Roy Christian Church
Roy Christian Church in Salt Lake City, UT searching for a Pastoral Resident.
Expected Work Hours: 20/hr week
Expected Monthly Pay: Minimum of $1000, free housing onsite
The following is a Q&A with James Sayers, Lead Pastor:
What are your greatest hopes and dreams for the next couple of years for your church?
We’ve come a long way since 2020, and I’m encouraged by the steady growth we’ve experienced. In many ways, we’re still finding our rhythm after the pandemic, but there’s a real sense of opportunity ahead of us. Our children, youth, and worship ministries have a solid foundation, and I’m grateful for what’s already in place. At the same time, I’m excited about what’s possible beyond where we are today. I would love to see us move from solid to thriving. I would love to see our next generation ministries double or triple in size and get those families connected to Jesus, to the church, and to the world.
Why did you choose to do a residency & what are you hopeful will happen through this process?
In the past, we’ve taken a more traditional approach to interviewing and hiring associates, and those experiences have helped clarify what we’re really looking for. Moving forward, we’re excited to pursue a model that prioritizes long-term relationship, shared growth, and development. We’re eager to invest in someone we can learn alongside and grow with over time.
What is it like to work on staff there?
We have a more relaxed atmosphere in the west. We have just one full-time staff member (myself) and three part-time staff members (youth, children, and office manager). As a smaller church, we’ve developed a strong culture of stepping in and faithfully taking care of what needs to be done. There’s a real sense of ownership and willingness to serve, which has been a meaningful strength for our community. We work under the guidance of a group of great elders—very supportive and protective.
Does your church’s website state the mission, vision, values and key distinctives of your church? Please paste the link:
Our church’s mission is a part of our website, newsletter, bulletin, etc. www.roychristian.org
We have never formalized values or key distinctives of our church. My own list of values for our congregation includes
Salvation. First and foremost, obviously, we want to see people’s lives and eternities changed by Jesus.
Engagement, which we see in four different ways:
Member Participation. Volunteers using their gifts and abilities in serving.
Congregational Absorption. People connecting inside the church family.
Community Involvement. Presence in our community, interacting with and serving our neighbors.
Church Movement. Getting out and going boldly, not being stuck.
Authenticity. We can’t/won’t pretend to be something that we are not. Visitors and members need to see us as we are. Jesus didn’t like pretense.
Please describe the current staff structure.
The lead pastor answers to the church elders, who have a “staff-led, elder-protected” mindset. Other staff members report to the lead pastor, but all are under the supervision of the elders.
What qualities does it take to “win” on staff at your church?
Being a self-starter is something we have come to value very much here. A successful team member will be one who is prepared to create and innovate. Being able to clearly communicate thoughts and ideas with the team is essential. A team mindset is important.
Who will the resident report to? Will there be a different person acting as coach? What do you know about their personalities (enneagram, DiSC, Strength Finders, etc.) Have you given thought as to what type of personality will work best with them?
The resident will report to the lead pastor, who will also be the primary coach.
Are there particular assessment tools that you prefer when exploring potential staff people?
We are part of the Stone-Campbell or Restoration Movement.
https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/how-to-speak-stone-campbell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restoration_Movement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NooeU0_CeVg
Are you affiliated with a particular denomination or tribes/association of churches? If so, what websites could one investigate to gain further understanding?
ECO - https://eco-pres.org
What are the key doctrinal and theological issues where alignment is essential?
As a church in the heart of Utah, a clear understanding of Jesus as God’s only Son and the single way to heaven is essential. We believe that faith, repentance, confession, baptism, and faithful living are all a part of the salvation experience. Baptism is a big deal for our church; it is the moment when sin is forgiven and the Holy Spirit becomes an interior force in one’s life. We celebrate the Lord’s Supper weekly.
What is your average weekend attendance?
2025 average attendance is 96 live, 10 online.
In general, what is your church demographic?
Age ranges:
17 and under - 34 - 19%
18-24 - 7 - 4%
25-39 - 25 - 14%
40-59 - 47 - 26%
60-79 - 51 - 28%
80+ - 15 - 8%
Total - 179
Is there more than one site or venue? If so, please describe.
One location and currently one service.
How many conversions has your church had in the past 12 months? (however you define this and whatever you count)
As of March 2026, there have been 8 baptisms!
What percentage of people are involved in a small group?
We have had 55 adults in 6 small groups this year, which is 57 percent of our live weekend attendance.
What is your church known for in the community?
We’re known for hosting two or three special events for children each year. We’ve typically held an event around Easter and an event in the fall where hundreds of community kids show up for activities, treats, and candy. We are also the church that hands out bottled water and sometimes ice cream to folks during the Roy Days’ Parade that comes past our campus every August.
How much are you planning on financially compensating your resident? Is it set or is it flexible?
It would be at least $250-300 per week plus housing provided onsite.
What are the expected work hours and what does a typical workweek look like for this resident?
This position will be 15-20 hours weekly. There would be one-on-one time with me, pastoral calls, weekly meetings with staff, time for study and development, eventually prep time for lessons and other presentations or responsibilities. I would expect involvement in an adult small group weekly, as well as other involvement in areas of interest to the resident. There would be monthly meetings with the elders (at their discretion) and the leadership team for reporting and coordination.
What else would you say to a resident considering joining your team?
I have been in ministry for thirty-three years and in just two congregations, with lots of experience and observations in every facet of ministry—children, youth, worship, preaching, teaching, pastoral care, counseling, etc. If someone is considering a life in ministry, especially in a more typically smaller congregation, I am absolutely confident that I am extremely capable and qualified to be a mentor/coach/guide. If someone wants to learn the ropes of “general practitioner” ministry in an average-sized church family, I would love to share my experience and observations.
Our congregation is extremely warm and supportive. They have treated my family better than I could have ever asked or imagined. They do want to see the difference that the real Jesus of the Bible makes in the lives of their children and families and neighbors. We are so very eager to add to our team so we can focus on doing better ministry individually, as a ministry team, and as a church family. We will all be excited and relieved to bring on someone who is passionate about Jesus’ ministry here and willing to learn and grow with us.