School of Ministry Director at ACF Church in Alaska

School of Ministry Director (Full-Time)

Alliance Christian Fellowship (ACF)

Position Overview

ACF is launching a School of Ministry—a frontier training ground designed to form and send leaders for the unique spiritual landscape of Alaska.

We are seeking a School of Ministry Director who will build, lead, and cultivate this environment—guiding students not just through content, but through deep formation, Spirit-led leadership, and practical ministry experience to form students who deeply love Jesus and His church.

This is not a traditional teaching role. The Director will function as a facilitator, coach, and developer of people, helping students wrestle with truth, grow in calling, and step into leadership.

Vision, Mission, & Scope of School

Vision For it be in Alaska as it is in Heaven.

Mission We are a discipleship school—growing a generation of leaders who are:

• Formed in Christ
• Empowered by the Spirit
• Choosing risk over comfort for the sake of the Gospel in Alaska

Scope

• 2-year program
• Designed for part-time students (~25 hours/week commitment)
• Integrates classroom learning, ministry placement, and leadership formation

What We’re Building:

The ACF School of Ministry exists to ensure every student leaves with:

• A deeper life with Jesus and His Church
• A solid theological foundation
• Meaningful academic progress through:
  • 30 hours of biblical and leadership coursework
  • Pathways toward:
    • Alliance Northwest (ANW) Licensing
    • Cross-denominational opportunities
    • Further theological education
  • Ministry formation that actively releases leaders into their calling

We partner with LEAD—a competency-based, flexible learning model designed for ministry leaders. This partnership provides:

• Self-paced, mentor-guided development
• Real-life ministry application over classroom theory
• Formation of both character and competency
• Ongoing training, development, and support for the Director from Lead

Key Responsibilities:

1. Program Leadership & Development

• Launch and lead ACF’s School of Ministry from the ground up
• Shape the student experience around formation, not just information
• Oversee integration of:
  • LEAD coursework
  • ACF distinctives classes
  • Ministry placements

2. Student Formation & Coaching

• Facilitate weekly environments where students:
  • Process content
  • Wrestle with theology and calling
  • Grow in identity and leadership
• Lead through questions, not just answers
• Provide consistent 1:1 coaching and feedback conversations

3. Ministry Placement Oversight

• Collaborate with ACF staff to place students in ministry environments
• Ensure placements are developmental and aligned with calling and gifting
• Equip staff to coach and evaluate students effectively

4. Evaluation & Progress Tracking

• Partner with staff and ministry leaders to assess student growth in:
  • Leadership capacity
  • Character and spiritual formation
  • Team contribution
• Track academic and ministry progress through LEAD pathways
• Provide structured feedback and encouragement

5. Culture Building

• Create a culture marked by:
  • Hunger for Jesus
  • Risk-taking faith
  • Honest conversations
  • Growth through failure
• Model a life of prayer, dependence on the Spirit, and relational leadership

What You’ll Facilitate (Not Create)

The Director will guide students through:

• LEAD curriculum (biblical and leadership development)
• Ministry placement experiences
• Leadership labs and feedback environments

What You Will Create

While core teaching content is provided, the Director will design and build the environments where formation happens, including:

• ACF Distinctive Classes (culture, mission, leadership) contextualized to ACF’s vision and Alaska’s unique ministry landscape
• Spiritual formation rhythms (prayer, scripture, community) that are practiced, not just taught
• Ministry placement evaluations in partnership with ACF staff that are intentional, developmental, and aligned with each student’s calling
• Leadership labs and processing environments where students reflect, wrestle, and grow through real-time ministry experience
• Coaching and feedback systems that help students develop in leadership, team dynamics, and spiritual maturity

Note: Teaching content is largely pre-developed. This role focuses on facilitation, formation, and coaching—but requires creating the environments and systems where transformation takes place.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

Experience & Background

• Strong theological foundation and understanding that aligns with Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination
• 5 years of experience in education, ministry leadership, or both
• Background in adult learning environments (formal or informal)
• 3-5 years of experience developing people (students, volunteers, or leaders)
• Open to candidates from diverse backgrounds including:
  • Educators and academic leaders
  • Ministry school or residency leaders
  • Pastors or ministry directors with a strong development focus
  • Non-traditional leaders with proven experience in formation and coaching

Core Competencies

• Deep biblical and theological grounding that catalyzes engagement
• Facilitator over lecturer
• Skilled at asking questions that provoke growth
• Strong in organizational leadership and systems
• Able to navigate complex relational and developmental conversations
• High emotional intelligence and discernment
• Ability to integrate relationships, content, and coaching

Personal Characteristics

• Deep, abiding relationship with Jesus
• Spirit-led, prayerful, and grounded in Scripture
• Passionate about raising up the next generation of leaders
• Willing to take risks and pioneer something new
• Self-aware of what they carry and impart to others

Year 1 Wins (What Success Looks Like)

By the end of the first year, the School of Ministry Director will:

• Successfully launch the inaugural cohort of students
• Establish a clear, repeatable weekly rhythm for formation, coaching, and facilitation
• Build and implement a ministry placement system across ACF departments
• Train and equip staff to effectively coach and evaluate students in placements
• Ensure students are actively progressing through LEAD coursework and milestones
• Develop a consistent evaluation framework for leadership, character, and team dynamics
• Cultivate a strong, healthy culture marked by trust, growth, and spiritual hunger
• Demonstrate measurable student growth in leadership, spiritual formation, and ministry readiness

A Day in the Life

While no two days are the same, a typical rhythm for the School of Ministry Director may include:

• Morning: Personal preparation, prayer, and reviewing student progress across LEAD pathways
• Midday: 1:1 coaching conversations with students—processing growth, challenges, and calling
• Afternoon: Collaboration with ACF staff to align ministry placements and student development opportunities
• Late Afternoon: Planning and preparing facilitation environments, reviewing curriculum, and shaping key questions for student engagement
• Evening (select days): Facilitating student gatherings—leading discussions, cultivating community, and guiding formation moments

Throughout the week, you will:

• Engage in meaningful conversations where students process real-life struggles and spiritual growth
• Observe students in ministry environments and provide real-time feedback
• Equip and support staff who are helping develop students in their placements
• Track progress, celebrate growth, and address areas needing development

This role is highly relational, deeply formational, and requires both spiritual attentiveness and organizational leadership.

Why This Role Matters

This role is not just about running a program—it’s about building a movement of leaders for Alaska.

You will help shape people who:

• Hear God’s voice
• Live on mission
• Lead with courage
• Transform communities across our state

Join Us

If you are passionate about forming leaders, love building from the ground up, and are ready to invest deeply in people for the sake of the Gospel—this is your opportunity to help shape the future of ministry in Alaska.