BRIEF HISTORY OF EASTSIDE CHURCH
Eastside Church was founded in 2018 as a plant from the Williamsburg Community Chapel, a large interdenominational church in town. The founding pastor’s vision was to plant a “friendly neighborhood church” which would strategically spread the Gospel to a more socio-economically diverse area in Williamsburg’s east side—a high-transition, working-class neighborhood that services Williamsburg’s thriving tourism industry, which is bordered by Colonial Williamsburg and more upscale neighborhoods. The church began as missional small groups, meeting in homes to study God’s Word and engage in outreach in the local community. Through prayer walks and intentional encounters with neighborhood residents the founding purpose of Eastside began to be practiced.
By January 2019, Eastside was holding weekly Sunday services in a local hotel. Then, in August 2019, the congregation moved to its present location in a newly renovated, built-to-suit, strip mall space. Prior to COVID, attendance averaged 150 people at the weekly services. During COVID attendance dropped as the church committed to holding outdoor services, but it has rebounded since then to nearly regain its previous involvement. Eastside is a non-denominational church and member of the Hampton Roads Consortium of Churches, initiated by Tabernacle Church of Norfolk in the 1950’s. This consortium consists of seven churches who share a vision and focus of making disciples and maintaining cooperative partnerships with one another. Their shared values are leadership development, world missions, church planting, local outreach, and biblical teaching and preaching. Eastside is blessed by the enthusiastic support of the Consortium, particularly in this transitional season.
ABOUT THE CHURCH
Since its founding, Eastside Church has had the vision to be “a loving neighborhood church resolute in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.” Their mission is to foster a community of disciple-making disciples in union with Christ and one other. They have six core values:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matt 22:37)
Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt 22:39)
Foster a community that prays together. (Acts 2:42)
Dwell in the Word of God. (Col 3:16)
Honor one another by listening to each other. (Rom 12:10)
Follow Jesus wherever He leads us. (John 10:4-5)
Their ministry strategy grows directly out of these goals. Through their ministries, Eastside strives to seek the Lord, through a prayer-focused ministry that loves and encourages one another as they follow Christ. As such, the community seeks to have an inward-outward focus that fosters a strong community within the church, while reaching out into the local neighborhood.
VISION
To be a loving neighborhood church resolute in sharing the Good
News of Jesus Christ. (Matt 22:37; Luke 9:51; John 20:21)
MISSION
To make disciples who make disciples in union with Christ and
with each other. (Matt 28:18-20; Eph 4:1-6)
EASTSIDE'S MINISTRIES
Sunday Morning Ministries:
9:30 am – Pre-service Prayer meeting
10 – 11:15 am – Service – in-person and online
Blended music style
Weekly communion
Children’s Ministry
Sundays, 10 - 11:15 am
Nursery
Early years (2-6 years old)
Elementary Girls (1st – 5th Grade), Elementary Boys (1st – 5th Grade)
Eastside is transitioning to the Orange Children’s Curriculum in Fall 2023
Annual VBS (expected to exceed 50 children in August 2023)
Youth Ministry
Weekly meeting for teens (temporarily on hiatus while new leaders are sought)
Young Adults Ministry
Sundays, 6-8 pm
Small Group Ministry
Senior Adult Singles Ministry
Prayer Ministry:
Thursdays, 7-730 pm – Call-in
Weekday mornings – Call-in
Wednesdays @ Eastside
Weekly, 6-7:30 pm
A Summertime fellowship gathering for the congregation and community
Congregational Care
Practical assistance during times of crisis, including providing meals, transportation, household chores, and ongoing communication
Turning Point Ministry
One-on-One appointments for pastoral care for encouragement, ministry, and community referrals and practical assistance where appropriate
Community Outreach
Literacy for Life
Wednesdays, 9:30 – 10:30 am
Conversational group format for English language tutoring
Brentwood
Weekly ministry at a neighborhood apartment complex providing games, bible teaching, and meals to a community of children
Eastside Missions Committee
A newly established committee to encourage and support global mission initiatives. Presently, Eastside is preparing to send its Worship Leader on a 3-month missions trip with TEAM to Japan and supports an outreach with YWAM in Mexico.
POSITION PROFILE
TITLE: Lead Pastor
CLASSIFICATION: Full-time/exempt, 40 hours per week
REPORTS TO: The Leadership Team.
DIRECT REPORTS: Administrator (PT), Children’s Ministry Leader (PT), Worship Leader (PT), Congregational Care Leader (PT)
Position Summary
The Lead Pastor’s overarching role is living out and pursuing with excellence the mission of Eastside Church which is “A loving neighborhood church resolute in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ”, and making disciples who are equipped and eager to serve their local community. Through Christ-centered, Bible-based preaching, mature shepherding of the congregation, mentoring and development of the staff, and compassionate attention to the needs of the local community, the Lead Pastor will guide Eastside by example, with wisdom and commitment to our Lord.
Position Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline (Church Ministry, Bible, etc.) or Master of Divinity (or equivalent) from a seminary that aligns with the theology of Eastside.
Committed to Eastside’s statement of faith, vision, mission, and core values.
