NON-DENOMINATIONAL

WEEKLY ATTENDANCE: 150-175

Meet Autumn Ridge Community Church

If you're looking for a church in the Ellijay, Georgia area, Autumn Ridge Community Church is a genuinely authentic and welcoming community built on the power of the gospel. This isn't just a saying; it’s the core of their mission to glorify God by training people to learn the gospel, love the gospel, and live out the gospel in their lives, in their community, and to the ends of the earth. Everything they do is gospel-centered, with the hope that you experience deep, intimate relationships where life is truly lived together. 

This gospel-centered focus is grounded in a strong commitment to Scripture and expository preaching, Missional Communities, and gender-specific Transformation Groups that actively serve the area, showing that their faith isn't just for Sunday mornings. The church was born out of a shared burden to reach the 83% of Gilmer County's population that wasn't regularly involved in a local, Bible-believing church. They truly hope to see a gospel-shaped globe come through a gospel-shaped Gilmer County.

About the Pastor of Families

The Pastor of Families is a newly created, critical role at Autumn Ridge Community Church designed to oversee the church's NextGen ministries from "gestation to graduation" (birth through 12th grade). Rather than simply running youth programs, this Pastor of Families will focus on Gospel centrality by actively coming alongside parents and guardians to equip them as the primary disciple-makers for their children. The ideal candidate has a track record of being a mature, collaborative self-starter who excels as an "equipper". In this role, they will be responsible for mentoring, training, and releasing a team of volunteer leaders across all age groups—including nursery, preschool, elementary, and youth ministries—to execute a cohesive discipleship strategy that supports the whole family.

The Pastor of Families' responsibilities include:

• Overseeing NextGen Ministries: Leading the children's and student ministries from "gestation to graduation," covering ages from birth through 12th grade.
• Equipping Parents: Taking a gospel-centered approach to come alongside parents and guardians, equipping them to serve as the primary disciple-makers for their children.
• Supervising Volunteers: Directly supervising, mentoring, and training the volunteer team leads who run the youth, 3rd-5th grade, K-2nd grade, preschool, and nursery ministries, rather than overseeing paid staff.
• Developing Strategy: Implementing a cohesive discipleship strategy and vision that supports and ministers to the entire family.
• Managing Logistics: Handling the practical components of the ministry, including volunteer management, pastoral care for the age group, and ensuring there is a strong, viable curriculum.
• Empowering Leaders: Acting as an "equipper" who trains, collaborates with, and releases volunteers to do the work of the ministry, supporting them as they execute the plan
• Supports the Senior Pastor in the Pastoral functions at Autumn Ridge Community Church
• Relational Ministry & Outreach

What you bring

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

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• A seminary degree is a bonus.
• 5-10 Years of ministry experience or experience in a related field is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Personal parenting experience is highly valued, as it provides confidence when equipping other parents and guardians.
• Theological Alignment.
• Equipping and Mentoring of NextGen.
• Curriculum Implementation and Training.
• Multi-Generational Communication: The unique ability to relate effectively to both children/students (birth through 12th grade) and their parents.
• Pastoral Care: The capacity to genuinely love, care for, and support the whole family, demonstrating a comprehensive vision for family ministry rather than just running isolated programs.
• Strategic Alignment: The ability to design and execute a NextGen strategy that seamlessly fits into the church's existing discipleship framework (Missional Communities and Transformation Groups) rather than creating a siloed ministry.

Personal Characteristics and Qualifications

• Healthy Assertiveness: The Lead Pastor, Davis Lacey, tends to be an introvert who is de-energized by conflict, so the ideal candidate will have the ability to be professionally assertive, bring another level of adult maturity to the room, and constructively engage in healthy dialogue.
• Emotional Maturity and Flexibility: The candidate should be flexible, not rigid or controlling, and capable of handling strong personalities.
• Self-Starter and Driven: Must possess a strong work ethic and mature character, capable of taking initiative without needing direct, step-by-step instruction. The church describes the ideal fit as "low maintenance, high yield".
• Collaborative Leadership: The skill to be a genuine colleague and partner to the Lead Pastor, working collaboratively rather than acting as a "renegade" or "maverick".

What it's like to live in Ellijay, GA

Living in Ellijay, Georgia, offers a beautiful blend of peaceful, rural living and convenient access to urban amenities. Known as the historic county seat of Gilmer County and the "Apple Capital of Georgia," Ellijay is a proud Appalachian Trail Community as well as the Mountain Biking Capital of Georgia.

Nestled in the stunning Appalachian foothills, the area is known for its breathtaking mountain vistas, cold clear rivers, and endless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you want to go biking and hiking, take a quiet walk in the woods, spend a day on the lake, or simply walk outside at night to see the stars, Ellijay provides the perfect environment to unplug and slow down.

 The community is highly connected and not at all remote. Located just an hour from Atlanta, residents have quick access to the Atlanta airport, world-class medical facilities, dining, and shopping. For sports fans, this means you are just a short drive away from catching a Braves, Falcons, Hawks, or Atlanta United game.

Locally, there is almost always something happening on the downtown Square, from live music, car shows, and carnivals to specialty shops, antique sales, and great restaurants. The highlight of the year is the highly anticipated Apple Festival each October.

The community itself is growing, boasting a well-informed and educated population. Ultimately, Ellijay is a place where you can be deeply rooted in a relaxed, outdoor lifestyle while staying easily connected to the globe and all the conveniences of the city.