non - denominational

WEEKLY ATTENDANCE: 230

Meet Faith Christian Fellowship

Nestled in the quiet, scenic hills of Putnam County, Faith Christian Fellowship serves as a spiritual anchor for the rural town of Buffalo, West Virginia. It is a vibrant, growing community that gathers not just to fulfill a Sunday routine, but to help people of all generations experience God, find family, follow Jesus, and make a difference. In a region known for its welcoming neighbors, this church stands out as a laid-back, authentic refuge where people from all walks of life can find a true spiritual home.

What truly defines FCF's teaching and worship is a passionate commitment to the convergence of both Word and Spirit. The church pairs a high view of Scripture with an active openness to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Rather than flashy, high-production performances, Sunday morning services feature vibrant, contemporary worship that leaves room for spontaneous, Spirit-led moments, alongside solid, approachable teaching that translates deep scriptural truths into practical, everyday life.

Relationships here are grounded in uncompromising grace and truth. Through Journey Groups and a passionate investment in active youth and kids' ministries, FCF fosters a supportive environment where people are genuinely seen, valued, and shepherded. In this no-judgment space, pretension is cast aside in favor of real connection, inviting everyone to pull up a chair, experience God, and make a lasting difference in the community.

About the Worship and Associate Pastor

The Worship and Associate Pastor is a deeply relational, spiritual shepherd and partner to the Lead Pastor, helping to guide a warm, growing church family. Far from being a mere Sunday morning performer, the heartbeat of this role lies in loving and shepherding people throughout the church and in the worship ministry, nurturing the hearts of the worship and tech volunteers, mentoring them in both their craft and their spiritual walk, and ensuring team members feel genuinely discipled. On Sundays, this person will lead the congregation in vibrant, contemporary worship that leaves room for the spontaneous flow of the Holy Spirit, utilizing their own vocal and instrumental gifts to invite people into a sincere encounter with God. Throughout the week, this leader will wear multiple pastoral hats as a trusted ministry teammate, discipling and guiding the broader church and stepping up to preach and teach the Word, making them a vital co-laborer in shepherding FCF's close-knit community toward continued spiritual health and vitality.

The Worship and Associate Pastor's responsibilities include:

Worship Pastor Responsibilities

• Platform Leadership & Weekly Service Planning: Select weekly congregational songs under the guidance of the Spirit and lead corporate worship vocally and instrumentally, establishing a Spirit-led service flow in alignment with the church’s vision and direction.
• Worship Team Recruitment & Scheduling: Actively recruit, evaluate, onboard, and schedule a healthy rotation of instrumentalists, vocalists, and media roles to expand the team’s depth, aiming to build a sustainable pipeline that eventually secures multiple players for every instrument and role.
• Spiritual Discipleship of Volunteers: Shepherd the volunteers under your care spiritually first and musically second, fostering a healthy ministry culture marked by humility and unity to ensure team members are deeply discipled rather than just scheduled.
• Rehearsal & Repertoire Coordination: Direct band rehearsals and prepare all necessary charts, arrangements, and practice tracks ahead of time to build a robust running song list and maximize musical preparedness.
• Tech Booth Oversight: Oversee the audio, visual, camera, and slide ministries, actively training and equipping sound volunteers to run front-of-house audio and confidently troubleshoot technical issues.
• Technical Sound & Volunteer Development: Take hands-on ownership of the front-of-house sound, troubleshooting technical issues to elevate overall audio quality. Focus deeply on shepherding and training tech volunteers, building their skills and confidence so the booth and platform operate as one unified team.

Associate Pastor Responsibilities

• Preaching & Pulpit Ministry: Deliver biblically faithful, doctrinally sound, and approachable sermons in alignment with FCF’s theology, stepping in as the primary communicator when the Lead Pastor is away or as requested.
• Executive Collaboration & Strategy: Partner closely with the Lead Pastor as a strategic ministry partner, meeting regularly to brainstorm overarching church growth, evaluate ministry effectiveness, and collaborate on high-level decisions.
• Pastoral Care: Assist in providing direct shepherd care to the broader church community, which includes hospital visits, conducting weddings or funerals, and walking relationally with members through seasons of crisis and pain.
• Teaching and Discipleship: Support the expansion of FCF’s personal spiritual growth pipelines by helping lead or teach classes when needed, such as the "Next Steps" classes for newcomers.
• General Ministry Administration: Participate in meetings, contribute to ministry budgeting and equipment planning, and ensure all organizational efforts remain unified with the church's global mission.

