Disciples of Christ

WEEKLY ATTENDANCE: 290 - 450

Meet First Christian Church Great Bend

First Christian Church is a welcoming and community-minded church in Great Bend, Kansas, passionate about helping people encounter Jesus and grow in their faith. For over 128 years, First Christian Great Bend has proclaimed the truth of Jesus Christ and His gospel to the people of western Kansas. With a heart for both spiritual formation and practical service, the church seeks to create an environment where people of all generations can worship, build meaningful relationships, and live out their faith beyond Sunday mornings. As one of the largest Disciples of Christ churches in the country, First Christian Church is committed to being a visible presence in the Great Bend community, serving others and sharing the hope of the Gospel through its ministries and outreach. At its core, the church desires to be a place where people can draw near to God, discover their purpose, and become faithful followers of Jesus.

About the Senior Pastor

FCC Great Bend needs a minister who is strong in preaching, teaching, leadership, and care. As a growing, multi-staff, multi-service congregation, FCC needs someone who can handle Scripture well, communicate clearly, lead with vision, develop leaders, and guide the church with healthy systems and strong teamwork. Just as importantly, FCC needs a pastor who will help the church remain outward-focused, care for people well, and steward its people, resources, and ministry opportunities faithfully for the sake of Christ's mission.

The Senior Pastor's responsibilities include:

Spiritual Leadership

• Preach and teach biblically rooted messages.
• Provide spiritual guidance to the congregation.
• Foster a culture of prayer, discipleship, and community engagement.

Strategic Leadership

• Work with church leadership to assess the Church’s health and identify improvement areas.
• Develop and implement strategic plans for growth and ministry effectiveness.
• Develop and lead church culture. 

Administrative Oversight

• Oversee and collaborate with Church staff and leadership teams.
• Oversee Church programs, financial operations, and volunteer engagement.

Pastoral Care

• In partnership with other ministers and the Care Team, Provide counseling and support to members in need.
• Lead ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, etc. for members of the congregation. 

What you bring

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

Education and Experience

• 5+ years of ministry experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Educational Prerequisites: Must hold a Master of Divinity and ability to possess official ordination in the Disciples of Christ.
• Biblical & Theological Knowledge: Needs to "handle Scripture well" while aligning with the church’s essential and moderately conservative theological stances. 
• Cultural Knowledge: Must understand and be comfortable serving in a rural/Midwest community setting like Great Bend.
• Preaching & Clear Communication: Must be strong in preaching and teaching. Sermons should be concise, relatable, humble , approachable, well-contextualized, and applicable to everyday life across all generations.
• Visionary Leadership & Leader Development: Able to lead with vision, guide a growing multi-service congregation with a $630,000 budget, build healthy operational systems, and groom/develop emerging leaders.
• Relational & Pastoral Care: Strong relational skills with a heart for compassionate pastoral care—being "in tune" with people, caring well for the congregation, and becoming like "family" to the church.
• Outward-Focused Engagement: Skill in keeping the church outward-focused on community outreach and faithful stewardship of resources, particularly through the ministry of The Refuge worship service.
• Proven Ministry Experience: First Christian Great Bend needs an experienced, strong leader with experience in both traditional and modern worship settings as well as leading multiple services on Sunday morning.
• High Energy & Work Ethic: Must be energetic, hard-working ("willing to roll up their sleeves"), and dedicated to disciplined hours (8–5 daily schedule plus evenings and weekends).
• Organizational Discipline: Able to operate with structured discipline, including planning sermon series months in advance.
• Teamwork & Staff Oversight: Able to manage direct reports (3+ staff members) and work effectively within a staff-led organizational model under the oversight of a 9-member board

Personal Characteristics and Qualifications

• Relational & Compassionate: Must care deeply for people, be "in tune" with the congregation, and build close, family-like bonds with the church community.
• Relatable & Authentic: Appreciated for being relatable both inside and outside the pulpit, with a self-deprecating, humble, and approachable style.
• Proven, Mature Leadership: Be prepared to take the strong foundation left by a great legacy of pastoral ministry and continue the mission of First Christian to help ordinary people to live extraordinary lives for Christ .

What it's like to live in Great Bend, Kansas

Great Bend, Kansas, offers a welcoming, close-knit community with the charm of small-town living and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Located along the Arkansas River, Great Bend is known for its beautiful prairie landscapes, friendly neighborhoods, and strong sense of community. Residents enjoy an affordable cost of living, local restaurants and shops, community events, and easy access to outdoor attractions such as Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area and the Great Bend Zoo. With its combination of a relaxed pace, family-friendly atmosphere, and convenient location in central Kansas, Great Bend provides a comfortable place to call home for individuals and families looking for community and connection. In addition, Great Bend provides excellent schools both private and public plus we have a thriving community colleg