Essential Functions
Be intentional in building relationships and tending to the spiritual needs of the congregation as one who will give an account to God
Know the congregation by showing genuine interest in them, getting to know their stories, and tracking their spiritual growth
Lead by example in serving Eastside’s neighbors through personal interactions and neighborhood ministries
Visit church members in the hospital, in care facilities, and at home
Serve as team leader for the small groups/discipleship groups ministry
Recruit, teach, train, spiritually support, and effectively supervise volunteers for adult ministries
Conduct annual planning/annual focus for teaching
Work with Staff to ensure Sunday services are well-planned and glorify God
Preach Sunday mornings, teach classes, and facilitate groups during the week as appropriate
Interact with staff, volunteers, congregants, and guests with a friendly attitude, valuing relationships over tasks
Provide coaching, training, evaluation, mentoring, and Bible teaching to the Eastside staff
Serve as a spiritual leader to the staff by encouraging, challenging, and holding them accountable to their walk with God both at an individual and group level
Serve as liaison between the Leadership Team and Staff Team
Provide updates and reports as requested by the Eastside Leadership Team
Plan and facilitate the new member class, working effectively with other appropriate staff
Conduct funerals and officiate weddings
Provide pastoral care to children, youth, adults, and families; provide confidential pastoral counseling in emergencies and on short-term basis
Create a safe community environment that helps the congregation love and serve one another
Perform other duties as assigned.
Character
Devoted, deep, pure, and maturing relationship with Christ. The Senior Pastor exhibits a life of deep prayer, committed study, and compassionate relationships.
A significant and observable call and anointing upon his life to shepherd and pastor a local congregation.
Possesses an unguarded and authentic spirit; a humble heart; a compassionate congenial disposition; and approachable.
Exhibits evidence of Christian character and servant leadership as stated in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4 in work and home environments.
Competencies
An engaging and knowledgeable communicator in the pulpit and in other settings to bring practical life-application to the Scriptures.
Demonstrates capability to lead by example in evangelistic outreach.
A high emotional quotient (EQ) Able to respond appropriately to the emotions of others and manage their own emotions in order to quickly build trust and positive relationships.
Capable of leading skeptics and seekers to Christ and building believers into disciple-making disciples.
Administratively able to oversee the daily operations of the church.
Able to develop, mentor, and manage a team, both volunteer and professional.
Able to officiate weddings, funerals, and events within the local community.
Chemistry with the Culture
Embraces blended worship and is thoughtful about how to extend the church’s reputation as a “friendly neighborhood church” into Williamsburg’s eastside neighborhood.
The pastor has an obvious care and shepherd’s concern for the people of the church.
Possesses personality, temperament, and interpersonal skills to serve effectively in a multigenerational congregational setting.
Lead by example in serving Eastside’s neighbors through personal interactions and neighborhood ministries.
Possesses a collaborative work ethic.
Skilled relational manager able to recruit, delegate, mentor, and empower staff, lay leaders, and ministry volunteers.
Comfortable with a relaxed, non-formal worship service and “come as you are” style.
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
OPPORTUNITIES
Eastside is debt-free, with substantial reserves, and an up-to-date 9,400sf facility. Roughly 4000sf is still available for buildout. The building has untapped potential.
Eastside operates independently but enjoys a wonderfully supportive relationship with its parent church, the Williamsburg Community Chapel, and the broader community of the Hampton Roads Consortium.
Eastside benefits from a small but committed and capable staff, and dedicated oversight of the Leadership Team.
Eastside is blessed by a warm, welcoming and generous congregation who desire to reach the neighborhood for Christ. Like its building, the congregation has untapped potential.
Eastside’s Children’s Ministry, which enjoys excellent, committed leadership, is growing and attracting young families.
Eastside Church is centrally located in Williamsburg’s east side, an optimal location to reach this community, and strategically situated to impact the city with its proximity to Colonial Williamsburg and the College of William & Mary.
Pastoral care is often a key aspect of a Pastor’s duties. Eastside’s Turning Point Ministry, directed by a congregant with an M.A. in Pastoral Counselling, offers hope, encouragement, and practical recommendations (including ministry and community referrals) to those in challenging situations.
The church has established cooperative relationships with area non-profits engaged in emergency assistance for food, clothing, shelter, etc.
CHALLENGES
While Eastside desires to impact its immediate neighborhood for Christ, much of its community outreach remains aspirational rather than actual. They desire to be an outward-facing, neighborhood-oriented church but struggle with balancing this outward orientation and its “inward” needs of fostering a discipleship community within the Eastside congregation. Much of the momentum that was in place prior to the pandemic has not recovered.
Eastside has tremendous respect for the office of the pastor. They eagerly expect their next pastor to nourish and guide the congregation. However, their outreach ministry to date has centered largely on the Pastor’s skillset and a small team of volunteers rather than empowering a larger group of lay members to lead in discipleship and outreach ministries.
Like any smaller church, Eastside could grow in its core ministries such as youth, children and worship.
ABOUT THE AREA
Along with Jamestown and Yorktown, Williamsburg is part of Virginia’s historic triangle. The area boasts five historic sites that date to the first English settlements, important battles in the Revolutionary War, and the founding of a new nation in Williamsburg. Today, Williamsburg has nearly 15,000 residents and is a tight-knit community with a relaxed pace of life. Although known as a popular retirement location, 10.4% of the population is under 18 years old while only 15.7% of the population is over 65. As the city is home to the campus of the College of William and Mary, there is a large student population during the academic year. Williamsburg is also known for its high-performing public and private schools.
Though the cost of living is slightly higher than the national average, it is ranked as one of the safest cities in Virginia. The current median house listing is $306,000 and rising. Williamsburg’s major industries are the hospitality industry, food services, and state government, along with health care, social assistance, and retail trade. The city’s largest employers are William & Mary, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg-James City County Schools, and the City of Williamsburg. For those who enjoy fishing, sailing, and water activities, the James and York Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay are only a short drive away. Not to mention nearby Busch Gardens and Water Country, as well as just across the water Virginia Beach make the area a highly sought-after tourist destination. Williamsburg is an hour from Richmond, the capital of Virginia, and two hours from Washington DC, giving it convenient access to large metropolitan areas while maintaining the charm of a small town.
