Next Steps & Groups Pastor
Reports To: Lead Pastor
Status: Full-Time
Position Summary
The Next Steps & Groups Pastor exists to help people move from attending church to becoming fully engaged disciples of Jesus Christ. This pastor creates intentional pathways that help people take their next step through salvation, baptism, membership, Rooted, small groups, serving, and leadership development.
The Next Steps Pastor serves as the primary shepherd of Bethel's discipleship strategy by building systems that help every person move from the crowd into authentic biblical community and active ministry.
Primary Responsibilities1. Lead the Next Steps Strategy
Develop and oversee a clear discipleship pathway that helps people move through:
- First-Time Guest
- Return Guest
- Salvation
- Baptism
- Bethel 101 Membership
- Rooted Experience
- Small Groups
- Serving Teams
- Leadership Development
Evaluate and improve each step so that movement through the pathway is simple, intentional, and measurable.
2. Champion Rooted
Serve as the primary leader of Bethel's Rooted discipleship experience.
Responsibilities include:
- Recruit and train facilitators
- Launch Rooted semesters
- Coach facilitators
- Maintain curriculum quality
- Coordinate prayer, serve experiences, and celebration
- Track participation and completion
- Identify future leaders through Rooted
The goal is for Rooted to become the primary front door into biblical community.
3. Develop Healthy Groups
Recruit, train, and coach small group leaders.
Responsibilities include:
- Launch new groups each semester
- Coach current leaders
- Care for leaders spiritually
- Multiply healthy groups
- Ensure groups align with Bethel's doctrine, mission, and values
- Develop apprentices for future multiplication
Success is measured by healthy leaders rather than simply the number of groups.
4. Oversee Membership
Lead Bethel 101.
Responsibilities include:
- Teach or coordinate membership classes
- Help new members understand Bethel's mission and values
- Connect members into Rooted and serving
- Maintain membership records
5. Baptism & Salvation Follow-Up
Coordinate follow-up for every salvation decision.
Responsibilities include:
- Contact every decision
- Prepare baptism candidates
- Coordinate baptism services
- Encourage continued spiritual growth
- Connect people into Rooted immediately after baptism
6. Volunteer Engagement
Partner with ministry leaders to help people discover where they can serve.
Responsibilities include:
- Maintain serving opportunities
- Connect people with ministry leaders
- Help new volunteers find the right fit
- Celebrate volunteers regularly
7. Leadership Development
Identify emerging leaders through Rooted and groups.
Develop coaching relationships that prepare future:
- Group Leaders
- Ministry Team Leaders
- Coaches
- Ministry Directors
8. Pastoral Care
Provide shepherding through:
- Hospital visits (as assigned)
- Counseling appointments
- Prayer ministry
- Care for group leaders
- Follow-up with new believers
Administrative Responsibilities
- Maintain Next Steps database
- Track discipleship metrics
- Prepare monthly reports
- Manage discipleship budget
- Coordinate ministry calendar
- Work closely with ministry staff
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Success will be evaluated by healthy movement rather than attendance alone.
Examples include:
- First-time guest return rate
- Membership participation
- Baptism follow-up completion
- Rooted enrollment
- Rooted completion percentage
- Number of active groups
- Group leader retention
- New group multiplication
- Percentage of adults connected in community
- Volunteer engagement
- New leaders developed annually
QualificationsSpiritual
- Growing relationship with Jesus Christ
- Meets biblical qualifications for pastoral leadership (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1)
- Agrees with Bethel Church Statement of Faith
- Models humility, integrity, and servant leadership
Education
Preferred:
- Bachelor's Degree
- Seminary training is a plus
Equivalent ministry experience considered.
Experience
Preferred:
- Experience leading discipleship ministries
- Experience recruiting and developing volunteers
- Experience leading small groups
- Strong organizational leadership
- Excellent communication skills
Core Competencies
The ideal candidate is:
- Highly relational
- Systems-oriented
- A developer of people
- Organized
- Self-motivated
- Encouraging
- Team player
- Strong communicator
- Comfortable leading both volunteers and leaders
Personal Expectations
The Next Steps & Groups Pastor will:
- Model a Christ-centered life
- Support Bethel's vision and mission
- Protect church unity
- Pursue personal spiritual growth
- Be active in the life of the church
- Invest intentionally in future leaders
Ministry Win
People don't simply attend Bethel—they become disciples.
Guests become family.
Believers become rooted.
Rooted people become servants.
Servants become leaders.
Leaders make disciples.
This role succeeds when an ever-increasing number of people are moving intentionally through Bethel's discipleship pathway and becoming mature followers of Jesus who know Christ, grow in community, serve with purpose, and share their faith.
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance
Work Location: In person
