What is the congregation’s or organization’s vision for ministry? Additionally describe how this vision is lived out.
Long Creek has a very active and generous congregation. Mission work is a focus of the church, and is well supported by the congregation, both locally and around the world. A few of our recent activities are
- Support of the Presbytery and its mission, including its commitment to raise and contribute $10,000 to the H.O.P.E campaign
- Supporting Camp Grier by sending our youth over the years and by assisting with repairs and upkeep with the Camp Grier facilities.
- Sending our youth to Triennium and supporting them in raising the funds for these trips
- Multiple mission trips to our partner church in Guatemala
- Participation in Gaston Area Presbyterians (GAP), which supports activities such as Habitat for Humanity, recently finishing their 13th house
- Supporting the Bessemer City Crisis Center
- Each summer at Vacation Bible School, the children collect change for a local charity, often the Bessemer City Crisis Center, instilling the importance of charity to others at an early age.
- Long Creek provides support to Good Hope Presbyterian Church, an African American congregation with ties to Long Creek, for the internet access they needed as part of an afterschool program for youth.
- For many years, the church, led by the Women of the Church (WOC), has supported the Black Mountain Children’s Home by providing supplies and hosting events for the residents.
- The WOC are very active in the community and provide time and support to Presbytery causes.
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How do you feel called to reach out to address the emerging needs of your community or constituency?
Long Creek as a long history of involvement with both our local and world-wide community needs. We participate in many local missions in our community.
Our church also supports many Presbytery-led missions which help our both our local communities and others around the world. Long Creek is a longtime supporter of the 5 cents a meal program. We have made a commitment to contribute $10.000 over five years to the H.O.P.E campaign. For 25 years, Long Creek has partnered with Jesus El Buen Pastor, a congregation in Guatemala, and has sent members there multiple times. This past year, we also sent our first member to Malawi.
We have an active youth program which meets weekly. They have participated in activities such as Samaritan’s Purse, our annual Bible School, and lead worship from time to time. Many of the youth have attended Triennium, and the congregation has supported their fundraisers to pay for their trips. Our annual Bible School is attended by many young people in the community
Long Creek has always had a very active Women of the Church ministry. In addition to their monthly bible studies, they actively support missions in our community as well as other Presbytery-supported missions.
Our Men of the Church are also involved in the activities of the church. They meet monthly for fellowship at a local restaurant. They are very active with the Gaston Area Presbyterians (GAP), and often provide their skills to build the GAP-sponsored Habitat for Humanity homes.
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How will this position help you to reach your vision and mission goals?
Our members seek spiritual development and a better understanding of God’s word and how we can best put it into action into our lives. Our new minister will use their skills in preaching and teaching to encourage and remind us of who we are as Christians and what we need to do to become more like Jesus.
Our new minister will be a good example and leader in work within the church and outreach to our visitors and our community. He or she will not do all the work but will be able to recognize and encourage talent within the congregation to perform the tasks we need to achieve.
Our new minister will be able to lead the congregation in a prayerful sermon that teaches the gospels and the love of Christ. He or she will travel with us on our individual spiritual journeys, helping, guiding and praying for us as we seek to be better disciples.
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Provide a description of the characteristics needed by the person who is open to being called to this congregation and or organization.
The congregation of Long Creek is seeking a pastor who is motivated spiritually and who is called to share the word of God through his or her ministry. We seek a pastor who has the ability to relate to everyone and see the value of the diversity of the congregation and what each member can offer. We seek a pastor who can motivate the congregation and assist with organization of community outreach and existing mission work. The minister that God has chosen for us will be someone who is not afraid to identify opportunities for change and growth, and who will be able to help the congregation embrace those changes and move forward.
We believe the minister who will be best for Long Creek will have some experience, but we are also willing to work with a new minister who fits the needs of Long Creek. Alternatively, our new minister may be someone who is further along in ministry, but who is interested in working with a smaller congregation. Long Creek has a long history, and our next minister will be able to recognize and preserve good traditions and history while, at the same time, be flexible enough to help us do new things to help the congregation sustain and grow. It is very important that our new minister be comfortable with visitation and pastoral care for our members who may be sick, in need, or unable to attend services and activities at the church. The right minister for Long Creek will be someone who wants to learn and grow in their walk with God, and to help our congregation do the same.
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What specific tasks, assignments, and program areas will this person have responsibility?
Long Creek is a church with a small but strong core membership. The person called by God to be our minister will serve as a solo pastor. Our new minister will be asked to lead us as we embrace a future with opportunities and challenges.
- Lead worship by preaching the Word of God and planning worship services
- Lead Bible studies for our adult members
- Provide pastoral care to our members who are unable to attend services and activities at the church due to illness or aging
- Officiate at weddings and counsel couples in preparation for marriage
- Officiate at funerals and provide support and ministry to those in their last stages of life as well as support those who grieve
- Long Creek has a Sunday school program that has been primarily focused on adults due to the small number of young children at our church. However, we recently began a class for our growing number of children. Our new minister would not be expected to teach Sunday school, but would be expected to help us grow our program
- Build relationships with other ministers and churches and support any combined activities and missions
- Be actively involved in the work of the Presbytery
- Moderate the church’s Session, and serve as a conduit to Presbytery
- As a small congregation, we recognize our need to reach out to the community and grow our church. We need help, ideas, and support to make this happen. We want our new minister to support our efforts in this task, particularly in growing our youth programs.
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