1

Helping People Come to Christ,

Grow in Christ and Serve for Christ

Community Profile

Church Profile

Pastor Profile

Shiloh Community Church 8197 Heth Street

Orleans, MI 48865 616.761.3584

www.shilohcc.org

2

Shiloh Church Profile Our Mission: Helping people Come to Christ, Grow in Christ and Serve for Christ Our Vision: COME TO CHRIST We envision leveraging our strengths as a regional church to minister to potentially over 82,000 people in the surrounding area. Many people will be drawn to Shiloh because of our grace-oriented acceptance, our dynamic pastors and leaders and the authenticity of our lives lived according to our core values! With evangelism as a high priority, we envision a church that has grown in attendance from an average of 450 to 600 people, in the next 3 years – an increase of 33%! We envision SCC as a place where the lost are gently lead to Christ—a place where new Christians value the growth and maturity they experience from exposure to the Word of God and the richness of the fellowship with the Shiloh family. GROW IN CHRIST In an effort to communicate a hunger and thirst for the knowledge of our Lord, we envision consistent and effective training and development programs. As a result, deployment of small group leaders, lay leaders, children and youth ministry leaders will follow. We envision diverse worship experiences with people from all ethnic backgrounds with different skill sets for corporate worship and small group settings flowing from the gifts and talents discovered through evaluation and assimilation processes. As Shiloh grows, the people of the community are affected by our service. Attendees pursue knowledge to satisfy the hunger and thirst they have developed for God’s Word by connecting with a small group and attending our weekend worship services. In addition, developing relationships in a small group creates a sense of belonging as well as an atmosphere of learning and growing in our Lord Jesus Christ! People are filled with excited expectation for the opportunity to seek more knowledge of how our Creator has wired us! Because of their exposure to the Word, people will grow in their capacity to love which enables them to experience deeper relationships, richer prayer lives, deeper and richer friendships and healthier marriages. Christians feel better equipped and more confident in their ability to serve. SERVE CHRIST We envision a church where love is flowing from Christ through His people to meet the needs of the lost, broken-hearted, sick, and hungry beginning with visitation, prayer, counseling, Shiloh’s food pantry, and many other current and evolving ministries. We envision a church where the people are passionate to serve and anxious to participate in the dynamic worship services! As the desire to be involved increases, we envision a church with 85% involvement in one or more of Shiloh’s various ministries.

We envision a church that is striving to fulfill the Great Commission with an effective outreach, a growing body of believers prepared for service and a core of leaders who consistently serve to the glory of God!

3

SHILOH STRATEGIC PLAN

Our Mission: Helping People Come to Christ, Grow in Christ, Serve for Christ

Our Values: Our Actual Values Dynamic Preaching

Grace-Oriented Acceptance Vibrant Worship

Bible Teaching and Knowledge Shepherding Members

Our Aspirational Values

Evangelism Children and Youth

Small Groups

Our Goals and Objectives 1. Offer Regular Baptism Classes/Services-8/11 2. Train Leaders and Start 10 Small Groups -8/11

3. Upgrade the Church Constitution - 9/11 4. Offer a Leadership Training course - 01/12 5. Build an Assimilation Ministry – 8/11 6. Select a Church Leadership Board -11/11 7. Offer a New Members Class Fall - 10/11

8 Conduct 4 Celebration Sundays 9. Conduct a financial audit - 12/11 10. Increase missions giving – 06/12 11. Conduct Outreach Month - 08/11 12. Select Pastor Search Team -10/11 13. Select a new Senior Pastor 14. Celebrate the SCC Regrouping/Refocusing

Our Strategy (Process To Make Disciples):

Come to Christ Grow in Christ Serve Christ

Evangelizing Assimilating Worshipping Maturing Serving Sending

Take the message of hope and life in Christ the Greater Shiloh Region (Finding People)

Include every- one that God sends our way in meaningful relationships (Keeping People)

Focus our affections on God, declaring His worthiness to receive all glory & honor

Reproduce the image of Christ in ourselves and others

Serve others through the various ministries of the church as God has gifted each individual

Take the message of hope and life in Christ to the “ends of the earth.”

