Candidate Profile

Lead Pastor – Harvest Church 

Garner, NC.

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We design the profile to define who would be a good fit for this position based on seven broad criteria.

The profile assumes the qualifications for a pastor found in 1 Timothy and Titus. Because Harvest is a multi-generational church, the pastor will be more of a generalist and will be required to perform a variety of tasks.

We know, as does the search committee, that there might not be a pastor out there who could check all of the following boxes. If this call intrigues you and you feel that you are lacking in a few areas, then we strongly encourage you to have a conversation with David Zook. He is leading the search.

If there is a skill you lack, let us know. 12 months of post-placement advanced pastoral training will be provided. Together we will choose which skills that you would like to refine or develop so that you can get on with the mission of the church.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHURCH (Coming Soon)

CHARACTER

  • The candidate will “get” busy family schedules, be relatable, approachable, warm, trustworthy, and practical.
  • The candidate will be devoted to his family. 
  • The candidate will be marked with humility. Even though he is the Lead Pastor he recognizes that he is the first among equals in relation to the Elders. 
  • The candidate will lead the Elders and staff to make tough decisions when appropriate.
  • The candidate will exhibit an optimistic way forward to the congregation and community. 
  • The candidate thrives with the challenge of moving a church forward into its next chapter.
  • The candidate will carry himself with confidence in his capabilities. 

KNOWLEDGE

  • The candidate will possess sound theological training in line with ordination requirements.  
  • The candidate accepts that the life of the mind is integral to the life of faith.  
  • The candidate is convicted of the centrality of Christ as revealed in Scripture. 
  • The candidate will know how to manage a church and lead staff and elders.

SKILL

  • The candidate possesses the skill to effectively reach out to neighbors and the community.
  • The candidate demonstrates the skill to preach, teach, and apply Scripture.  
  • The candidate knows how to assimilate people into the church.
  • The candidate knows how to mobilize people based on their gifting, passion, and personality.
  • The candidate comfortably connects across generations.
  • The candidate possesses the ability to move the church forward into a new season.
  • The candidate demonstrates the ability to make wise decisions and to say “no” when appropriate.
  • The candidate can build ministries and ministry teams.
  • The candidate can train people to share their faith.
  • The candidate creates an environment where people grow closer and more sensitive to God.
  • The candidate develops spiritual and missional leaders.
  • The candidate demonstrates the ability to effectively communicate (written and verbal) to the congregation.

GIFT MIX

The candidate will possess the gift mix of apostleship, exhortation, shepherding, discernment, evangelism and faith.

We would like to emphasize that this is a mix that works together. They are not separated by silos. Some seasons of the life of the church might require shepherding to be emphasized, but you still need to shepherd and exhort the congregation.

Apostleship: The gift of being sent to pioneer new works, plant churches, provide foundational leadership, and extend the gospel into new territories or unreached areas. It often carries authority to establish, strengthen, and multiply healthy expressions of the body of Christ. It reflects God’s commitment to advance his Kingdom. 

Discernment: The Spirit-empowered ability to perceive, evaluate, and judge rightly between truth and error, good and evil, authentic and counterfeit, divine and demonic influences in people, teachings, situations, and spiritual atmospheres. It grows through maturity, constant practice, deep engagement with Scripture, and prayerful sensitivity, enabling wise protection, correction, and direction for the body.

Evangelism: The ability to effectively communicate the gospel to unbelievers in ways that lead to genuine conversion, discipleship, and incorporation into the body of Christ. It carries a God-given burden for the lost and often equips others to share their faith naturally. It flows from God’s love for us and his commitment to proclaim salvation to the ends of the earth. 

Exhortation: The gift of motivating, comforting, challenging, and urging believers toward faithfulness, perseverance, and godly action. It strengthens the weak, restores the fallen, and spurs the body forward in love and good works through timely words, presence, and relational investment. It flows from God’s desire to be with us and for us in our daily lives. 

Faith: Extraordinary, unwavering confidence and trust in God that enables bold prayer, action, and expectation of His intervention, often in the face of impossibility. It moves mountains, inspires others, and demonstrates the reality of the living God. It reflects God’s desire for us to depend on him and to trust him for our daily lives. 

Shepherding: The gift of caring for, protecting, guiding, feeding, and nurturing the spiritual health and growth of individuals or groups like a shepherd cares for sheep. It involves relational investment, oversight, correction, and helping people become more like Jesus over time. It reflects the long road of obedience that God wants us to walk.

PASSION

  • The candidate has a heart for the community and care for loved ones.  
  • The candidate loves God and others.
  • The candidate has a passion for building the Kingdom through the local church.
  • The candidate has a heart for the town and country lifestyle and its people.

PERSONALITY

The candidate is an influencer and builder.

  • He can make things happen by turning thoughts into action.
  • He takes control of situations in a good way and will make decisions that are best for the group.
  • He will be a good communicator.
  • He likes to measure progress in healthy ways.
  • He will bring the best out in others.
  • He takes risks so long as God is in those risks.
  • He is wired to make an impact on the congregation and community.
  • He loves to meet new people and win them over. 

STORY

The candidate’s life will be marked by getting things done to expand the Kingdom in God’s timing, not his. He will have several years of experience, with a track record of turning vision into action and equipping others to do the same. His positive influence will be evident through stories of how he shaped mindsets both within and beyond the church while building ministries in healthy ways.

INTRIGUED? LET’S GET ACQUAINTED. CLICK TO START.