Lead Pastor

The Call:
Paulding Church of the Nazarene is seeking a full-time pastor whose love for rural communities is matched by a missionary mindset, a shepherd’s heart, a passion for the least, the last, and the lost, and the patience to settle in and call Paulding home. The ideal candidate will help the congregation discern their unique mission and vision for the next season of ministry and develop fresh expressions of church life that reach the broader community.

This leader should be:

An ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene or actively pursuing ordination.
Committed to supporting the broader mission of the Northwestern Ohio District to develop interdependent, healthy, multiplying congregations.
Humble and patient, understanding that ministry in rural communities moves at the speed of trust.
Generous, hospitable, and socially engaged with those disconnected from the hope and message of Jesus.
Thriving in rural contexts.
A starter—operating from an opportunity mindset, not a scarcity mindset, and able to imagine what could be.
Faithful and diligent in financial stewardship.
Committed to cultivating a culture of discipleship and leadership development that multiplies those engaged in the mission of Jesus.

Interested candidates should contact Dr. Jeff Stark at jeff.stark@nwoteam.church.

Objective:
Located along the western edge of Ohio’s northern counties, Paulding is a quiet, rural community within a short drive of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Paulding Church of the Nazarene (PNaz) is currently seeking a pastoral candidate called to serve as a senior leader, pastor, and missionary presence in a close-knit community.

Understanding the Context:
This is the kind of community where Friday nights in the fall still set the town’s calendar. It’s the kind of place where your dentist knows your kids are in travel ball this season. It’s where neighbors look out for one another, multi-generational families are rooted in the town, and folks gather at the local Christian coffee shop on the town square. It’s the kind of town where, even if local business owners don’t attend your church, they’ll still call you “Preacher.” In Paulding, family values run deep, and faith is still seen as an asset.

Home to approximately 3,500 residents, Paulding sits just 30 minutes east of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and about 20 minutes west of Defiance, Ohio. It’s a great place to raise a family—where life isn’t defined by the hustle of the rat race or keeping up with the Joneses, but by front porches, back decks, and evenings at T-ball games. In Paulding, 4-H students and farmers are respected, and the community cherishes its rich history while looking toward a strong future.

The Need:
Though quietly rural, Paulding faces many of the same challenges as other communities: rural poverty, breakdown of the nuclear family, substance abuse, and despair. The town needs the church, and the church needs the town. Leaders called to Paulding must have Kingdom eyes—able to see both the beauty and the brokenness—and help the church do the same. They must partner with local organizations, agencies, and other churches to bring transformation and offer a faithful witness to the goodness of Jesus.

The Church:
Paulding Church of the Nazarene has served the community for over 100 years. It’s said that anyone in their 30s or 40s likely attended Vacation Bible School at PNaz. The church’s historic impact is well known. Over the last 12 years, PNaz has been faithfully led by a pastor who helped them take significant steps toward contemporary ministry and a missional posture.

In partnership with organizations throughout town, PNaz operates a thriving, wait-listed daycare called Little Sprouts, and the building also serves as the office for the local Youth for Christ chapter. The church has a meaningful relationship with The Workshop, an organization serving adults with disabilities—many of whom now call PNaz their church home.

The congregation is warm, welcoming, and faithful. Members are spread throughout the county and understand that reaching their neighbors means embracing their geographic responsibility. They’re eager for a pastor who will build on the legacy of previous leaders and guide them toward a renewed and impactful missional presence in Paulding.

All interested candidates should email Dr. Jeff Stark (Leadership and Revitalization Catalyst for the Northwestern Ohio District Church of the Nazarene) at jeff.stark@nwoteam.church.