Our Search for Our Next Lead Pastor.
First Evangelical Free Church of Colorado Springs is seeking a new Lead Pastor to shepherd our congregation into its next season of spiritual growth and community impact. After fifteen years of dedicated leadership, Pastor Rob Caminiti is retiring. We are thankful for how Pastor Rob and his wife Heidi have ministered to us. As we move into a new season for our church, we are prayerfully seeking the man God is calling to be our next lead pastor.
First Evangelical Free Church of Colorado Springs is seeking a new Lead Pastor to shepherd our congregation into its next season of spiritual growth and community impact. After fifteen years of dedicated leadership, Pastor Rob Caminiti is retiring. We are thankful for how Pastor Rob and his wife Heidi have ministered to us. As we move into a new season for our church, we are prayerfully seeking the man God is calling to be our next lead pastor.
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Who We Are.
First Free is a gospel-centered faith family. We are affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and subscribe to this statement of faith. Our church buildings are on the west side of Colorado Springs, near Garden of the Gods. This is an exciting time in the life of our church. God has blessed us with a beautiful 16-acre parcel of land, strategically located between a middle school, high school, and a healthcare facility, where we have intentionally fostered relationships and ministries. |
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We’re Planning to Move!
We will soon be constructing a new church building on that land, somewhat larger than our current facility and with significantly better parking. Our new church home will be only a mile away from the current campus we have enjoyed for the last 70 years. Our current debt consists only of a construction loan which is funding the new building. Through the significant generosity of our church family and the expected sale of our current buildings, we anticipate moving into the new building in the summer of 2027, potentially with a modest mortgage loan or no debt at all. |
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Our Programs and Ministries.
We actively pursue a variety of programs and ministries which provide both nurturing and opportunities to serve. New ministry opportunities are boundless. We are seeking a leader, already chosen by God, to shepherd our congregation into the next exciting chapter of our church that God has laid before us.
We actively pursue a variety of programs and ministries which provide both nurturing and opportunities to serve. New ministry opportunities are boundless. We are seeking a leader, already chosen by God, to shepherd our congregation into the next exciting chapter of our church that God has laid before us.
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Our History.
First Free traces its roots in Colorado Springs to Swedish immigrants in 1885, meeting in homes for Bible study and eventually adopting the name First Swedish God’s Free Mission Church in 1895.
After the merger of two Swedish and Norwegian/Danish Free Church associations in the 1950’s, our church approved a name change to First Evangelical Free Church in 1956. At about the same time, we built our current facility near Garden of the Gods and at the foot of Pikes Peak.
The demographics of our congregation has evolved over the years from its original Swedish roots. Now we more closely match our westside neighborhoods with a multi-generational mix of students, young families, and grandparents. Many in our congregation work in or are retired from local industry, military, mission organizations, or one of the Christian-centered organizations headquartered in Colorado Springs.
First Free traces its roots in Colorado Springs to Swedish immigrants in 1885, meeting in homes for Bible study and eventually adopting the name First Swedish God’s Free Mission Church in 1895.
After the merger of two Swedish and Norwegian/Danish Free Church associations in the 1950’s, our church approved a name change to First Evangelical Free Church in 1956. At about the same time, we built our current facility near Garden of the Gods and at the foot of Pikes Peak.
The demographics of our congregation has evolved over the years from its original Swedish roots. Now we more closely match our westside neighborhoods with a multi-generational mix of students, young families, and grandparents. Many in our congregation work in or are retired from local industry, military, mission organizations, or one of the Christian-centered organizations headquartered in Colorado Springs.
Our Community.
Colorado Springs, sitting at the base of 14,115-foot Pikes Peak, offers a mix of stunning natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and a family-oriented lifestyle. The city is also known as “Olympic City USA,” with a strong sports and fitness culture. With a population just under 500,000, it is Colorado’s second-largest city.
At an average elevation over 6000 feet, the city boasts over 300 days of sunshine annually, a semi-arid, low humidity climate with mild summers and crisp winters. Our location gives us direct access to world-class hiking, biking, rock climbing, and nearby skiing.
More information about Colorado Springs is available here
Colorado Springs, sitting at the base of 14,115-foot Pikes Peak, offers a mix of stunning natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and a family-oriented lifestyle. The city is also known as “Olympic City USA,” with a strong sports and fitness culture. With a population just under 500,000, it is Colorado’s second-largest city.
At an average elevation over 6000 feet, the city boasts over 300 days of sunshine annually, a semi-arid, low humidity climate with mild summers and crisp winters. Our location gives us direct access to world-class hiking, biking, rock climbing, and nearby skiing.
More information about Colorado Springs is available here
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Our Mission: To Make, Mature, and Multiply Followers of Jesus Christ.
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Our Values.
Our core values reflect our church culture, determine our behavior, guide the decision making process, and drive the ministry.
