Lead Pastor Update

Lead Pastor Announcement

We are excited to share with you the positive results of a patient process that has led us to welcome a new Lead Pastor, Austin Adams!

Following the recommendations of our Lead Pastor Search Team, Personnel Team, and Elder Board, Austin (along with his family) joined Calvary in worship the weekend of June 28. In addition to preaching, Austin met many people and graciously spent more than 4 hours in public question-and-answer settings. As a result of this encouraging weekend, the Elder Board confidently nominated Austin Adams for consideration as the Lead Pastor of Calvary Church at the Special Called Business Meeting on July 2.

With 400+ in total attendance, 305 church members voted about this important decision, Do you affirm calling Austin Adams as the new Lead Pastor of Calvary Church?

The result is a resounding Yes!, as 100% voted to affirm Austin as the Lead Pastor. Praise God!

We're anticipating Austin's arrival later this summer, and we join their family in prayer for all that goes into relocating and stepping into a new role.

Jesus Matters Most!

What were some of the specifics during this process?

• The Search Team had two lengthy virtual interviews with Austin. The second interview included Emily with the purpose of asking her a few questions and also allowing space for her and Austin to ask questions about Calvary. 

• Members of the Search Team made a trip to their area where the team had further conversations and spent a lot of time just getting to know Austin and Emily. The team also attended services at Gospelife Church to experience and observe Austin in his current ministry. This visit further solidified Austin as a strong candidate for the role of Lead Pastor.

• Calvary’s Teaching Team had one-on-one conversations with Austin and shared their feedback with the Search Team.

• Austin and Emily visited St. Peters for a long weekend where they met with Staff, Elders, the Personnel Team, and the Search Team. They were also able to experience Sunday services to get a feel for what it’s like at Calvary. 

• On Tuesday, June 4, the Search Team met with the Personnel Team and voted unanimously to propose Austin as Lead Pastor Candidate. 

• On Wednesday morning, June 5, the Elders unanimously voted to nominate Austin as Lead Pastor Candidate to the congregation.

On Sunday, May 19, an update was given during services, and a follow-up email was sent later that week. If you want to see the update from that Sunday, you can CLICK HERE and skip ahead to the 36-minute mark. Here's what the email update said:

"Our Lead Pastor Search Team is in the process of interviewing candidates and listening to sermons. We seek the Lord's guidance and favor together as we search for the next Lead Pastor of Calvary Church. We pray he'll be a man who is a proficient expositor of the gospel and a vision-casting leader whose humble heart is for shepherding the elders, staff, and congregation. 

Please continue to pray with us as we discern who the right candidate is to lead our church. Pray that God would begin releasing him from his current ministry. And pray for our own unity of heart and spirit as we continue through each step.  

Our team is excited about where we are in the process, the progress we are making, and Calvary's future. As our search continues, we look forward to sharing updates as we have them. The steps in our process include multiple interviews and face-to-face meetings, and then we will present a candidate for you to experience before a congregational vote. Thank you for extending grace to us in this journey and for all of your prayers.

The work continues. Onward, together!
Pete Arentson, Chair, Lead Pastor Search Team"

At the end of January, an update was given during services on where the Search Team was in the Lead Pastor Search Process. A few days later, a follow-up email from the Search Team was also sent to the congregation with that information. Here's what the email update said:

"Our Lead Pastor Search Team continues to meet in preparation for a very busy season of interviewing candidates. This preparation has included prayer, review of the Lead Pastor profile, and preparation for the interview process. The Team recently met with Tim Gocha, our consultant with Vanderbloemen, and he shared the information below:

• Vanderbloemen has received more than 1,500 "touches" from people who showed initial interest in being the Calvary Lead Pastor. 

• Vanderbloemen has had around 50 applications from this larger pool, with Tim having deeper conversations with ten or so candidates.

• Tim presented two unnamed examples of the profiles of candidates they are focusing on. Both examples show great potential and are representative of the profile of our next lead pastor.

• The Search Team will meet with Tim again soon to receive qualified candidates and engage in Calvary's interview process.

We're very encouraged by the work that Vanderbloemen has done and by the search process in general. We ask you to continue praying for our future Lead Pastor and the Search Team as we continue this exciting and important process.

Thank you for your prayers.

Pete Arentson, Chair, Lead Pastor Search Team"

On September 5, we sent out a the following letter to the congregation.

On Sunday, September 10, we held a congregational meeting where we discussed the Lead Pastor Search and ongoing ministry updates of Calvary. If you want to read any of the packets mentioned in the meeting, click on the links below.

A brief update about what different teams have been working on recently.

A letter from the Advisory Team sharing updates on the work streams initiated before a new Lead Pastor is hired.

An update on the transition and staffing.

If you would like to request access to the document referenced in the video, please CLICK HERE.