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Monticello MP Church in Monticello, Mississippi

Open Ministry Position: Monticello MP Church in Monticello, Mississippi

Ministry position: Senior pastor (full or part time)

Church/Ministry: Monticello MP Church in Monticello, Mississippi

Church contact person: Rev. H.E. Paul Flores (transitional interim pastor with NextStep Church Services), hepaulflores@gmail.com, 419-966-4744

Job Description: The Monticello MP Church is a small congregation in a small town in rural Mississippi. It is part of small holiness (Wesleyan/Arminian) denomination with a very confusing name. That’s why I prefer to use just initials for now, because explaining the name is challenging.

We are not looking for a superstar pastor – and wouldn’t want one if we found one. What we are praying for is someone 1) passionate about Jesus and the Kingdom of God, 2) called by God to be a true shepherd leader, 3) comfortable in the culture of a very small town in a rural area of the deep South, 4) willing to love a small congregation that is very easy to love, 5) able to accept a compensation package consisting of the following: modest salary (currently $2,400 monthly), a nice parsonage (3 bedrooms, 2 baths) and utilities, and openness to additional employment (for income and health insurance) for the pastor and/or spouse if needed or desired. We are willing to consider someone who is close to graduation (at least final/senior year) and can provide good references and recommendations. If your ministerial training is totally online we would consider letting you complete your program while you serve here.

THIS IS NOT A SALES PITCH. We realize our limitations, and understand that not just anybody would want, or be able, to come to a small town to minister in a small church and learn the Mississippi version of English. But as the interim pastor here for the past 10 months, I have been working hard to help this church regain their confidence and restore their hope that God can still use them to build the Kingdom. These are some of the sweetest people I have ever ministered to, and it will be very difficult for me to say goodbye when the time comes. Whoever God calls to come here will be blessed and honored, and you will be walking into a situation where the brush-clearing has already been done and the people are ready and willing to follow a shepherd who loves them. I say that as a pastor (NBC graduate 1982) who has served eight churches over a period of almost 50 years and has the battle scars to prove it.

If you’ve been praying about a pastoral ministry opportunity and feel a tug in your heart as you read this, you might just be the person we have been praying for. If not, you might know that person. Either way, please pray for us. Feel free to make initial contact by email. I promise you a prompt reply.