Our core values reflect our church culture, determine our behavior, guide the decision making process, and drive the ministry.
Preferred Qualifications of Lead Pastor.
- Passionately pursuing his relationship with Christ.
- Humble and authentic man of God, who seeks to be a shepherd and invests in relationships.
- A servant leader, who is willing to minister to people in a variety of situations, and excited about propelling the church into the future by investing in the congregation and our community.
- Meets the requirements of an elder as set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.
- Minimum 5 years of senior leadership in a thriving church or other Christian ministry, with frequent opportunities to preach, minister to individuals, and lead significant ministry initiatives.
- Experience in a supervisory role over ministry staff.
- Full agreement with our Statement of Faith, Policy on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality, and Policy on Theology of Worship.
Lead Pastor Job Description.
The Lead Pastor’s primary responsibilities will be:
Preaching and Teaching. Be the primary preacher for our weekly Sunday morning corporate worship services. Preach sermons that are Bible-based, doctrinally sound, theologically rich, contextually clear, gospel-centered, engaging, and connected to real life. Oversee guest preachers or other staff preachers so that the congregation receives sound biblical teaching when the Lead Pastor is not preaching. The ongoing study and clear proclamation of God’s Word is essential.
Leading Staff and Serving as Member of Elder Team. Support and oversee the Church staff to ensure quality of ministry and the health of the staff. Although the Lead Pastor is overseen by the Elder Team, he also is a member of that team.
Pursuing Mission and Values of the Church. Communicate clearly the mission and values of First Free, encouraging each member and regular attender to become mature disciples of Christ.
Shepherding and Pastoral Care. Minister to the people of First Free and foster intentional shepherding by the Elders and leaders. Set an example of encouragement and care, seeking to build people up. Maintain and promote the practice of biblical church membership. Pray for the people, families, and ministries of First Free. Participate in baptisms, weddings, funerals, hospital visits, counseling for the congregation, as needed.
Personal Responsibilities. All of the elders and staff of First Free are called to:
Schedule. This is a full-time, salaried position which is likely to require around 45 hours a week. The Lead Pastor responsibilities should exclude any other paid positions.
The Lead Pastor’s primary responsibilities will be:
Preaching and Teaching. Be the primary preacher for our weekly Sunday morning corporate worship services. Preach sermons that are Bible-based, doctrinally sound, theologically rich, contextually clear, gospel-centered, engaging, and connected to real life. Oversee guest preachers or other staff preachers so that the congregation receives sound biblical teaching when the Lead Pastor is not preaching. The ongoing study and clear proclamation of God’s Word is essential.
Leading Staff and Serving as Member of Elder Team. Support and oversee the Church staff to ensure quality of ministry and the health of the staff. Although the Lead Pastor is overseen by the Elder Team, he also is a member of that team.
Pursuing Mission and Values of the Church. Communicate clearly the mission and values of First Free, encouraging each member and regular attender to become mature disciples of Christ.
Shepherding and Pastoral Care. Minister to the people of First Free and foster intentional shepherding by the Elders and leaders. Set an example of encouragement and care, seeking to build people up. Maintain and promote the practice of biblical church membership. Pray for the people, families, and ministries of First Free. Participate in baptisms, weddings, funerals, hospital visits, counseling for the congregation, as needed.
Personal Responsibilities. All of the elders and staff of First Free are called to:
- Cultivate humility, teachability, and a personal growth mindset.
- Intentionally seek to foster the vision, mission, unity, and leadership of First Free.
- Be present, engaged, available, loving, and kind to people.
- Be present at most key events in the life of the church.
- Handle sensitive information with care and confidentiality.
- Invest in and invite the lost to know Jesus and come to First Free.
Schedule. This is a full-time, salaried position which is likely to require around 45 hours a week. The Lead Pastor responsibilities should exclude any other paid positions.
Benefits and Compensation.
- Salary, including housing allowance, in a range of $ 80,000 - $110,000.
- First Free may pay an additional SSA Offset of 7.65% of base salary.
- Retirement contribution of 10% of base salary to Clergy 403(b) plan.
- Four weeks of paid vacation per calendar year. All vacation time shall be coordinated with the Elder Board.
- Three month paid sabbatical period for the purpose of spiritual refreshment after each seven years of service.
- The Church pays 100% of a church-selected family health (HSA compatible) and dental insurance plan. The Church also contributes $5,000 to the HSA each year.
Are You Interested in Applying?
If so, we would love to hear from you. You can start the application process by clicking on the button below and entering the digits three zero two two.
If you want to “meet” the members of our search team, please click here to see a short video of introduction from each member.
If so, we would love to hear from you. You can start the application process by clicking on the button below and entering the digits three zero two two.
If you want to “meet” the members of our search team, please click here to see a short video of introduction from each member.
