1) Lead Pastor Profile Packet Fall 2018 Christ s Community Church 401 Wabash Ave (P.O. Box 1050), Granite Falls, WA (360) 691-7511
Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 1) OUR CHURCH 3 Who We Are 3 Demographics 3 Missions: Local and Abroad 3 Where We Are 4 Where We are Going 4 Ministries 5 Non-profit Daycare & Preschool 5 Remembering those in need 6 2) OUR COMMUNITY 7 3) PASTORAL PROFILE 9 4) APPENDIX 11 History: The Merger of Two Churches 11 Community Bible Church 11 Christian and Missionary Alliance Church 12 2
1) OUR CHURCH Who We Are Christ s Community Church (CCC) is a community of believers seeking to learn and do the will of The LORD in our church and community. We take GOD s Work and intercessory prayer very seriously. We are currently learning how to be sensitive to The Holy Spirit through self-discipline in prayer and reading of the scriptures. Many in our church meet in prayer groups throughout the week. These groups intercede for people in need, both within our community and in the church body. Demographics In July of 2011, Community Bible Church merged with Christian and Missionary Alliance and became Christ s Community Church. A short time later, the church voted to affiliate with the Christian and Missionary Alliance head organization. (For more about this history, please see the Appendix at the end of the profile.) Presently, we are an intergenerational, middle-class congregation of less than 100. Approximately one-half of us are retired. We have one paid pastoral position. Many of our members volunteer in ministries both within the church and in our community. Within the church building, our volunteers occupy secretarial and building maintenance positions. Missions: Local and Abroad We have a passion for missionary work, both locally and internationally. Since 1999, we have had a Daycare and Preschool ministry serving the families of Granite Falls and surrounding communities. 3
As a missions-minded church, we regularly donate to individual missionaries as well as give monthly to the Great Commission Fund. Some of our congregants also participate in short-term missions programs around the world. We correspond with our sponsored missionaries monthly by sending hand-written cards. The second Sunday of every month is designated Missions Sunday. On this week, we include a section in the bulletin titled Prayer and Praise. We share and pray within that Sunday specifically for the missionaries. We post letters from the missionaries on our Missions bulletin board for all to see and read. Our Women s Ministry group regularly supports Eagle s Wings Ministry, a Christian Rehabilitation Facility in Alaska for women involved in Substance Abuse. On site they minister to both the women and their children. Where We Are We are in transition. We have a core of believers who are very serious about needed change in the way we conduct ourselves as a church. We have prayed for change and we are embracing the new direction that our church needs to take. Rather than focusing on the past, many of us are striving toward a new direction. Currently Granite Falls is in the process of expanding in population by about 30% and we want to be prepared to welcome new families into our church body. We recognize that a church with a high percentage of mature members can be staunchly resistant to change, but that is not the case with us. We are truly committed to seeking The LORD s will for this church and following it. Where We are Going We are in the process of reorganizing our leadership approach with the goal of serving both our community and our church body more effectively. We are also in the early stages of developing an effective and sustained outreach program, with the goal of reaching those in our community who need and want 4
help. This includes, but is not limited to, ministering to the needs of our homeless population. We desire to grow as a church and reach out to families in the community, inviting them into the fellowship by doing the following: 1. Emphasize prayer as a main priority of the church. Understanding the importance of humbling ourselves before GOD and together admitting our need of His help and direction. 2. Continuing to serve families by caring for their children in the Daycare and Preschool. This includes reaching out to them in practical ways. 3. Encourage a Culture of Hospitality by demonstrating friendliness to visitors, welcoming them into our church and our lives. 4. Develop strong Sunday School and mid-week programs for children. 5. Reach out to the community by participation in local events and encouraging our members to help in the community in a variety of ways. Ministries Non-profit Daycare & Preschool Established in 1999, In HIS Steps Daycare and Preschool, a ministry of Christ s Community Church, is a non-profit and licensed daycare serving Granite Falls and the surrounding community. Our desire is to show forth the love and concern which is graciously supplied to every child of GOD. We assist families in the raising of their children by meeting the health, care, and total well-being of the children. We strive to provide quality childcare. GOD has given us an amazing opportunity to lead families to Christ through a ministry with children. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. (1 Peter 2.21) 5
