Discipleship Pastor
Element Church, Wentzville, MO, United States
The Discipleship Pastor provides strategic and pastoral leadership for Element Church's discipleship pathway, overseeing Life Groups, discipleship classes (Equip, Fresh Start), and new believer engagement. This role ensures that every person has a clear pathway to grow in Christ through community, biblical teaching, and spiritual formation. The Discipleship Pastor leads and develops volunteer leaders, builds scalable systems for care and multiplication, and serves as a key voice in helping people know Christ, show Christ, and grow in Christ. This pastor also participates in weekend teaching and hosts as part of Element's broader ministry team.
Essential Duties, Responsibilities, Accountabilities & Deliverables Spiritual & Pastoral Leadership
Model a vibrant, growing relationship with Jesus Christ and champion Element Church's mission, values, and disciple-making philosophy
Provide spiritual leadership and pastoral care to Life Group leaders, coaches, class facilitators, and participants
Serve as a shepherd who creates environments where people can grow deeper in their faith and relationships
Participate in weekend teaching and hosting responsibilities as part of Element's ministry rotation
Life Groups & Recovery Ministries
Provide vision, strategy, and leadership for Life Groups as the primary environment for community and discipleship
Build and scale the Life Group Coach infrastructure, ensuring every group leader receives consistent care, training, and support
Develop healthy group leader pipelines through intentional recruiting, equipping, and ongoing development
Oversee recovery support groups and specialized small group environments, ensuring pastoral care and spiritual growth
Evaluate group health, multiplication, and engagement across all campuses
Foster a culture of authentic community, biblical truth, and life transformation within groups
Discipleship Classes & Spiritual Formation
Oversee all discipleship classes including Equip, Fresh Start, and future class offerings
Ensure curriculum is theologically sound, culturally relevant, and aligned with Element's statement of beliefs
Develop, equip, and coach teachers and facilitators across all class environments
Lead teaching rotation for Equip Classes and other discipleship environments as needed
Create clear class pathways that move people from new believer to mature disciple
Evaluate class effectiveness and make strategic adjustments to improve engagement and spiritual impact
New Believer Engagement & Pathway Integration
Ensure alignment and cohesion across all pathways for new believers, including Fresh Start Class, personal follow‑up, and group placement
Collaborate with the Next Steps team to create seamless handoffs from first‑time guest to fully engaged disciple
Oversee Fresh Start operations and teams, ensuring new believers receive immediate prayer support and connection to next steps
Own the transition of new believers into Life Groups and ongoing discipleship environments
Build systems that ensure no new believer falls through the cracks during critical early stages of faith
Leadership Development & Team Care
Lead, coach, and develop volunteer leaders (Life Group leaders, coaches, class facilitators, recovery leaders)
Build strong leaders who multiply other leaders and create healthy, life‑giving environments
Provide ongoing care, encouragement, and support to volunteer teams through regular communication, training, and one‑on‑one coaching
Set clear expectations and provide feedback that helps leaders grow in effectiveness and spiritual maturity
Foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement among all volunteer teams
Strategy, Systems & Execution
Design and refine systems that make it easy for people to take their next step in discipleship
Use data, stories, and feedback to evaluate effectiveness and guide decision‑making
Partner with Campus Pastors and Central Teams to ensure consistency across campuses while allowing contextual flexibility
Align discipleship strategies with overall church direction and long‑term vision
Ensure all discipleship ministries operate with excellence, clarity, and alignment to Element's mission
Collaboration & Ministry Integration
Collaborate closely with the Executive Pastor of Next Steps and the broader Next Steps team
Work with Communications, Campus teams, and other departments to promote classes, recruit leaders, and engage participants, overseeing the Discipleship Pathways from a Central Standpoint
Contribute to church‑wide strategy, calendar planning, and resource alignment
Represent Element Church with excellence, humility, and unity in all internal and external contexts
Participate in other duties as assigned to ensure ministry success across the organization
Qualifications/Experience Required/Main Competencies Spiritual & Character Requirements
A growing, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ
Alignment with Element Church's statement of beliefs, mission, and values
A proven reputation for integrity, emotional health, and servant leadership
A shepherd's heart with a passion for seeing people know Christ, show Christ, and grow in Christ
Experience & Skills
5–7+ years of ministry leadership experience, preferably in a church context with small groups and/or discipleship ministries
Demonstrated success leading and developing volunteer leaders
Strong communicator with teaching and facilitation experience
Relational leader who builds trust, provides care, and multiplies leaders
Strategic thinker who can design systems and processes that scale
Ability to navigate multiple priorities and manage competing demands with grace and effectiveness
Education
Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent ministry experience
Seminary training or theological education is a plus but not required
Main Competencies
Leadership Development:
Ability to identify, equip, and multiply leaders at all stages of growth
Pastoral Care:
Capacity to shepherd individuals and teams with empathy, wisdom, and biblical truth
Systems Thinking:
Ability to design processes and pathways that create clarity and remove barriers
Communication:
Clear, compelling communicator in both teaching and interpersonal contexts
Collaboration:
Works effectively across teams and departments to achieve shared goals
Execution:
Moves from vision to implementation with excellence and accountability
Spiritual Maturity:
Models Christlikeness, humility, and a commitment to personal and relational growth
What Success Looks Like
Healthy, growing Life Groups marked by authentic community and spiritual transformation
Strong, empowered volunteer leaders who are cared for, equipped, and multiplying themselves
Discipleship classes that produce biblical literacy, spiritual maturity, and life change
Clear pathways for new believers that ensure every person knows their next step
