Meet Sunflower Bible Church

If you are looking for a vibrant, non-denominational church in the Kansas City metro, check out Sunflower Bible Church. They launched in January 2025 to reach the rapidly growing suburbs of Olathe, KS with the mission to faithfully shine the light of Jesus Christ for the glory of God to a fading world. Kansas is the "Sunflower State," and their name reflects their passion for the local community. Just one seed can produce an extraordinary harvest. They encourage every believer to Sow Abundantly, Grow Biblically, and Pray Always for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What sets Sunflower Bible Church apart is its authentic, quickly forming congregation where people are truly known and cared for. From the moment you step inside, you’ll find great coffee, handmade treats, and warm, genuine families who make you feel at home. Their intergenerational congregation and contemporary worship services offer something for everyone. They’re a down-to-earth church that welcomes people as they are, shaped by a staff culture that values unity, hard work, and servant leadership. 

The Gospel Coalition’s doctrinal convictions form Sunflower’s theological foundations and motivation for missions. They’re a “Sow First” church striving to invite 10,000 people to hear the Gospel preached while dedicating 20% of their budget to support pioneer missions in India, Ethiopia, and Panama. Their ambitious vision is to grow beyond 250 weekly attenders and expand west in their growing city. If you feel called to serve a Christ-centered church working hard to reach the lost, Sunflower Bible Church invites you to join their flourishing ministry. 

About the Associate Pastor

The Associate Pastor serves and partners with the Lead Pastor in overseeing the spiritual direction, preaching, ministry, outreach, and worship services of Sunflower Bible Church. His particular focus is to grow and shepherd the church’s discipleship pathway, focusing specifically on youth ministry and small group ministry. He must be committed to equipping our congregation to sow abundantly, grow biblically, and pray always for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Associate Pastor's responsibilities include:

Responbilities

• Next Generation: Develops and implements the church's vision and mission for youth ministry—middle school & high school.
• Small Groups: Helps the Lead Pastor in developing and implementing a small group ministry that engages the local community.
• Church Ministry: Collaborates with church staff and volunteers to facilitate weekly church ministry as well as special events, such as local outreach, retreats, conferences, outdoor baptisms, memorial services, etc.
• Preaching: Serves as a primary teacher for youth ministry and preaches to the whole church during Sunday Worship services about once a month.
• Worship: If the associate pastor has any musical skills, he’ll be encouraged to occasionally serve alongside our Worship Director in worship planning.
• Outreach: Oversees local community partnerships, outreach initiatives, and mission work along with other church leaders and staff.
• Communication: Clearly communicates the church's vision and values to the congregation and the wider community.
• Confession of Faith & Church Bylaws: Safeguards Sunflower Bible Church by upholding the church’s beliefs and non-denominational governance.

What you bring

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Associate Pastor:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree from Accredited Evangelical Seminary, Bible College, or Equivalent Training/Education Program
• 5 or more years of ministry experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must have good preaching and communication skills, serving as the primary teacher for youth ministry and preaching during Sunday Worship services about once a month.
• Able to clearly communicate the church's vision and values to both the congregation and the wider community.
• Must be skilled in leadership and team management, expected to be an excellent manager who develops strong teams and effectively assigns tasks to staff and volunteers.
• Possesses the passion and ability to develop and implement the church’s vision and mission for the Next Generation.
• Ability to help the Lead Pastor in developing and implementing the small group ministry.
• Must be motivated by relationships and have the natural ability to connect people to each other and to the ministry of Sunflower Bible Church. 
• Ability to serve as a true second chair leader who helps create the ministry culture.
• Proficient in using Planning Center Online

Personal Characteristics and Qualifications

• Biblical Qualifications for Deacon as Outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Sunflower’s Confession of Faith & Bylaws.
• Affirms The Gospel Coalition (TGC)’s Theological Vision for Ministry & Confession of FaithKey Distinctives: Affirms Christocentrism, Calvinism, Credobaptism, Complementarianism
• Adaptable and Flexible: Must be adaptable, able to pinch-hit in various ministries, and willing to grow with the church over time. They should be open and able to innovate based on this context and not just recreate things from previous experience.
• Connector: Relationally motivated, eager to connect with people, comfortable going into people's homes, and observant with strong emotional intelligence.
• Galvanizer: Will be excited to take the position and run with it to build something new and take ideas and make them realities.
• Authentic: Needs to show up consistently with authenticity and a genuine spirit.
• Teachable and Humble: Must be teachable and possess the overall humility valued and lived out by the leadership of Sunflower Bible Church.
• Visionary and Creative: Should be visionary, wanting to create things, and possess the freedom and creativity needed to help set the ministry culture in this growing church plant.
• Ownership: Needs to take ownership of the church as a leader, and be willing to pitch in and help with any task to further the mission.
• Committed to Ministry as a Calling: Must view the position as a calling from God that flows from daily devotion, not just a 9-to-5 job.

Work Environment

We believe the position of a pastor at any church is more than an 8-5 job: it’s a calling from God that flows from his daily devotion to the Bible. Jesus is the Chief Shepherd of the Church, and we expect that all our pastors reflect Christ in how they manage their work week. As such, we hope the typical week for Sunflower’s Associate Pastor will strive to reflect the 30/30/30 Model embodied in Jesus’ three offices as Prophet, Priest, and King. This means we want to see about 30% of his time dedicated to preaching, worship, and/or evangelistic outreach, 30% of his time dedicated to shepherding the congregation’s spiritual growth, and 30% of his time dedicated to leading the church, often through meetings. These responsibilities are vast, so it is expected the Associate Pastor will be an excellent team manager who enjoys developing strong teams and assigning tasks to elders, deacons, staff, and volunteers to accomplish the bigger vision and mission of Sunflower Bible Church. Ministry often requires non-standard work hours, such as working evenings, Sunday mornings, Christmas, and Easter. The Associate Pastor will be expected to work these hours while being given a healthy, biblical rhythm of rest.

What it's like to live in Olate, KS

Olathe is perfectly situated in Johnson County, striking a wonderful balance that truly offers the best of both worlds: small-town warmth with big-city convenience. Consistently ranked among the best places to live in the U.S., we’re celebrated for our top-tier schools and famously safe neighborhoods, making it a dream location for families. When you add in the thriving economy, powered by anchors like tech innovation, you get a stable, forward-looking community. While you're enjoying all that the area has to offer, don't forget you're in America’s heartland, which means you have easy access to some truly world-class barbecue that the region is known for!

A key element of life in Olathe is the abundance of opportunity and accessible recreation. Outside of work, residents enjoy beautiful parks and frequent family-friendly events throughout the year. The city is designed for ease and connection, and you’ll find that everything you need is close by. For instance, being located along major routes means you are perfectly positioned for short trips to KU’s college town of Lawrence, or for a quick 25-minute drive into Downtown Kansas City.

The true appeal of Olathe lies in its unbeatable location and welcoming, Midwestern charm. You have the unique advantage of enjoying a slower, comfortable pace of life—free from the hustle and crowdedness of a massive metropolis—while having immediate access to everything. Just a short drive away lies Kansas City, opening up a world of dining, culture, entertainment, museums, and professional sporting scenes. Whether you are looking to raise a family, launch a career, or simply seeking a high quality of life paired with modern amenities, Olathe offers that genuine, welcoming atmosphere that makes it a place you’ll feel proud to call home.