Remembering those in need Within our congregation are several widows and elderly congregants. CCC congregants provide assistance for a variety of ongoing needs. Monthly Benevolent funds are collected that provide for specific needs for the poor in our congregation and our community. CCC has been entrusted with the ongoing ministration to specific people who are, or have been homeless. Working together with local and national ministries As the only non-profit Christian daycare in our town, we have been blessed to be part of the unity of the body of Christ as some of our employees attend local churches. Also, other churches have been represented in the families we ve served over the years. The Foursquare church in our community operates a large food bank serving those in need, and CCC regularly collects and delivers donations to them. Filling shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child (a ministry of Samaritan s Purse) is a favorite annual event in our church. Over the years, we ve been blessed to contribute hundreds of boxes to children world-wide. Congregants from our church help collect and distribute donations to a local ministry that provides food, warm clothes and bedding for the homeless both in our community and surrounding areas. For the past few years, CCC has joined together with the local Foursquare church to provide Vacation Bible School in the summer for our community. 6
2) OUR COMMUNITY First settled in 1884, Granite Falls is a small, rural community nestled in the shadow of Mount Pilchuck. Our town is bounded by the Stilliguamish and Pilchuck rivers. It lies approximately 17 miles northeast of Everett and I-5. State Route 92 meets the main thoroughfare into town and passes onto the beautiful Mountain Loop Highway, which is the Gateway to the Cascade Mountains. The Loop as locals refer to it, is an area known for many outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, camping, and sledding. Big Four Ice Caves and the ghost town of Monte Cristo are popular destinations nearby. In the 1800 s Monte Cristo was a thriving mining community and was connected by railway to the larger town of Everett (about 16 miles west of Granite Falls). Our town is 360 feet above sea level and the outlying area is home to many large quarry operations, employing a large number of people. The area is one of the fastest growing in the country with five projected housing developments underway. Suncrest Farms is the largest with 327 homes, many already occupied. There are two major apartment complexes and two more developments planned in the next few years. The expected population growth over the next three - five years is projected at over 40% with our current population of 3,500 increasing to 5,000 over that time. (See graph on upper right for age distribution.) Additionally, an estimated population of 10,000 live in the immediate outlying area of the town. Despite this growth, Granite Falls retains the feel of a boutique small town with a country atmosphere, a neighborly attitude, and friendly people. Median Family Income: $58,698 Median Sale Price for a 3-bedroom home in the last 90 days: $342,000 Individuals Below Poverty Level: 3.3%; Ethnic Diversity ~ White: 87%; Hispanic or Latino: 7%; Other: 6% 7
Granite Falls has a Marine West Coast climate with mild differences between highs and lows. Most of the rainfall occurs between October and May. Temperatures in the summer can be up to 10 degrees warmer than nearby Everett, due to its slightly inland location. Granite hosts the oldest car show in the state, pre-thanksgiving and pre-easter Turkey shoots, Easter egg hunts, Railroad (and school) Reunion days, Christmas Tree Lighting, active Senior Center, outstanding Boys and Girls club, award winning Historical Museum, downtown skate park and lake waterfront park, autumn city-wide Night Out, popular dog park, waterfall and fish ladder. A new Civic Center, which will include City Hall, a public plaza, a community room, and a parking lot is in the works. The groundwork has already started on the 7,500 square-foot-single-story Civic building on South Granite Avenue across from the current City Hall. The goal is to have it done by the end of November, 2018. Additionally, fundraising is underway to build a social services campus that would allow the food bank, Granite Falls Community Coalition, and Family Support Center to share space near the Boys and Girls Club. The Club on Stanley St. and Alder Ave. is slated to get a new Gym which would double as an emergency shelter for up to 300 people if needed. Granite has two Elementary Schools, a Middle School, a High School, and an Alternative High School. 8