Clarified metrics, pathways, and accountability processes to celebrate and emphasize discipleship across the organization
A unified culture where people know Christ, show Christ, and grow in Christ
Recovery ministries that celebrate freedom and support long‑term transformation
Consistent, excellent teaching and facilitation across all discipleship environments
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Essential Duties, Responsibilities, Accountabilities & Deliverables Spiritual & Pastoral Leadership
Model a vibrant, growing relationship with Jesus Christ and champion Element Church's mission, values, and disciple-making philosophy
Provide spiritual leadership and pastoral care to Life Group leaders, coaches, class facilitators, and participants
Serve as a shepherd who creates environments where people can grow deeper in their faith and relationships
Participate in weekend teaching and hosting responsibilities as part of Element's ministry rotation
Life Groups & Recovery Ministries
Provide vision, strategy, and leadership for Life Groups as the primary environment for community and discipleship
Build and scale the Life Group Coach infrastructure, ensuring every group leader receives consistent care, training, and support
Develop healthy group leader pipelines through intentional recruiting, equipping, and ongoing development
Oversee recovery support groups and specialized small group environments, ensuring pastoral care and spiritual growth
Evaluate group health, multiplication, and engagement across all campuses
Foster a culture of authentic community, biblical truth, and life transformation within groups
Discipleship Classes & Spiritual Formation
Oversee all discipleship classes including Equip, Fresh Start, and future class offerings
Ensure curriculum is theologically sound, culturally relevant, and aligned with Element's statement of beliefs
Develop, equip, and coach teachers and facilitators across all class environments
Lead teaching rotation for Equip Classes and other discipleship environments as needed
Create clear class pathways that move people from new believer to mature disciple
Evaluate class effectiveness and make strategic adjustments to improve engagement and spiritual impact
New Believer Engagement & Pathway Integration
Ensure alignment and cohesion across all pathways for new believers, including Fresh Start Class, personal follow‑up, and group placement
Collaborate with the Next Steps team to create seamless handoffs from first‑time guest to fully engaged disciple
Oversee Fresh Start operations and teams, ensuring new believers receive immediate prayer support and connection to next steps
Own the transition of new believers into Life Groups and ongoing discipleship environments
Build systems that ensure no new believer falls through the cracks during critical early stages of faith
Leadership Development & Team Care
Lead, coach, and develop volunteer leaders (Life Group leaders, coaches, class facilitators, recovery leaders)
Build strong leaders who multiply other leaders and create healthy, life‑giving environments
Provide ongoing care, encouragement, and support to volunteer teams through regular communication, training, and one‑on‑one coaching
Set clear expectations and provide feedback that helps leaders grow in effectiveness and spiritual maturity
Foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement among all volunteer teams
Strategy, Systems & Execution
Design and refine systems that make it easy for people to take their next step in discipleship
Use data, stories, and feedback to evaluate effectiveness and guide decision‑making
Partner with Campus Pastors and Central Teams to ensure consistency across campuses while allowing contextual flexibility
Align discipleship strategies with overall church direction and long‑term vision
Ensure all discipleship ministries operate with excellence, clarity, and alignment to Element's mission
Collaboration & Ministry Integration
Collaborate closely with the Executive Pastor of Next Steps and the broader Next Steps team
Work with Communications, Campus teams, and other departments to promote classes, recruit leaders, and engage participants, overseeing the Discipleship Pathways from a Central Standpoint
Contribute to church‑wide strategy, calendar planning, and resource alignment
Represent Element Church with excellence, humility, and unity in all internal and external contexts
Participate in other duties as assigned to ensure ministry success across the organization
Qualifications/Experience Required/Main Competencies Spiritual & Character Requirements
A growing, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ
Alignment with Element Church's statement of beliefs, mission, and values
A proven reputation for integrity, emotional health, and servant leadership
A shepherd's heart with a passion for seeing people know Christ, show Christ, and grow in Christ
Experience & Skills
5–7+ years of ministry leadership experience, preferably in a church context with small groups and/or discipleship ministries
Demonstrated success leading and developing volunteer leaders
Strong communicator with teaching and facilitation experience
Relational leader who builds trust, provides care, and multiplies leaders
Strategic thinker who can design systems and processes that scale
Ability to navigate multiple priorities and manage competing demands with grace and effectiveness
Education
Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent ministry experience
Seminary training or theological education is a plus but not required
Main Competencies
Leadership Development:
Ability to identify, equip, and multiply leaders at all stages of growth
Pastoral Care:
Capacity to shepherd individuals and teams with empathy, wisdom, and biblical truth
Systems Thinking:
Ability to design processes and pathways that create clarity and remove barriers
Communication:
Clear, compelling communicator in both teaching and interpersonal contexts
Collaboration:
Works effectively across teams and departments to achieve shared goals
Execution:
Moves from vision to implementation with excellence and accountability
Spiritual Maturity:
Models Christlikeness, humility, and a commitment to personal and relational growth
What Success Looks Like
Healthy, growing Life Groups marked by authentic community and spiritual transformation
Strong, empowered volunteer leaders who are cared for, equipped, and multiplying themselves
Discipleship classes that produce biblical literacy, spiritual maturity, and life change
Clear pathways for new believers that ensure every person knows their next step
Clarified metrics, pathways, and accountability processes to celebrate and emphasize discipleship across the organization
A unified culture where people know Christ, show Christ, and grow in Christ
Recovery ministries that celebrate freedom and support long‑term transformation
Consistent, excellent teaching and facilitation across all discipleship environments
#J-18808-Ljbffr