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WEEKLY ATTENDANCE: 100

Meet The Tabernacle Church

The Tabernacle is a warm, historic faith community located in the lakeside city of Kenosha, Wisconsin, perfectly situated between the bustle of Milwaukee and Chicago. More than just a place to worship on Sundays, the church is built on a mission to encourage and equip families to follow Jesus Christ. Whether you are looking for a church with deep roots in the community or a place to grow in your faith, The Tabernacle offers an authentic environment where people from all backgrounds can find a spiritual home.

At the center of everything they do is a commitment to the Word of God. They hold a high view of Scripture, prioritizing expository preaching and believing the Bible is the inerrant source of truth. Their weekend services are characterized by simple excellence, avoiding theatrical performance in favor of genuine worship and substantive teaching that provides spiritual "meat" rather than watered-down content, ensuring a meaningful connection with God for every generation.

The heart of The Tabernacle is seen in its desire to function as a close-knit family that truly cares for one another. Through Life Groups and a renewed focus on the next generation, they are passionate about nurturing disciples who are devoted to gathering, growing, giving, and going. The Tabernacle is like a welcoming extended family where pretension is left at the door, relationships are genuine, and everyone is invited to pull up a chair and join in the work of the Gospel.

About the Associate Pastor

The role of Associate Pastor at The Tabernacle is a heart-centered invitation to shepherd a historic, tight-knit community where making disciples is treated as a way of life rather than just a program. Reporting directly to the Senior Pastor, this leader will devote the majority of his time to building a vibrant youth ministry from the ground up, creating a discipleship pathway where students can connect deeply with Jesus and the wider church family. In addition to investing in students, this pastor will serve as a versatile leader who manages the church’s social media presence and steps into the pulpit occasionally to provide sound, expository teaching. This role is perfect for a utility player who brings a unique secondary strength to the table such as leading worship, overseeing family ministry, or driving discipleship. This pastor is a true partner in ministry, engaging in the life of The Tabernacle through pastoral care and the intentional discipleship of volunteers to help them follow Jesus.

The Associate Pastor's responsibilities include:

Responsibilities

• Spearhead the revitalization of the youth ministry, moving from seasonal events to a consistent, thriving discipleship program that creates intentional space for middle and high school students to connect and grow in their faith.
• Actively engage students on their turf through visiting campuses, attending games, and being visible in the community to build authentic relationships and draw unchurched families into the body and make The Tabernacle feel like home for them.
• Take full ownership of the church’s digital presence, managing social media channels for both the youth ministry and the main church to increase visibility and connection with the Kenosha community.
• Serve as a teaching voice alongside the Senior Pastor, consistently delivering biblically sound, expository sermons.
• Bring a distinct secondary strength to the staff team, such as leading worship, overseeing family ministry, driving adult discipleship, or something else that would elevate and round out the church’s ministry capabilities.
• Recruit, train, and spiritually nurture a team of volunteers, ensuring that ministry is shared and that leaders are equipped to shepherd the congregation and students effectively.
• Design and implement a clear path for spiritual growth that helps students and families move from being casual attendees to deep, devoted followers of Jesus.
• Partner with the Senior Pastor in the general shepherding of the church family, including pastoral care, leading membership classes, and providing biblical counseling.
• Model and teach a high view of Scripture in all settings, ensuring that youth and adult instruction remains deep, gospel-centered, and aligned with the church’s commitment to biblical teaching.

What you bring

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

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• 3+ years of ministry related experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• The entrepreneurial drive and strategic vision to rebuild a student ministry from the ground up, creating a consistent, discipleship-focused structure where none currently exists.
• The ability to plan ahead and both design and implement an intentional spiritual pathway that grounds students in Scripture and fosters long-term maturity.
• A functional understanding of modern social media platforms to manage and expand the digital footprint for both the youth ministry and the wider church.
• The ability to prepare and deliver biblically rich, expository sermons 6–10 times a year that hold the attention of a multi-generational audience.
• A scholarly understanding of Scripture with an unshakeable commitment to sound doctrine.
• A natural ability to connect with students and families with a value for the ministry of presence, being present and intentional at schools, ball games, community events, and places where families are living life.
• The ability to be flexible and to serve as a utility player on staff,being willing to contribute to all areas of the ministry and round out the church’s ministry.
• The emotional maturity to bridge the gap between a youth culture and an older congregation, ensuring students are integrated into the wider church family.
• The ability to recruit, train, and deploy volunteers, ensuring that the work of the ministry is shared and sustainable rather than centered on one individual or small volunteer group.
• The heart and capacity to share the load of general pastoral care, including conducting hospital visits, leading membership classes, and providing biblical counsel to families.

Personal Characteristics and Qualifications

• Authentic: Someone who is genuine and cares about real honest connection.
• Theologically Sound: A principled man who loves sound doctrine with no temptation to drift or sway, keeping the church a counter-cultural presence in the world.
• Relational: A connectional person who naturally makes people feel seen and enjoys living life with people rather than remaining isolated.
• Entrepreneurial: A self-starter with the drive to build something new where nothing currently exists, capable of taking initiative without needing a predecessor's roadmap.
• Outward-Focused: A community-minded leader who is eager to leave the office to meet people where they are rather than waiting for them to come to the church.
• Connector: Relationally motivated, eager to connect with people, comfortable going into people’s homes, and observant with strong emotional intelligence.
• Collaborative: A team player who desires to work in partnership with the Senior Pastor and lay leaders, avoiding silos in favor of a unified approach to ministry.
• Family-Oriented: A man who loves his own family and has a heart for modeling a healthy home life for the congregation.
• Grounded: A resilient and mature leader who is not easily shaken, capable of navigating the realities of ministry with emotional intelligence.
• Humility: A teachable spirit who values "simple excellence" and is willing to serve alongside volunteers to get the job done.

What it's like to live in Kenosha, WI

Kenosha is a lakeside city that blends small-town warmth with the amenities of a larger metro area, making it an appealing place to live, raise a family, and serve in ministry. It's set on Lake Michigan, and its location between Milwaukee and Chicago gives residents both natural beauty and big-city access. Kenosha sits on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, offering miles of shoreline, beaches, marinas, and lakefront parks that make the city feel like a year-round retreat. Sunrises over the water, walkable harbor areas, and a historic lighthouse contribute to a sense of place that is both peaceful and inspiring for life and ministry. 

The cost of living in Kenosha is generally lower than the national average, which makes homeownership and family life more attainable for those in church work. Neighborhoods have a suburban feel with many residents owning their homes, and the city is known as a good place for families, retirees, and professionals alike. Kenosha offers numerous parks, playgrounds (including inclusive, disability-friendly spaces), and safe sidewalks, which are especially attractive to families with children. The compact, walkable downtown along the lake makes it easy to enjoy parks, coffee shops, and events without long commutes or heavy traffic.

For a city its size, Kenosha has a surprisingly rich cultural life, including the Kenosha Public Museum, Dinosaur Discovery Museum, and Civil War Museum along the lakefront. Seasonal festivals, farmers and harbor markets, concerts, and art events create regular opportunities to connect with neighbors and build relationships outside the church walls. Kenosha is the fourth-most populous city in Wisconsin and sits almost exactly between Milwaukee and Chicago, giving residents easy access to airports, professional sports, specialized medical care, and cultural attractions while still enjoying a slower daily pace. Major regional employers, local colleges like the University of Wisconsin–Parkside and Carthage College, and an expanding job market contribute to a stable community with diverse people to reach and serve.