Evangelism Training Plan Evan. Outreaches Funerals Weddings

Assimilation Process Membership Process 5th Sunday Celebrations Men/Women Events

Greeters Servers Music A/V Team Messages Welcome Center Ordinances

Children Ministries Youth Ministries Small Groups Seminars

Ministry Placement Support Ministries

- Committees - Teams

Community Service Global Missions

Outreach Team*

Assimilation Team

Worship Team

Disciple-ship Team

Mobilization Team*

Missions Team*

*Teams that can be further developed under the next Senior Past

4

History:

Founded in the 1890’s Closed during the Great Depression and then reopened after WW II

Pastors:

Pastored for 49 years by Pastor Ken Harger (1958-2007) Pastored by his son, Kendall Harger from 2007-2010 Served by Interim Pastor; Rev. Tom Harris of Interim Pastor Ministries 2010-2011

Current Condition:

The transition in 2007 from father to son was not successful. The church descended during and after the passing of the baton. In the Fall of 2010, the church was out of money and could not make payroll. Three Administrative Assistants were released quickly. The congregation was upset and lost confidence in the Pastor and Board. Senior Pastor, Kendall Hargar resigned in October 2010 to take a new church. Rev. Tom Harris, a church restoration specialist, was called as Interim Pastor. Rev. Harris conducted 135 one-on-one interviews and administered diagnostics. Rev. Harris utilized Church Resource Ministries to assist in the assessment. A Transition Team of 17 was appointed in April 2010 and began meeting. They have met 20 times to be trained and resourced for leadership. The Pastoral Search Committee has come from this team. The new Leadership Board has also been identified from this team. The church has regrouped and refocused and been prepared for its future.

Size:

Grew from 40 in 1958 to 850 in 2000. Descended to the 400’s in the last decade. Current attendance is 430. Membership 300. Stable.

Ages:

The average age at SCC is 53 years. The predominant age group at SCC is the 55-64 year olds (26% of the church). 81% of the congregation is over 45 years. Only 10% of the congregation is between the ages of 15-34 years.

5

Staff:

One Senior and One Associate Pastor. Part time youth and children’s directors. Administrative Assistant. Janitor and Facilities handyman.

Primary Ministries:

3 weekend services (2 Traditional and 1 Contemporary). 12 Small “Life” Groups. Children Classes during the 10:30 service. Wednesday night Jr. and Sr. High youth ministry.

Finances:

Annual Budget: $400,000 with 52 % for Personnel Mortgage: $2852 per month plus $20,000 bond, both to be paid off in two years. Funds on Hand: $130,000 both general and restricted (mortgage, memorials, etc.)

Facilities:

Worship Center that seats 500. All purpose room (Gymnasium) that can accommodate groups up to 350. Youth room that can accommodate 50. 4 staff offices plus a receptionist area. All facilities in very good condition. Grounds are well cared for.

Recent Accomplishments:

30 baptized thus far in 2011. 30 New Members in 2011. New Constitution/By-Laws. New Church Board. New Pastor Search Team Launch New Small Group and Assimilation Programs

6

SWOT Analysis Strengths:

A regrouped and refocused congregation.

A grace-based environment (casual, come as you are, acceptance).

The strong reputation Shiloh has earned in the community.

New, empowered Leadership Board.

Staff: competent, capable and committed.

85% of surveyed want SCC to grow and believe it has good potential to grow.

92 % are willing to spend time serving our mission, 35% are willing to spend four or more hours – and 8% are willing to spend 8-15 hours.

85% are willing to have SCC try new ways of ministry to reach those who don't

know Christ in the region.

The overall weekend worship service experience was rated Good or Excellent by 89% of the survey respondents.

Weaknesses:

Instrumental and Vocal breadth and depth in the music department, especially in the contemporary service department.

The ratio of males (37%) to females (63%) is a weakness at SCC.

The Millennial Generation is missing at SCC. Only 10% of the congregation is

between the ages of 15-34 years.

Small Pastoral/Director/Support staff: A church the size of Shiloh should have 3 full time Pastors or Ministry Directors. Yet, given the economics of our community and the giving of our church, currently we can only staff two full-time Pastors. Yet, the Interim Pastor is seeking to prepare the church to staff and fund a new pastor/director position under the new Pastor.

7

Opportunities:

To empower leaders: The Leadership Development Ministry was rated “Good” or “Excellent” by only 49% of respondents.

