Associate Pastor

Job Description

ORBIT CHURCH

Buckeye, Arizona (Greater Phoenix Metro Area) · Non-denominational · Full-time

JOB TITLE

Associate Pastor (Various Ministry Areas)

OUR VISION

Help people find peace and develop purpose by revolving everything around Jesus.

ABOUT ORBIT

Orbit Church is a young, fast-growing church plant in Buckeye, Arizona, averaging 360–430 people each Sunday with 75–100 kids. We launched in 2024 with a clear vision: to help people find peace and develop purpose by revolving everything around Jesus. We're portable, scrappy, and building something real.

THE ROLE

We're hiring an Associate Pastor / Director to help build the next chapter of Orbit. This pastor will own youth and young adult ministry, lead Orbit's guest experience and assimilation pipeline (street to seat, seat to saved, saved to sanctified) carry weight in Sunday communication, and grow into broader executive-level pastoral leadership across the church.

This isn't a youth-pastor-with-extras role. It's a real pastoral leadership seat designed for someone who can teach, build, shepherd, lead leaders, and grow into an executive portfolio—without losing the relational gravity that makes students and young adults actually want to follow.

We're looking for a builder, not a maintainer. A shepherd, not a programmer. A pastor hungry to grow under direct mentorship from the Lead Pastor in preaching, theology, leadership, and ministry strategy.

Title flexes to Director of Discipleship for non-ordained candidates. An ordination path is supported and encouraged.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Youth & Young Adult Ministry

• Own the youth ministry (currently 20–30 students) and young adult ministry (currently 20–30 young adults).
• Refresh, restructure, and build these ministries in line with Orbit's vision and strategy—full authority to reshape rhythms, culture, and approach as needed.
• Recruit, train, and develop volunteer leaders for both ministries.
• Create consistent rhythms for gatherings, discipleship, follow-up, and leader development.
• Partner with parents in the discipleship of students.
• Identify, disciple, and raise up emerging young adult leaders.

Guest Experience & Assimilation

• Own and develop Orbit's full guest experience and assimilation pipeline (street to seat, seat to saved, saved to sanctified).
• Provide staff-level leadership for the existing Guest Experience volunteer leaders and teams, without replacing volunteer ownership.
• Build clear next-step pathways for first-time guests, returning guests, new believers, and growing disciples.
• Strengthen hospitality culture, follow-up systems, and connection points across the entire Sunday experience.

Sunday Leadership & Communication

• Provide consistent, visible pastoral presence on Sundays.
• Lead volunteer rallies, host stage, and represent Orbit's culture publicly.
• Preach occasionally when gifting and growth warrant it, with ongoing coaching from the Lead Pastor.

Leadership Development & Pastoral Care

• Pastor people directly—prayer, follow-up, hard conversations, real shepherding.
• Help develop leaders across the church alongside the Lead Pastor.
• Build training environments for volunteers, ministry leads, and emerging leaders.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A clear, evident love for Jesus, Scripture, the local church, and people.
• Theological alignment with Orbit. Our doctrinal foundation is broadly SBC with love for charismatic expression. We partner with Converge, ARC, the SBC, and various local church networks.
• Significant prior ministry leadership experience—staff or substantial volunteer leadership where you owned outcomes, not just executed tasks.
• Proven ability to build ministry, not just maintain programs.
• Strong relational and pastoral instincts. Warm, present, and energizing to be around.
• Ability to recruit, develop, and shepherd volunteer leaders.
• Comfortable in a young, fast-growing, portable church environment.
• Self-starting and high-capacity. You move on your own initiative.
• Humble, teachable, loyal, and emotionally mature. You receive direct feedback well and give it cleanly.
• A personal life that reflects spiritual maturity, integrity, and healthy rhythms.

Formal theological education isn't required, but candidates with serious depth of study and engagement with Scripture, theology, and church history will stand out. We're not looking for someone settled into shallow water.

We want someone who reads, studies, prays, and is growing—someone with a deep thought-life with God—and is hungry to grow further under direct pastoral mentorship.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is a pastoral builder with executive instincts. Relationally warm, naturally sociable, and energized by people—equally comfortable rallying volunteers, sitting with a hurting family, hosting a stage, and quietly building systems behind the scenes.

Self-starting. Carries weight without needing to be in charge of everything. Secure enough to thrive under clear leadership and ambitious enough to grow into executive-level pastoral leadership over time.

Connects naturally with students and young adults without trying too hard—relatable, not performative. Earns trust with parents. Develops volunteers. Teaches Scripture with conviction and humility. Shepherds people who don't yet know they need shepherding.

Not looking for a narrow ministry silo. Wants to help build a church.

COMPENSATION

Compensation is flexible because we're prioritizing the right person over a fixed budget. Base salary ranges depending on experience, fit, and scope, with a health insurance stipend available depending on family situation and need. We'll figure out a package that works.

HOW TO APPLY

We move fast—use whichever you prefer.

EMAIL

matt@orbitchurch.org

TEXT

501-944-9468

Send us the following—or bring along when we talk:

• Resume
• Links to anything that shows us who you are—Instagram, Facebook, podcast, blog, sermon archive, portfolio
• References we can call

We'll want to see how you carry yourself online, how you teach, and how the people who know you best speak about you. Don't overthink it. Send what you've got and let's start a conversation.