attending our Youth and eventually English Adult ministries). A unique and impactful part of our church’s history has been its educational ministries through Coastline Christian Schools (previously known as Chinese Christian Schools). Our church has averaged 800 in attendance every Sunday pre-pandemic which includes worship services in different languages - English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, and we have a robust children’s and youth ministry. During the week, we have a preschool and K-8 educational ministries serving on average of 400 students and their families.

About the Senior Pastor:

BACBC is seeking a Senior Pastor who does ministry with God’s Word as the authority. This role provides leadership and does ministry in spiritual unity, with integrity and honesty, with excellence motivated by love for God and others. The Senior Pastor does ministry with cultural sensitivity in growing ministries by building unity and relationships among the other language specific lead pastors, ministry directors, deacons, staff, church members, parents of our school ministries, and the local community. The Senior Pastor serves as the chief administrator and supervises up to nine senior staff members. This person will provide spiritual guidance and care (shepherd) and provides leadership over the church’s staff and oversight of the overall ministries’ operations.

The Senior Pastor's Responsibilities Include: 

Leadership/Shepherd

• Sets a personal example of spiritual leadership and care over church and school communities

• Responsible for spiritual growth plans for direct reports and Boards

• Guides the staff and volunteer leaders through spiritual and ministry development to align to the overall church mission and vision

• Serves and leads the Church Council (Ministry Leadership Team and Deacons) in vision casting, strategic planning and developing church objectives

• Unifies the congregational and educational ministries around the Church and School vision and mission

• Leads the congregational and educational ministries to make healthy disciples, and growth for development of multi-generational discipleship

Ministry/Kingdom Work

• Guides staff leaders and develops annual BACBC congregational theme

• Fosters relationships with other Alameda and Bay Area like faith pastors/churches

• Active in growing significant local community relationships (i.e. BACBC in Alameda, and Bay Area communities)

Stewardship

• Accountable to Deacons and pastoral staff to provide leadership and development of biblically-based preaching and teaching ministries

• Serves with the BACBC Church Council, Coastline Christian Schools Board, and Tiny Treasures Preschool Board to develop policies and procedures for all church, school, and preschool employees

• Manages and develops the MLT to ensure the mission and vision alignment across all Congregations

• Accountable to the Deacons to develop priorities to advance the mission and vision of the church

Administration

• Guides and involves the Boards for leadership employment, and inform for hiring, dismissal, and retention of church, school, and preschool staff

• Participates regularly/monthly meetings for the three Boards

• Be an ex-officio member of all boards and committees.

Clergy Responsibilities

• Administers and performs pastoral care and responsibilities such as baptisms, the Lord’s Supper, weddings, and funerals when necessary. Also, may be tasked with specific projects as assigned by the deacons.

What You Bring: 

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Senior Pastor:

Education & Experience

• 5+ years experience as senior pastor and/or lead pastor of a North American Asian church

• Master of Divinity, required

• Experience in leading and building teams

• Leadership experience in multi-language ministries

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to communicate proficiently in English (conversation and writing), required

• Ability to resolve conflict

• Proficient computer skills in a Microsoft Windows environment and web-based/Google applications

• Skilled preacher

• Capable administrator and director

• Theologian and evangelist

• Strategic planning ability

Personal Characteristics & Qualifications

• Lives out an Evangelical Christian commitment and lifestyle consistent with BACBC Articles of Faith

• Well-loved leader, teacher, counselor, and shepherd

• Inspirational and visionary

• High emotional intelligence

• Honest / trustworthy

• Thoughtful and prayerful

• Faithful / steadfast

• Discerning

• People-oriented

• Multi-congregational sensitive

• Resourceful / tenacious

• Learner

What it's Like to Live in Alameda, California: 

The Bay Area is a diverse community with many Chinese people and other cultures of Asian descent, and all ethnicities. The Bay Area is  in an ideal location close to San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. A relatively short drive can take you to the beach, the mountains or the lake. There are also many amusement parks, restaurants of virtually every cuisine, cultural institutions, and sporting events. You’ll get to enjoy it all year-round with San Francisco’s ideal mild climate. 

You can enjoy the Bay Area all year long. The climate is generally mild and pleasant, with cool summers and mild winters. You can venture out north along the coast to Marin County for more picturesque beaches, rugged cliffs, and wildlife.  Go south to Silicon Valley, the global hub for technology and innovation. Go further east for camping, winter skiing, and swoon over the incredible beauty of our renowned Yosemite National Park. There are limitless things to do and see.

You’ll love it here.

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