Dynamic Outreach: 98% of survey respondents are willing to spend one or more

hours a week in outreach if they are well trained. 38% are willing to spend 11 or more hours!

Potential for effective evangelism: 98% of survey respondents said they have close

non-Christian friends, 97% believe Christians should share their faith and 58% shared their faith with a non-believer in the last year. Moreover, 73% feel confident to share the gospel.

In August of 2013, $2852 per month will be freed up from mortgage to be used for

ministry. Threats:

Aging Congregation, average age of 53; few between the ages of 20-40.

One third of our congregation is not deeply assimilated. 34% have 7 or fewer friends at SCC and are much more likely to leave than those with 8 or more.

Loss of good paying jobs in our region.

8

Shiloh Community Profile

Shiloh Community Church is located 35 miles NE of Grand Rapids, MI. SCC is a rural church located just 2 miles east of 330 acre Long Lake, a recreational hub for the area offering lakeside homes, boating, fishing and scenic views. The countryside around SCC is lovely with fields, barns, lakes and forests. The immediate borough of Shiloh is an unincorporated community made up of about 16 homes. Within 15 miles of SCC reside 82,000 people. These folks live in three main towns; Ionia, 10 miles to the south, Belding, 10 miles to the west and Greenville, 16 miles to the Northwest. Their respective populations are: Ionia – 12,000, Belding – 6,000, Greenville -12,000. The top two household segments in SCC’s ministry area are Established Country Families (28%) and Rural Working Families (28%), which make up 56% of the population in the target area. As all of Michigan, unemployment is an issue in Shiloh’s area. Ionia, the county where SCC is located has an unemployment rate of 11%. The county just to the North of Shiloh, Montcalm, has an unemployment rate of 14%. About 4% of the SCC families are unemployed. In July 2009 the estimated median household income in Belding our closest town of 6,000 was $32,996 as compared to $45,255 for the state of Michigan as a whole. http://www.city-data.com/city/Belding-Michigan.html Our county of Ionia has a population of 63,000 and a median household income in 2009 of $46,926 with 16% below the poverty line (US Census). Other Community facts:

70% of the area is unchurched.

93% is white, 4% is black and 3% is Hispanic.

7% have a 4-year college degree.

Community College of 1,300 is 13 miles to the Northwest.

Grand Rapids and Lansing, two of our closest cities, have excellent amenities (excellent colleges and universities, restaurants, shopping, theatre, sporting events)

Housing is very affordable.

Michigan is an outdoors state (hunting, fishing, boating, biking and camping).

9

Shiloh Senior Pastor Profile

I. Character

A. Has a passionate devotion for Christ

B. Has a Godly Character (I Timothy 3 and Titus 1)

C. Is a person of prayer and the spiritual disciplines

II. Competencies

A. Strong relationship skills: Outgoing, likeability, and friendly.

B. Gift of leadership:

Track record of building things

Can continually cast vision and strategies to reach our mission

Motivates people and teams to action

Leads the way in gathering resources necessary to complete the tasks,

Manages staff well and capable of recruiting high capacity future staff

Competent in Confliction Resolution

C. Dynamic, Inspiring Biblical Preacher: Biblically accurate, clear, relevant, interesting, compelling.

D. Passion and Plan for evangelism and to grow the church

E. Ability to reach the 25-50 age group F. Appreciation, care and love for seniors since 43% of SCC is retired. G. Strong track record in attracting men (SCC is only 37% male). III. Chemistry

A. The Pastoral Candidate’s values and mission match ours.

B. The Pastoral Candidate is a cultural fit for our church and community.

C. Good affinity between the Pastoral Candidate and our people.

10

IV. Job Description A. The Senior Pastor shall be the spiritual, missional and administrative leader of the Church. The Senior Pastor shall have oversight and care of all the interests of the church and of all the departments of its work, both spiritual and temporal (I Peter 5:2; I Tim. 3:5; 5:17). The Pastor’s primary responsibility is to lead the church in its mission of “helping people come to Christ, grow in Christ and serve for Christ.” B. Responsibilities of the Senior Pastor: 1. Feed the Church

Preach and teach God’s Word with accuracy, clarity, conviction, and relevance.