What you bring

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

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma required, Ministry Training preferred.
• 3+ years of relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Pastoral Care and Shepherding: Ability to shepherd people well and provide pastoral care, conducting hospital visitations, officiating weddings and funerals, and walking relationally with members through seasons of personal trial and grief.
• Vocal and Instrumental Ability: Skill to lead congregational worship vocally while simultaneously playing a primary accompanying instrument.
• Worship Service Design and Flow Coordination: Skill in selecting weekly congregational songs under the direction of the Spirit and designing an overall service flow in structural alignment with the church vision and direction.
• Charismatic Worship Theology Knowledge: Sound theological understanding of modern charismatic expressions of worship, with the ability to facilitate spontaneous, Spirit-led moments on the platform during corporate gatherings.
• Band Leadership: Ability to organize and lead music rehearsals, prepare charts and rehearsal materials, arrange tracks, and break down vocal parts to guide a team of vocalists and instrumentalists.
• Sound Engineering and Technology Knowledge: Functional knowledge of live sound technology and audio mixing, with the ability to troubleshoot technical sound issues, make real-time adjustments, and train media volunteers.
• Worship Technology Systems: Ability to operate modern track-based software systems (such as Ableton, Multitracks, Planning Center, etc.) to help organize services, manage chord charts, and coordinate with teams.
• Biblical Exegesis and Preaching Skill: Ability to prepare and deliver biblically faithful, doctrinally sound, and highly approachable expository and topical sermons or teachings from the pulpit when requested.
• Strategic Collaboration and Executive Ability: Ability to operate as a strategic partner to the Lead Pastor, including participating in high-level ministry strategy sessions, evaluating organizational health, and brainstorming growth plans.
• Volunteer Recruitment and Onboarding: Ability to systematically identify, recruit, evaluate, and onboard new volunteers for both musical platform positions and technical booth roles.
• Organizational and Administrative Management: Ability to manage weekly administrative tasks, schedule dependable volunteer rotations, handle equipment planning and ministry budgeting, and maintain accurate rosters and calendars.
• Conflict Resolution and Team Management: Ability to manage diverse volunteer team dynamics, provide constructive feedback and correction, and establish healthy team boundaries and expectations.

Personal Characteristics and Qualifications

• Vibrant Personal Devotion: This person’s ministry must flow from a private, consistent life of prayer and devotion. They know the Lord deeply in their own heart rather than just displaying on-stage spiritual leadership.
• An Authentic and Humble Character: This person is fundamentally secure in their identity in Christ, allowing them to lead entirely free from ego or the need to prove themselves. They possess a quiet confidence that is naturally gentle, comfortable not having all the answers, and genuinely values the wisdom and history of those who came before them.
• Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit: This person must have a deep, personal sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's promptings, leaving room for spontaneous, Spirit-led moments on Sundays rather than sticking rigidly to a production schedule.
• A Grace-Filled, Loving Posture: This person must love the team and congregation deeply, fostering an environment of no judgment where people are given the space to grow.
• Empathetic Shepherd's Heart: This role requires a strong pastoral presence and the emotional capacity to walk with people through pain, grief, and difficult seasons of life.
• Strong Communication and Relational Depth: This person needs strong interpersonal and communication skills to handle different personalities, resolve conflicts, and maintain a close-knit team dynamic.
• Commitment to Excellence with Adaptability: This leader should possess a natural drive for quality in service planning and tech integration, yet remain highly flexible when immediate, real-time adjustments are required.
• Collaborative and Supportive Partnership: This person must be a supportive and loyal teammate, working in complete unity to execute the church's broader vision.
• An Empowering and Developing Mindset: This person delights in helping others succeed, guiding volunteers to become the best version of what they bring rather than trying to mold them into something they are not.
• Accountability with Compassion: This leader should be able to hold high standards of preparation and growth for volunteer teams, keeping people moving forward while maintaining a gentle, supportive delivery.
• Self-Motivation and Initiative: This person needs to be highly motivated, displaying the initiative to identify what needs to be improved and proactively create solutions.

What it's like to live in Buffalo, WV

Living in Buffalo, West Virginia offers a wonderfully balanced rhythm of life where you can truly slow down without feeling isolated. Tucked away in a peaceful, rural setting, it has that classic small-town feel where the atmosphere is naturally quiet, safe, and welcoming. Neighbors here genuinely look out for one another, creating a close-knit environment where you quickly feel like part of a caring community. What makes Buffalo particularly special is its prime location. You get to enjoy the scenic freedom of country living while being conveniently nestled between Charleston and Huntington. Whether you need a quick commute or a trip into the city, everything you need is just a short drive away.

For families, Buffalo and the surrounding Putnam County area are an exceptional place to call home. Deeply rooted in values of faith and family, the local culture naturally prioritizes relationships and brings people together. Putnam County is known for its top-tier school system, where the entire community rallies around local school events, academics, and athletics. Beyond the classroom, kids have access to an abundance of youth sports programs and recreational activities. With plenty of open outdoor space to explore, it is the kind of environment where kids can safely play outside and grow up with strong roots.

It is also an exciting time to settle into this area, as Putnam County stands as one of the fastest-growing regions in the state. While maintaining its scenic charm and unhurried pace, the county offers a stable and expanding local economy. Residents benefit from solid job opportunities across various sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and administrative fields. Living in Buffalo means enjoying the best of both worlds: a serene, country retreat grounded in community values, paired with the practical convenience and bright future of a flourishing county.