Position Title: Associate Director of Next Steps

Reports to: Managing Director of Care

Status: Full-time, Ministry Staff (45 hours/week)

Schedule: Monday-Thursday, Sundays, Special Events

Job Purpose and Goals:

The Associate Director of Next Steps exists to design, steward, and continually improve the pathways that help people move from initial connection to meaningful engagement in the life of Lincoln Berean Church. This role provides strategic leadership by assessing where people are in their discipleship journey, identifying factors that prevent engagement, and creating clear, measurable next steps into serving, discipleship, and membership.

Positioned within the Care department, this role maintains limited involvement in on‑call and visitation environments to gain firsthand insight into the real needs and experiences of people entering the church. However, the primary focus of the role is pathway strategy, evaluation, and integration. Through collaboration, data insight, and influence, the Associate Director of Next Steps helps discover what is working, what is not, and how people are—or are not—becoming meaningfully connected to the church.

We’re looking for a relational, strategic leader who loves Jesus and is passionate about helping people take meaningful next steps in their faith and connection to the church. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys creating clear, welcoming pathways that help people move from first connection into serving and discipleship.

The five key roles for this ‘seat’ are:

• Engagement & Integration Pathways
• Discipleship Assessment & Insight
• Ministry Connection & Feedback Loop
• Data Integrity
• Care Exposure & Redirection Support

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

Engagement & Integration Pathways

• Own the design, clarity, and effectiveness of pathways that help people move from initial connection into serving, discipleship, and membership.

• Develop and execute focused engagement strategies for prioritized groups (e.g., newcomers, re‑engaging attenders), with permission to go deep in one area before expanding.

  • Lead our Belong Gathering for those who want to learn more about the church

• Identify points of friction or confusion that prevent people from taking next steps and propose pathway improvements accordingly.

• Regularly evaluate pathway effectiveness using both relational feedback and engagement data.

Discipleship Assessment & Insight

• Develop and refine ways to assess where individuals are in their discipleship journey and what next steps are most appropriate for them.

• Help translate discipleship vision into practical, understandable steps for people with varying levels of spiritual maturity.

• Gather insight from conversations, classes, and engagement patterns to better understand readiness, barriers, and disengagement.

Ministry Connection & Feedback Loop

• Identify systemic barriers to engagement (e.g., unclear onboarding, lack of equipping, misaligned expectations) and provide feedback to ministry leaders.

• Maintain a broad understanding of ministries, environments, and opportunities in order to effectively connect people to their best next step.

Data Integrity

• Ensure the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of engagement‑related data, including MP notes and connection records.

• Own processes related to connection cards, next‑step inquiries, and engagement tracking across serving, discipleship, and membership pathways.

• Translate engagement data into actionable insight by identifying trends, gaps, and opportunities.

• Provide regular updates and analysis to the Leadership Team regarding engagement health and pathway effectiveness.

Care Exposure & Redirection Support

• Participate in limited on‑call and visitation responsibilities as part of the Care team to gain firsthand insight into the needs and experiences of people entering the church.

• Support Care efforts through presence and redirection, while ensuring long‑term care ownership remains with the Care team.

• Leverage Care exposure to inform pathway design, engagement strategy, and leadership insight.

Competencies and Skills: To perform this job successfully, the following competencies should be demonstrated:

• Professional: Approaches others in a tactful manner, using discernment; reacts well under pressure; dependable; exercises discretion and confidentiality with sensitive information
• Effective Communication: Clearly and concisely communicates effectively through written or verbal channels; confident communicating in front of larger groups
• Effective Interpersonal Skills: Exhibit and fosters healthy individual and team interaction through high emotional intelligence and strong relationship building skills
• Collaboration: Works with others to achieve common goals; a relationship builder in team-focused environments; builds trust by following through
• Flexibility and Adaptability: Adapts and responds positively to changing circumstances and competing demands; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies, Ministry, or related field (preferred).
• Experience speaking in front of mid-large sized groups.

Character, Calling and Chemistry:

• Christ Centered: you build your life and ministry around Jesus, with an open heart allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and inspire.
• People Savvy: you relate well to all kinds of people and cultures – inside and outside the church as well as cross culturally; can build rapport, constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact.
• Self-Awareness: you know your personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and limits; seeks feedback; gains insights from mistakes; is open to criticism; is not defensive.
• Trustworthy: honest and considers confidentiality a priority.

Must make Lincoln Berean Church their home church and participate in the life of the community (Life Group).

At Lincoln Berean Church, we fully expect each staff member to be actively engaged in following Jesus and believe that if this commitment to Jesus is present, it will be evident in a staff member’s personal life, family relationships, and ministry. In working at Lincoln Berean Church, every staff member must be aware of and embrace the responsibility to represent the:

• Church’s Mission: To glorify God by seeking to present every person complete in Christ.

• Vision: Coming together, to know Jesus, become more like Him, and help others do the same.

• Doctrine: What We Believe at Lincoln Berean Church - Committed to truth

• Staff Core Values: Healthy Drive, Teachable, People Savvy, Radical Candor and Hopeful

• Life Groups: The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone – we are better together!

Measured by:

• A 30-60-90-day review
• Trimester and Annual Reviews