Church: Covenant Church

Church Size: 800

Job title: Purdue Link (Pastor to International and Grad Students) 

Job Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

WHY THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

Purdue is a community of fifty thousand students, including a large number of graduate students and a high percentage of internationals. 

Covenant Church is located just three miles from the Purdue campus. With its long tradition of thoughtful and robust Scripture study, as well as its intergenerational make-up, Covenant is attractive to grad students and faculty members. 

Covenant takes its missional call to the world seriously and has a long history of engagement throughout the world. That same call leads us to be intentional in reaching those God has brought from other parts of the world to our backyard. This heart of hospitality toward the world has led Covenant to become a church family with a vibrant international World Welcome ministry and a growing ethnic diversity. 

The Purdue Link leadership role exists to widen and deepen the existing relationship between Purdue graduate and international students, post-doctoral students, and faculty members and Covenant Church in such a way that they are brought into relationship with one another, with the Covenant church family, with Covenant’s life and ministries, and ultimately with the One who stands at the center of Covenant’s life and ministry: Jesus. 

OVERVIEW

Covenant Church, a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, is a Christ-centered and biblically-based community. Covenant’s self-understanding is captured in its crown logo, which communicates “Jesus is King,” and in its statement of identity and purpose: “We are His people who exist for His kingdom and His glory.” The church believes it is called to live a life of love: to love Jesus, love His people, and pour out His love on the World.

The church community is made up of approximately 800 people and includes participants with diverse intellectual and ethnic backgrounds. Covenant places ministry emphasis on its vibrant worship life, its rich engagement with Scripture, its intentional spiritual formation, its strong relationships as a church family, its intentional investment in the next generation, its love for neighbor in Greater Lafayette, our country and our world, and its practical support of at-risk children in the community. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Articulate and lead from a vision of unified and coordinated ministry targeted to internationals.
• Connect with Purdue international students: Plan and carry out outreach initiatives on campus to meet students and create a link with Covenant Church.
• Integrate international students into the Covenant family: Plan and carry out welcoming initiatives at Covenant, inviting and welcoming grad and international students.
• Disciple internationals as followers of Jesus: 
• Foster Christ-centered community for international students and scholars through the World Welcome ministry and other gatherings which provide a safe setting in which to build relationships, explore the Christian faith, commit to Christ, grow as a follower of Christ, and connect with the wider church family. 
• Provide one-on-one mentoring/discipleship of individual international students, equipping them for the unique challenges of following Jesus in the academic world.

ADDITIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY 

• Recruit and equip ministry volunteers to lead and serve various ministry efforts.
• Provide regular ministry plans and updates. 
• As time and opportunity allow, to connect with, encourage, build community with, and equip Purdue faculty members in all of the above ways.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS, SKILLS, and OTHER CHARACTERISTICS REQUIRED

• Vital relationship with Christ
• Solid interpersonal skills and relational health; this individual will demonstrate warmth, ease, and maturity in relating
• Sensitivity to issues of cross-cultural communication and inclusion; effective and mature intercultural communicator
• Experience in ministering to a diverse student population and discipling them toward greater maturity in Christ and into deeper engagement in the life of the local church
• A life-orientation of reaching beyond oneself (a heart for the world and a heart for the lost)
• Ability to share faith graciously and effectively 
• A learning orientation/teachable/humble
• Takes initiative; a self-starter
• Effective recruiting/selecting/leading of volunteers and staff
• A heart for hospitality 
• Organizational skills (calendar/planning, regular and timely communication, etc.)
• Participation in weekly worship services / World Welcome at Covenant Church

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree minimum; graduate or postgraduate study strongly preferred 
• Basic email and word processing skills
• Adept with current social media platforms

BENEFITS

• Medical Insurance provided through Meritain (Aetna)
• Dental and Life Insurance
• Paid vacation, holidays, maternity/paternity leave, and bereavement time off
• 403(b) retirement plan with contributions from Covenant Church

About the Community

West Lafayette is a wonderful community with a lot to offer. It has a small town feel with many of the advantages and opportunities of a bigger city. With a population of more than 100,000 people plus a major university with over 50,000 students (representing 135 countries), the community is blessed with age and ethnic diversity. Purdue University, two hospitals, multiple factories, and countless other businesses bring significant economic diversity to the community as well. You’ll find miles and miles of trails for biking and walking, several great community centers, two small water parks, beautiful parks and nature areas, as well as college sports and entertainment events to enjoy.