Imprint Church was launched from Northshore Community Church in Kirkland, WA, with about 50 people roughly a dozen years ago. Darren Larson is the founding pastor and continues to serve as one of the lead pastors. Though non-denominational, they are connected to the Converge Northsound Network of churches.

The church, with nearly 600 in weekly attendance, is very warm and welcoming but aims to be much more than that. They strive to be a place where warmth and hospitality translate into a community where people connect, grow, and multiply. The Sunday morning experience can be described as "real," with lead pastors committed to teaching God's Word accurately and in a highly relatable manner. They typically preach through a book of the Bible, occasionally interspersing topical series. The worship is authentic and modern, and the congregation is diverse in age, growing with younger families.

The church has seen significant growth over the past 12 years. After just three years, they hired a church planting pastor, Tom Regan, and planted a second location in Bothell after their fifth year, starting with about 100 people. Both churches were growing until COVID hit. Since the Bothell location met in a public community college, they had to move back to the original Imprint location in Woodinville, becoming one church again for a couple of years. However, in 2023, they were gifted a building in Bothell, and now both locations average nearly 300 in weekly attendance.

Imprint Church has a sizable staff and a healthy leadership team, operating collaboratively while maintaining unique identities at each location.

The new Student Lead will oversee the ministry for middle and high school students and their families, guiding and directing the student ministry and partnering with those leading the birth-through-elementary programs.

CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY

MINISTRY MULTIPLICATION

Middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12) currently meet together on Sunday evenings from 6:00-7:30 pm. However, church leadership is considering splitting the group into separate middle school and high school gatherings. The new pastor will likely have the opportunity to provide input and help determine some specifics of this transition.

Creativity and unique approaches should be incorporated into these gatherings. After assessing the ministry, the new pastor should re-envision the methodology to ensure students feel that the program is tailored specifically for their age and stage. Beyond the regular program, there is tremendous opportunity to create unique events for outreach, service, and growth-oriented ministries.

SOLID FOUNDATION

Imprint Church experienced a solid season of stability in its student ministry for five years, including the pandemic period, under the former Student Lead. After the previous pastor moved on, the ministry was led effectively by a volunteer team. In 2022, a new Student & Family Pastor took over, successfully growing the volunteer team and continuing much of the previous leadership's initiatives.

Imprint looks forward to a new direction that includes creativity and new discipleship pathways while maintaining strong relational ties.

The new Student Pastor will have the opportunity to build upon this solid foundation and lead a group of students eager to maintain their community while reaching out to those who don't yet know Jesus. With the children's ministry continuing to grow, the student ministry can anticipate a steady influx of students graduating into the group for years to come.

RELATIONAL ABOVE ALL ELSE

The hope, desire, and stated goal is to find a passionate leader who will connect with a diverse base of students and families. The new Student Pastor will gain quick momentum by effectively engaging with the family ministry team, connecting with students, empowering leaders, and communicating well with parents and families.

LEADER OF LEADERS

Imprint Church has a solid base of lay leaders serving in student ministries. However, these leaders express a desire for more extensive training and accountability as their shepherding roles in the lives of kids and students expand. The new pastor should take the time to build community and trust while providing practical training to disciple kids, students, and parents in one-on-one, small group, and larger group settings.