Pastor profile
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The lead pastor will assist the church council in setting and overseeing the spiritual life and vision of Creekside Church. We strongly believe that “Christ will build His church...” (Matthew 18:15). We desire a lead pastor who will help us accomplish God’s purposes for our church, community, and world.
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WE ARE LOOKING FOR A LEAD PASTOR WHO IS
Accountable and Responsible for:
- Leading Creekside’s vision for making disciples
- Leading, training, and empowering the staff, council, church leadership, and through these teams, the congregation – emphasizing delegation and not micromanagement
- Selecting and developing spiritual leaders who can assist in accomplishing the mission of the church.
- Sound teaching and preaching of the Scriptures with an emphasis on life application
- Assisting the church council in the development and management of the annual church budget
- Establishing church strategies for intentionally reaching the lost and equipping believers for ministry, growth, and maturity
- Reporting and meeting regularly with the council
- Participating in an annual evaluation by the council
Called and Gifted for:
- Serving as a long-term lead pastor at Creekside
- Living and serving in the Merced region
- Teaching, preaching, leading, administrating, and building teams for the overall health of Creekside
- Reaching the lost while shepherding those who know Jesus
- Serving in a multicultural, multigenerational setting
- Developing and growing small group ministries
- Provide biblical counseling when needed
WE ARE LOOKING FOR A LEAD PASTOR THAT HAS
Education and Experience that Includes:
- Seminary training with an MDiv degree or its equivalent is preferred
- Experience on a church staff leading teams, teaching, and developing ministry strategies
- Multicultural experience, though not a requirement for employment
- Experience working in the secular world, though not a requirement for employment
- Life experiences, both successes and failures, that have been life developing
- A clear testimony of personal faith in Jesus both inside and outside the church, revealing integrity, honesty, and a love of people
- Demonstrated ability and commitment to effective time management, personally and professionally. Seeks to live life in balance
Biblical Views which:
- Aligns with and adheres to the EFCA statement of faith and by-laws of Creekside Church
Character and a Heartbeat Which Reveal:
- A lifestyle reflecting the biblical qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, Ephesians 4:11-13
- An obvious and well tested love and devotion to Christ, his family, and others
- Jesus and His teachings as the centerpiece and foundation of his life and ministry
- Humility and transparency before God and others, in both strengths and weaknesses
- Someone who is a lifelong learner
- The fruit of the Spirit as a lifestyle (Galatians 5:22)
- A missional focus desiring to reach ALL people without partiality
- An ability to teach and an open humility to be corrected
- Authenticity along with a youthful, energetic passion for the things of God
cHURCH PROFILE
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Our History
The Evangelical Free Church of Merced began in August 1982 as a group of people who gathered in homes for Bible study and prayer. As the group began to grow, the decision to become a church was confirmed so as to be used by God effectively in the Merced/Atwater area. The first Service of Worship as the Evangelical Free Church of Merced was held on November 7th, 1982. Pastors Bill Smith, who was a church planting missionary of the Western District of the Evangelical Free Church of America, was installed as the Senior Pastor in September 1983. |
Bill Smith left as our senior pastor in 1995 to become the District Superintendent for the Evangelical Free Church of America. Dave Gish become our Senior Pastor in 1996, and moved to another ministry in 2001. Steve Muncherian became our Senior Pastor in 2003 and remained until 2020.
Mission & Ministry
The EV Free ministry grew to include Bible studies, AWANA, Junior and Senior High youth groups, adult groups, a Sunday School, choirs, nursery, and other ministry areas. These areas of ministry included Vacation Bible School at our church as well as part of city-wide effort in municipal parks. Missions' ministry also included supporting short term missionary opportunities for congregational members, as well as Easter youth trips to Mexico and later Adult Mexico Ministry trips. Since the early 1980's the church has held Camp Creekside, a "family camp" church wide retreat each fall.
Mission & Ministry
The EV Free ministry grew to include Bible studies, AWANA, Junior and Senior High youth groups, adult groups, a Sunday School, choirs, nursery, and other ministry areas. These areas of ministry included Vacation Bible School at our church as well as part of city-wide effort in municipal parks. Missions' ministry also included supporting short term missionary opportunities for congregational members, as well as Easter youth trips to Mexico and later Adult Mexico Ministry trips. Since the early 1980's the church has held Camp Creekside, a "family camp" church wide retreat each fall.
Congregation
Over the years the congregation has gone through periods of adjustment and refocusing, reflected in fluctuations in our congregational attendance. We are a multicultural and multigenerational congregation.
Through it all, God has been and is faithful, as the church is firmly grounded and focused on seeking God's current and future purposes for our congregation and our city and region.
Church Campus
In 1984, the church purchased the G street facilities but retained the property acquired earlier as a possible future building site.. Seeking to prayerfully and obediently follow God’s direction, the congregation chose to remain on G Street. Subsequent decisions led us to the demolition and construction of the front half of our G Street facility. On July 26, 2006 the old building was demolished an on March 18, 2007 we celebrated our first Service of Worship in the new sanctuary. Well over 2/3 of the congregation were physically involved in the demolition and construction process. The $1.2 million facility was completed and almost fully paid for by God’s grace and through the Building a Ministry of Faith and Hope Campaign.
Church Campus
In 1984, the church purchased the G street facilities but retained the property acquired earlier as a possible future building site.. Seeking to prayerfully and obediently follow God’s direction, the congregation chose to remain on G Street. Subsequent decisions led us to the demolition and construction of the front half of our G Street facility. On July 26, 2006 the old building was demolished an on March 18, 2007 we celebrated our first Service of Worship in the new sanctuary. Well over 2/3 of the congregation were physically involved in the demolition and construction process. The $1.2 million facility was completed and almost fully paid for by God’s grace and through the Building a Ministry of Faith and Hope Campaign.
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After receiving many generous and faithful donations over the years, in March of 2020 we were able to fully pay off the loan taken out on the new sanctuary. The congregation celebrated with a loan burning ceremony, where we praised God for removing our debt. This ceremony took place on March 15, 2020 and was one of our final services that year before moving online and outdoors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Present
During the pandemic, Creekside EV Free did worship online and in our courtyard until returning to indoor worship earlier this year. Our congregational attendance has been significantly impacted. In July of 2020 Steve Muncherian left to pursue interim pastoral ministry in Southern California, our youth pastor stepped down at that time as well. Although Creekside is small in size, the church continues to seek and pursue options for outreach and ministry to the greater Merced area. |
Paul Edwards is currently serving at Creekside Evangelical Free Church Pastor while we prepare and search for a new lead pastor. During this season of transition and beyond we hope to continue to be a place where people from all stages and walks of life are drawn to a relationship with the Lord and/or a closer walk with God.
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Creekside Church Culture
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