Guard the Church from doctrinal error. 2. Lead the Church

Provide leadership and direction for the church. Forge, with the Leadership Board, the church’s vision & plans. Implement and accomplish the church’s mission and vision. Manifest a passion/plan to reach the lost and mature the found. Equip and mentor existing and emerging leaders and workers. Select, build and empower ministry leaders and teams. Direct and supervise the Associate ministry and support staff. Hire and dismiss part time ministry staff and support staff upon

consultation with the Leadership Board. 3. Care for the Church

Love the flock of God as Christ loves the Church. Minister to those with spiritual needs. Ensure that the sick, shut-in and bereaved are ministered to either

personally or by staff. Ensure that weddings, funerals, baptisms, baby dedications and other

such services are performed either personally or by staff. V. Accountability of the Senior Pastor: The Senior Pastor shall be accountable to the Leadership Board and shall make regular reports to them. The Leadership Board shall conduct an annual job review of the Senior Pastor.

11

VI. Nine Distinctive Qualities Desirable in Shiloh’s Next Pastor

1. An Inspiring Walk with Christ

Our pastor will have pioneered the faith and is ready to take people to places with God that He has been himself. Our people desire to see the faith in action that they are being invited to live out. They want to “see the walk” and not just “hear the talk.”

2. An understanding of and appreciation for a rural, small town setting

Our church family is comprised of down to earth, working, small town and rural people. Many of our affiliates are High School Graduates, and 6% are college graduates. Some of our members are professional but most of our people are regular, hard working people. Our next Pastor needs to be able to understand, appreciate and enjoy working with the types of people that make up our church. He needs to be “real” and compatible with our church and community. Shiloh is situated in the country, but within 14 miles are three towns with populations of 6-10,000 each. These towns have shopping, restaurants, regional hospitals and most of the services that one would need. Grand Rapids, a city of 600,000 is only 40 miles away and we are only 60 miles from Lansing, the state capital. These cities provide amenities such as fine dining, professional sports, universities, museums, theatre, shopping and cultural events.

3. Some interest in the “outdoors.”

Many Shiloh folks like to hunt, fish, snowmobile, camp, bike, play sports, go to the Lake and be “outdoors.” Shiloh needs someone with some interest in the outdoors. Perhaps our next Pastor, will have grown up in the Midwest and have memories of going to the farm in the summer to visit relatives.

4. A heart for hurting people

The Pastor, who grew Shiloh from 50 to what it is today, was a shepherd with a mercy gift. He was the consummate “visiting” Pastor. He was there to pray with congregants before their surgeries, or walk with them as they lost a loved one. He had empathy for hurting people, and he accepted the down and out with open arms. We recognize that there was only one of him, but still in our older folks minds, they associate the role of a Pastor with such care and attention.

5. A compassionate heart for both the young and old

Shiloh has two traditional services and one contemporary service. The two traditional services have about 200 in total attendance and the one contemporary service that has about the same. Our average age is 53 and 43% of our church is retired; therefore, we have the challenge of ministering to an older base while at the same time reaching and retaining younger people.

12

6. An appreciation for Michigan weather

Michigan has one of the nicest summers in the nation. Shiloh is only 60 minutes from the sandy shores of Lake Michigan and smaller, residential lakes are everywhere. Within 4 hours of Shiloh are some of the nicest recreational sites in America. The beauty of nature is everywhere. Yet Michigan also has a colder, snowy winter. Fall begins mid September and Winter ends in mid April. We get an average of 74 inches of snow annually in our region. Our coldest month is January. In January our average low is 13’ and our average high is 30’

7. A history of growth in prior ministries

Shiloh wants to grow! Seventy percent of our community is unchurched and we are one of the largest churches in the area. While we run 400-450 on the weekends, we have a recent memory of 800 in our weekend services. Our leadership hopes in the next 3-5 years that we can grow back up to 600 and then beyond. We do not want a Pastor who maintains us, but one who expands us as we reach out to a needy community.

8. Preaches practical, relevant, Bible-based sermons

A seminary lecture or formal sermon would not serve our people. Our people like a dynamic, relevant message that touches their hearts and minds. They have been use to the assistance of media, humor, story, and physical props.

9. Has a heart for evangelism and discipleship. Our next Pastor will take us deeper (discipleship) and broader (evangelism) as we fulfill our mission of “helping people come to Christ, grow in Christ and serve for Christ.” We desire a leader that can help us see what God’s vision is for us and lead us to accomplish His dreams and plans.