Next Steps Pastor (SLK)

Job Summary:

The Next Steps Pastor owns the pathway people walk at one campus—from first-time guest to connected, serving member. This role is responsible for designing and leading the local Next Steps experience, including its plan within the campus operating plan, budget, Serve Team, and team members who bring it to life, while ensuring alignment with Gateway’s church-wide Next Steps standards. The Next Steps Pastor makes each step clear and accessible, helping people know where to go next and encouraging them to continue taking meaningful steps as they grow in their faith and become increasingly connected to the life and mission of Gateway.

Principal Job Responsibilities:

• Leads Next Steps at one campus, owning its plan within the campus operating plan

• Delivers the church-wide standard for Next Steps locally, adapting the expression without changing the standard

• Recruits, hires, leads, trains, develops, and provides accountability for Next Steps Team

• Builds and stewards the Serve Team for the ministry: recruiting, training, retention, and appreciation

• Owns the ministry budget for the area and spends within the approved threshold

• Pastors the people the ministry reaches, through care, prayer, and presence

• Participates in the cross-campus meeting for the ministry, led by the Area Leader Pastor

• Reviews ministry metrics and makes decisions accordingly

• Owns the campus's assimilation path from first-time guest to connected and serving member tracking individual movement through each stage

• Leads Starting Point at the campus, including its sessions, environments, and volunteer teams

• Oversees baptisms, membership, and new-member onboarding at the campus

• Owns first-time guest follow-up and connection card response, and ensures requests reach the right person

• Follows up on salvation decisions and next steps, ensuring anyone who makes a decision for Christ or indicates a next step receives timely, personal contact and is connected to the appropriate next step

• Partners with Groups and with ministry leaders so that people who take a next step find community

• Holds a ministerial license to minister, preach the gospel, and fulfill the work of serving God's kingdom, valid for the duration of pastoral ministry at Gateway Church, and carries spiritual authority within the church

• Serves the congregation by officiating weddings, funerals, baby dedications, communion, and other ministry services

• Is present and serving at weekend services and churchwide events as the ministry calendar requires, and is available to the congregation for pastoral care as needs arise

• Teaches through biblical principles and by lifestyle example

• Performs other duties as assigned.

As a member of the Gateway Church team, this position is expected to support, recruit, and develop Serve Team members, and to serve alongside the broader team as ministry and organizational needs arise.

General Skills & Qualifications:

• A clear passion for Jesus and a strong biblical foundation

• Clear and effective communicator with both large and small groups

• Demonstrated ability to gather, develop, and deploy staff and volunteers

• Strong critical thinking, and the ability to manage ambiguity and lead others through change

• Systems-minded, with the ability to design and hold a path people actually move through

• Warm and approachable with guests and new members

• Comfortable holding others accountable with clarity and care

• Demonstrated emotional and relational intelligence

• Willingness and ability to engage in courageous conversations

• Strong time-management skills and the ability to hold several priorities at once

• Proficient in Microsoft Office and able to learn and function within new software and systems

Education/Certification(s):

• Four or more years of ministry experience — required

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience — required

• Licensed as a minister, or eligible to be licensed upon employment — required

• Prior experience in a multisite church environment — preferred

General Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to:

• Sit or stand for extended periods of time

• Occasionally kneel or crouch

• Frequently lift and/or move up to 10 lbs.

• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 lbs.

*This description is not all inclusive, and other duties may be assigned as necessary.

Gateway Church does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law as it applies to churches. However, Gateway Church does discriminate on the basis of religion.