Our vision at Stone Ridge Community Church in Decorah, Iowa is to create a place where everyone is known and loved. Our desire is for everyone who walks through our doors on a Sunday morning to be connected with in a meaningful way (i.e. a handshake, hug, engaging conversation).
Our mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. What does someone who is in a growing relationship with Jesus do? We believe they do the following: pursue intimacy with God, community with insiders, and influence with outsiders. We want to help people read their bibles, connect in small groups, and invite their friends in the community to church.
Our values are the following: the word of God, hungry and available, a spirit of humility, a willingness to serve, and a desire to follow. We can work with anyone who has these values.
I would describe our church culture as very laid back. There isn’t a lot of red tape and bureaucracy. We have a lot of young families who have 3 to 4 kids. Typically, both parents work full time jobs and they are running their kids to something every night of the week. So, their availability is limited.
I would describe the culture of our county (approximately 20,000) as very liberal. Most if not all the churches in our community are Catholic or Lutheran. Nevertheless, God continues to bless us each and every Sunday with new visitors.
We are looking for someone who has a real heart for middle school and high school students. We would like this person to actively pursue relationships with them by being involved in their lives as much as possible (i.e. going to their games, having small groups, going to camp to create bonding experiences). For the most part, this person will have the freedom and flexibility to carry out the vision God has given them for the youth group. We currently have about 25 junior high students and 10 senior high students. This person will also have the opportunity to preach on Sunday morning and get involved in whatever other areas they feel gifted in. We are really looking for the right fit based on character, competence, and chemistry. This person will be a leader of leaders. Someone who is great at building relationships and connecting much like a recruiter.
If you feel you might be a good fit for our church then please send the following: a cover letter explaining why you believe you would be a good fit, your faith journey/story/testimony, and a video link of you teaching/preaching if you have one to pastor Ed Krawczyk at [email protected]
