Overview

Pillar Church of 29 Palms (P29) is part of a family of multiplying churches in military communities called the “Praetorian Project”. P29 was planted in 2018 by Pillar Church of Dumfries. The church was established as, and continues to be affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

Context

The City of Twentynine Palms, California is in the Mojave Desert. It is the home of Joshua Tree National Park and the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC).

Twentynine Palms is a strategic location for the Praetorian Project both because of the size and culture of the base. First, MCAGCC is the world’s largest Marine Corps training base covering more than 1,100 square miles and hosting roughly 12,500 active-duty marines. You can read a more detailed description of the MCAGCC HERE. Second, because of the isolated location and relatively small size of the town, Marine families often experience greater community than at other USMC locations. This provides an excellent opportunity for gospel progress with Marines and their families.

The Church

P29 was planted in the fall of 2018 by Pillar Church of Dumfries in Northern Virginia. The church was established and covenanted in 2018 then meeting and growing for several years in the Twentynine Palms Community Center before acquiring and renovating a storefront facility in early 2020. Today, P29 has a stable and growing membership, three qualified and competent elders, a newly renovated meeting facility and a positive financial trajectory.

The Pastoral Role

Pillar Church of 29 Palms is a Congregational Eldership (THIS eBook explains well what we mean by that) it basically means that elders are responsible for the primary leadership and oversight of the church through prayerful discernment and the study of Scripture. Elders defend and teach proper doctrine, provide overall direction, administer redemptive discipline, and model lives of distinction before the body. The congregation, however, has the final word in matters of doctrine, membership, discipline, and direction. This includes the affirmation of officers (thereby affirming doctrine), decisions regarding membership status (thereby affirming membership), the discipline of unrepentant members (thereby upholding discipline), the annual church budget (thereby affirming direction), and in other such matters that may be submitted by the elders to the congregation.

Currently there are three volunteer elders at P29 who were affirmed in December of 2021. We are in search of a full time, vocational pastor/elder or vocational pastoral team to join us in the work. In time it is expected that this person would be the primary Bible teacher, directional leader and shepherd for the congregation in coordination with the team of volunteer elders. You can access the P29 Constitution and Bylaws HERE.

The person who would serve as vocational pastor/elder of Pillar Church of 29 Palms should be:

– Converted and called to the pastoral ministry.
– Licensed and ordained as a minister of the Gospel.
– Competent in relational and interpersonal skills.
– Apt to teach the Word of God and able to assume the primary responsibility of preaching.
– Known for Love, personal integrity, and maturity by those who know you well.
– Assist Elders in overseeing other pastoral staff and church direction.
– Able and willing to lead outreach ministry.
– Willing to continually cultivate a personal closeness to Jesus Christ through spiritual disciplines such as prayer, scripture reading and fasting.
– Willing to cultivate a ministry in the home including biblical hospitality and the provision of pastoral care for the members of your own household.
– Able and willing to administer church discipline and manage conflict in the church. Always seeking to reconcile relationships and promote unity within the church.

Duties & Responsibilities:

– To provide pastoral oversight and congregational care to the church body.
– To lead the church to obey the great commission. Particularly through ongoing church planting efforts.
– To equip the members to fulfill their personal ministries in the workplace and the home.
– To counsel those in spiritual, marital, and emotional distress.
– To lead the business of the church regarding compliance with state and federal requirements and, when possible, to moderate all internal business dealings.
– To provide oversight and accountability for those providing paid services to the church and to always act in the churches best interest.
– To oversee various standing and special committees, working groups and teams in accomplishing their respective duties.
– To regularly attend the annual The Praetorian Project Family Retreat and Annual Meeting.
– Coordinate with Elders to cooperate with local, state, denominational and network leaders in matters of mutual interest and concern; keep the church informed of denominational developments; represent the church in denominational and civic matters.

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