Hello and Welcome to
Associate Pastor Opportunity
Welcome to
The
Gathering Place
The Gathering Place Community Church is a growing, Christ-centered congregation in the heart of Ridgetown, Ontario.
We are a nurturing family of faith committed to fulfilling the Great Commission — by being a family that especially cares for children and youth.
In 2025, we celebrated a historic milestone: the completion and grand opening of our $4.5-million building expansion —
a project bathed in prayer, perseverance, and sacrificial generosity.
Our expanded facility is now filled with children, youth, young adults, and new families, a living testimony to God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of a vision planted years ago.
We are now seeking an Associate Pastor who will join us in this next chapter of ministry:
shepherding a growing congregation, deepening discipleship, and helping us continue building a Christ-centered community where people are known, loved, and equipped to follow Jesus.
Our Story -
A Church Rooted in Mission and growing in Hope
The Gathering Place has always been a church that dreams boldly, since its beginnings over 150 years ago.
As our Lead Pastor wrote in the 2025 Annual Report:
Those deep roots are visible everywhere:
● A congregation that has grown in numbers, diversity, and spiritual maturity
● A thriving children's ministry and a vibrant Lion Heart Youth Group
● A new worship centre filled with laughter, worship, and community
● A church family that serves together, prays together, and celebrates together
● A commitment to strategic planning, stewardship, and long-term mission alignment
We are a church that rejoices in God's work — and takes seriously the call to steward it faithfully.
"Anything that grows overnight tends to die quickly.
Those things that grow slow with deep roots tend to survive, and in time flourish."
Our Ministry Environment
The Opportunity -
Pastor at The Gathering Place
We are seeking a pastor who will: ● Shepherd a congregation that values authenticity, presence, and relational ministry ● Partner with ministry leaders in fulfilling our mission to nurture children and youth ● Engage newcomers, families, children, youth, and seniors with genuine care ● Build community through discipleship, pastoral care, and spiritual formation ● Support and equip ministry teams and volunteers ● Preach Scripture with clarity, conviction, and pastoral warmth ● Lead with humility, joy, and a heart for small-town ministry ● Contribute meaningfully to long-term ministry development This is a role for a pastor who loves people, values relationships, and thrives in a community-anchored church environment.
Our Community -
Ridgetown & Chatham- Kent
Ridgetown is a safe, friendly, close-knit town where people know each other and genuinely care for one another. It offers: ● Affordable housing in a welcoming neighbourhood ● A walkable Main Street with local character and charm ● Strong community networks and civic pride ● The University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus ● Proximity to Lake Erie, conservation areas, and both provincial and national parks It is an ideal setting for a pastor who wants to be known and rooted in a community — not lost in a crowd. Chatham-Kent is a diverse, growing region of 113,000 people offering a remarkable quality of life: ● Strong schools and youth programs ● Recreation centres, sports leagues, and cultural events ● Beautiful rural landscapes and waterfront access ● A stable economy with short commutes and excellent work-life balance ● One of the few regions in Ontario that is actively growing demographically It is a region where families thrive and ministry can flourish.
Our Heart for Pastoral Leadership
The voice of our congregation in the 2025 Annual Report speaks volumes:
"We need to be faithful with the ones God is bringing in."
"We are learning to understand who we really are and what being part of God's family is truly about."
"Look at what God has done!"
These words capture our spirit: grateful, hopeful, and ready for the next season of ministry —
under the guidance of a pastoral team that loves Jesus deeply and loves His people well.
If You Feel Called…
We invite you to prayerfully consider whether God may be leading you to serve
at The Gathering Place Community Church.
This is a church where:
• Ministry is relational
• Community is strong
• Children and youth are cherished
• Volunteers are eager
• Leadership is supportive
• The mission is clear
• The future is full of promise
We would be honoured to explore this calling with you.