Snapshot
Denomination: Baptist - SBC
Location: Brandon, MS
The Role: Director of Discipleship Communities
It’s hard to believe that what began in a mobile chapel located on Spillway Road in February of 1971 would grow to become the church that we experience today, where people from all over Mississippi join together in multiple locations for worship each Sunday.
Our journey has involved three Senior Pastors since the launch of the church, all providing \mely and God-given leadership during their tenure. In January 1999, God brought Dr. Chip Henderson, Pinelake’s Senior Pastor, to lead the congregation. Shortly afterward, God blessed our church with seasons of rapid growth and it was quickly apparent there would not be enough space at the Spillway Road location for what God intended to do.
A little over a year later, in February 2000, the leadership of the church was led to begin an aggressive search for a new location that would provide the necessary room to reach more people. In November 2000, the church met on land off of Lakeland Drive in Flowood, MS, to dedicate the immense and beautiful 170 acres that God had provided as a new location.
By November 2003, the new facility was completed and the Pinelake congregation held its first services at the Reservoir campus. While the new facilities were wonderful, it was the journey with God over the previous five years that would forever mark the people and remind them that church isn’t about buildings but about God working in His people.
After three more years of rapid growth, in 2006, the Pinelake Elders and Senior Leadership Team felt God leading the church to expand through launching additional campuses in Mississippi. In the fall of 2006, the church launched the second Pinelake campus in the Madison area. In January of 2009, Pinelake launched its third campus in Clinton, Mississippi. In 2011, the fourth campus in the Starkville area launched. In 2015, the fifth Pinelake campus was launched in Oxford. Today, more than 15,000 people attend weekly worship at one of Pinelake’s five campuses.
We believe Pinelake is a movement of God, and we have yet to see the end of God’s action plan for our church. Pinelake remains a church committed to seeing Mississippi changed one Life Change Story at a time. Our mission is to help people Learn from Christ, Live in Christ, and Lead others to Christ.
About the Director of Discipleship Communities:
The primary responsibility of the Director of Discipleship Communities is to provide
spiritual, visionary, and strategic leadership that leads to greater effectiveness in
connecting people into a community where they will experience life change through biblical
discipleship. As a member of the One Church Team, the Director will provide the necessary
leadership to innovate, create, and develop effective plans, resources, and leadership
structure to drive discipleship across all campuses. This includes equipping, resourcing,
and coaching the Connections and Groups Ministries in a manner consistent with the
vision, mission, values, and major objectives of Pinelake Church. A key ingredient will be
facilitating collaboration teamwork, and serving as a catalyst for spiritual growth within our
ministry teams and their respective leaders and communities.
Collaborate with Pinelakes' leadership to oversee all components of the discipleship strategy and its integration within groups/communities across all campuses.
Work with Pinelake’s leadership to oversee all components of the Connections Ministry, including fostering a culture of hospitality and strategies for the next steps.
Serve as the primary coach that supports, equips, and builds alignment between Adult Groups Pastors / Ministers at each campus as they build ministry structures, shepherd leaders, and relationally invest in their communities.
Serve as the primary coach that supports, equips, and builds alignment between Connection Pastors / Ministers at each campus as they build ministry structures, shepherd leaders, and relationally invest in their communities.
Basic personal responsibilities:
Maintain a vital and growing personal walk with the Lord through committed Bible study, prayer, and meditation.
Maintain proper priorities in your home, including your spouse and children (if married and/or with children).
Faithfully support the ministries of Pinelake by maintaining wise stewardship measures over the resources entrusted to you.
Maintain active participation in a small group community.
Attends at least one regular weekly worship service and is present on the church campus during all other regular weekly worship services.
Reflect a growing awareness and practice of personal Emotional Healthy Spirituality.
Perform duties and responsibilities in a manner to glorify Christ and further the mission and ministry purposes of Pinelake Church (Colossians 3:23-24).
Value the 7 H’s of our sta: culture in your heart, home, and life (Humility, Honor, Honesty, Hunger, Holy Spirit, Health, and Harmony).
SPECIFIC LIST OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Develop, create, and execute strategies that will drive discipleship forward at each campus with attention to key metrics to evaluate effectiveness.
Collaborate with other teams to optimize the discipleship path and develop online
and online resources and strategies that engage/assimilate people in their
discipleship journey.
Build systems, structures, and consistent meeting times to relationally shepherd,
coach, and equip the pastors and ministers within the Adult Groups and
Connections Ministries while fostering collaboration, alignment, and a unified team
environment.
Create and implement a sharp vision and strategy for the Connections Ministry
ensuring a consistent guest experience at each campus; this with great attention to
integrating effective on-ramps for people to easily take next steps.
The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Director of Discipleship Communities Name:
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree - Required
Seminary and/or continued education - Bonus
10 - 15 years of experience and key pastoral leadership in Groups and Discipleship Ministries are competitive attributes.
Experience with large multi-site is strongly preferred
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Develop ongoing training and support for current Group leaders
Develop the appropriate systems to keep Group Leaders informed, growing and on mission
Creatively look at the adult groups ministry and be willing to try new ideas
Meet with Campus Adult Groups Pastors and Ministers regularly to mentor and shepherd them in their group leadership
Visit Groups to evaluate and provide feedback and mentor leaders
Be the point of contact person for complex or difficult Group issues
Develop training sessions and materials for Group leaders
Play a key role in helping people at Pinelake Church take their next steps in discipleship.
Personal Characteristics & Qualifications
A follower of Jesus Christ
Have a demonstrated and growing faith
Humble and teachable.
Displays a great attitude and is consistent in their job.
Owns their area of ministry - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Flexible - adapts to change well and quickly.
Passionate and relational.
Collaborative and has a team mindset.
Problem-solver.
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Think you're a great fit for this role? Become a candidate below.