3) PASTORAL PROFILE The Search Team of Christ s Community Church (CCC) in Granite Falls, Washington invites applications for the position of Lead Pastor. The Pastor shall be a member of the Elder Board and the Leadership Team. He shall function in accordance with the CCC constitution. He must meet the Biblical qualifications in 1 Timothy 3, as well as those required by both the Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA) and CCC by-laws. The Pastor should have a Spirit-filled character while following the four essentials of the New Testament church in Acts 2:42: emphasize the power and practice of prayer accurately and enthusiastically deliver The Word of GOD encourage the family culture through the fellowship of believers encourage corporate worship and breaking of bread The Pastor should demonstrate healthy relationships with others, while showing his passion for The LORD and for shepherding His people. This includes: understand his gifts and be proficient in them while cultivating the talents and gifts of others have a teachable spirit and be willing to take sound counsel promote community within the church, including small group discipleship, and foster a culture of hospitality as a way to minister to others work with other churches and pastors in our community for ministry to the poor, and encourage the church s role in the community of Granite Falls actively support outreach to In HIS Steps Daycare and Preschool families which includes conducting weekly chapel sessions for preschoolers champion C&MA outreach in the area and also C&MA missions 9
have basic leadership and administration skills while being willing to counsel and mentor others The Pastor should have five years of experience and a Bible degree, or show comparable training and experience. 10
4) APPENDIX History: The Merger of Two Churches Community Bible Church In the late 1880 s, Granite Falls had some believers who met together and the first preaching was provided by an occasional circuit rider [on horseback]. He came from the Snohomish Congregational church, hence our early alliance with that denomination. However, the small body of believers was unorganized and lacked leadership. Some could read the scriptures, while those unable to read would pray. They had no hymn books, so they sang from memory. [1] In 1892, Mr. Campbell Robe rode the train into town and met with the believers. He was soon asked to take leadership and organized the first Sunday School. It was held in the new community hall, a log building on South Main Street, which is now called Granite Avenue. Campbell Robe was dedicated to building a Bible believing and teaching church in Granite Falls and he accepted the position of Sunday School Superintendent from 1892 until about 1930. The Sunday School connected with the Christian Endeavor Society to provide support of a mission in India. Documents from 1897 record that the church had become the Union Congregational Church. With the aid of several others assisting Mr. Robe, the first church building was finished and dedicated in 1901. After The Big Snow of 1916 caused the roof to collapse, meetings were held elsewhere for a time. Funds were acquired and the portion destroyed by the snow was re-built (again by Mr. Robe and others) and dedicated in 1921. During 1940 s the church name changed to Community Congregational Church. In 1955, a loan payment to the national Congregational Church was paid off, the believers changed the name to Community Bible Church, and became an independent congregation. 11
Christian and Missionary Alliance Church The earliest record available is a year-end report from 1938 which shows that the Granite Falls Christian and Missionary Church was a branch of the Everett C & MA. The Pacific Northwest District Corporation was listed as owner to the 1937 property deed. [2] Although no pastor was listed on the report, it shows that W. Shanks held an evangelistic campaign. A Missionary Convention was held during the year of 1938 and the report indicates regular missionary support. The church united with other churches to provide a Summer Bible School. In 1940, the church was called the Christian and Missionary Alliance Tabernacle with C.N. Hutchinson as Pastor. In 1944, Pastor Hutchinson s report stated Our Missionary Convention was the outstanding special meeting of the year. GOD not only gave to us a new missionary vision, but a higher spiritual standard, we believe, was reached in many lives. The pastor reflected upon the challenging time of World War II: We also praise GOD for His Keeping Power of all the boys who are in the service. [11 known to their congregation] None have been seriously wounded and no lives lost. In 1991, Pastor Ken Crandall s report urged the congregation to respond and be involved in changes to make possible our submission to God s design for his church more possible according to the four essentials of a New Testament church example in Acts 2:42. The essentials were (1) devotion to the apostle s teaching, (2) fellowship, (3) corporate worship, and (4) prayer. Pastor Ken reminded the congregation that God is the One who brings the harvest, while we water and plant (I Corinthians 3:6-9). He urged them to remember that although the soil, climate, and techniques of planting and watering may change, although our times are different than they were 50 years or 20 years ago, but thank God that He remains the same--he remains faithful and true. [1] All material regarding Community Bible Church is from C. Webb & C. Mace, Cloud of Witnesses, A History of Community Bible Church: 1892-2011 (Instantpublisher.com, 2014, reprinted 2018. [2] All material regarding Christian and Missionary Alliance Church is from copies of Annual Reports. Originals were sent to the Pacific Northwest District. 12