PASTORAL SEARCH CASE STUDY
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SILOAM SPRINGS
TELL ME MORE
Siloam Springs Presbyterian Church struggled for 16 months to find their next pastor. The applicant pool had slowed to a trickle. They experienced two near misses during this period, but God had another man in mind.
Siloam Springs is a town of about 25,000 people located in Northwest Arkansas, home to John Brown University. Approximately 800,000 people live in the Northwest Arkansas region, a vibrant and growing area that hosts four Fortune 500 companies and the University of Arkansas.
Guided by the Search Committee Chair, a former Walmart HR executive, they discerned what God wanted the church to do next. They created a plan and began to fulfill it, even without a lead pastor in place.
Siloam Springs Presbyterian Church struggled for 16 months to find their next pastor. The applicant pool had slowed to a trickle. They experienced two near misses during this period, but God had another man in mind.
Siloam Springs is a town of about 25,000 people located in Northwest Arkansas, home to John Brown University. Approximately 800,000 people live in the Northwest Arkansas region, a vibrant and growing area that hosts four Fortune 500 companies and the University of Arkansas.
Guided by the Search Committee Chair, a former Walmart HR executive, they discerned what God wanted the church to do next. They created a plan and began to fulfill it, even without a lead pastor in place.
HERE IS WHAT THEY WERE FACING
Though the staff and elders stepped up during the interim, after about 16 months, they were growing weary. Shouldering the burden of ministering to a church of roughly 200 people for months on end wears even the best of us down.
Though the staff and elders stepped up during the interim, after about 16 months, they were growing weary. Shouldering the burden of ministering to a church of roughly 200 people for months on end wears even the best of us down.
HERE IS WHAT THEY WANTED TO ACHIEVE
They wanted to find a pastor who aligned with:
- Who they were
- Where they were going
- The lifestyle of Northwest Arkansas
Bottom line: They wanted the pastor and his family to settle down and grow into the future with them.
They wanted to find a pastor who aligned with:
- Who they were
- Where they were going
- The lifestyle of Northwest Arkansas
Bottom line: They wanted the pastor and his family to settle down and grow into the future with them.
HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED
We worked closely with the search chair to develop both a candidate profile and a church profile. These profiles were key to sharing their story and attracting the right candidate. Within weeks, we identified seven candidates who matched these profiles.
When we approached the candidate who ultimately accepted their call, he read the candidate and church profiles and said without hesitation, “This is me.”
He accepted their offer about seven weeks into our engagement.
More importantly, they learned they were lagging in four predictive indicators of health and vibrancy. Armed with this insight, they were able to self-correct and stay on a healthy trajectory.
We worked closely with the search chair to develop both a candidate profile and a church profile. These profiles were key to sharing their story and attracting the right candidate. Within weeks, we identified seven candidates who matched these profiles.
When we approached the candidate who ultimately accepted their call, he read the candidate and church profiles and said without hesitation, “This is me.”
He accepted their offer about seven weeks into our engagement.
More importantly, they learned they were lagging in four predictive indicators of health and vibrancy. Armed with this insight, they were able to self-correct and stay on a healthy trajectory.
HERE IS WHAT WAS SAID
It was good to work with David and the team. There is a benefit to have a professional group working along side a search committee to source, select and present viable candidates. David was also able to “check-in” with candidates above and beyond calls made by the search committee which helped keep the candidate interested and “cared for.” The consulting and encouragement that we were using a good process was helpful as well.
-Kai Togami – Search Chair
It was good to work with David and the team. There is a benefit to have a professional group working along side a search committee to source, select and present viable candidates. David was also able to “check-in” with candidates above and beyond calls made by the search committee which helped keep the candidate interested and “cared for.” The consulting and encouragement that we were using a good process was helpful as well.
-Kai Togami – Search Chair
HERE IS WHAT WE OBSERVED
God is at work, even when we can’t see it. Kai Togami’s leadership throughout our engagement was exceptional. His team didn’t wait for the new pastor to arrive before taking action. They proactively updated their vision, created a simple plan to fulfill it, and developed the teams to carry it out.
This preparation was the reason they secured the right pastor. On day one, the new pastor stepped in and worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the team. It has been an excellent fit for both the church and the pastor.
God is at work, even when we can’t see it. Kai Togami’s leadership throughout our engagement was exceptional. His team didn’t wait for the new pastor to arrive before taking action. They proactively updated their vision, created a simple plan to fulfill it, and developed the teams to carry it out.
This preparation was the reason they secured the right pastor. On day one, the new pastor stepped in and worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the team. It has been an excellent fit for both the church and the pastor.