Eastside Community Church
- Denomination: Evangelical Free, Reformed
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
- Size: 102
- Website: eastsidecommunity.org
- Hiring for: Director of Youth
The need
The need to fill the Student Ministry role at Eastside Community Church had become both urgent and deeply significant. For the past several years, Chris Bullington, now in his mid-60s, had faithfully held down the fort, shepherding students with love and dedication, even while balancing a secular job and unexpected shifts into ministry leadership. However, the pace and energy needed to engage the current group of students had outgrown what one person can reasonably carry alone, especially in a ministry that had experienced both seasons of growth and decline in recent years. Chris had served with humility and grace, and while he wasn’t stepping away from the church, he recognized that the students needed a new, younger leader—someone who could run at their speed, speak their language, and pursue their hearts, and he planned to be that person’s biggest supporter.
The role was opening for all the right reasons, but leaving it unfilled risked compromising the church’s larger mission. Student ministry isn’t just a program—it’s a vital front line in making disciples, often reaching teens whose parents aren’t yet connected to the church at all. The team has stretched and adapted, but the gaps became clear. Families with student-aged kids weren’t plugged in, volunteers were worn thin, and momentum had slowed. This wasn’t just about filling a spot—it was about reigniting a strategic, mission-critical area of ministry, and Eastside Community Church began this search with the hope that this change would help their student ministry flourish.
About Eastside Community Church
At the heart of Eastside Community Church is a genuine and steady commitment to the Great Commission: “Inviting all to know Christ and to make Him known.” From the beginning, Eastside was founded with a clear sense of purpose rooted in Matthew 28:18. Their focus is simple: reaching those who don’t yet know Jesus, helping believers grow in their faith, and encouraging everyone to live out a disciple-making life. This mission isn’t just a slogan—it shapes the culture, rhythms, and outreach of the entire body.
Missions are more than a program at Eastside, they’re a central part of the life of the church. Their values drive them to engage both locally and globally, equipping everyday believers to bring the gospel to their own neighborhoods and beyond. That’s what makes this search for a Director of Youth especially exciting. Eastside sees leadership not just as filling a role, but as an opportunity to multiply impact and expand their mission. This moment marks a meaningful opportunity to align the right leader with a vibrant vision—one that’s all about reaching more people, growing deeper in discipleship, and sending others out with purpose.
The ideal candidate
Eastside Community Church was looking for someone who could embody their mission, someone who shared their values and could be an asset to their team. This candidate would disciple the next generation of Christians, the heart of the congregation: the students. Ideally, the candidate would:
- Have 3-5 years of applicable experience- must be a Bible teacher
- Have Passion for discipleship and helping the community and mission partners
- Be Teachable and want to work on a team
- Have Humility, Curiosity, and Sensitive to those with special needs
- Must be a people person and a connector
Strategy and timing
Back in 2024 when Eastside Community Church was in need of a new Worship Minister, they worked with Vanderblomen, and they were so happy with their experience during the search, that, according to Executive Search Consultant Brett Connolly, “The elders and pastors at the church call us VanderBOOM’n because they love our work so much.” Eager to find their perfect fit for their Director of Youth as well, Eastside Community Church once again contacted Vanderbloemen, and Brett was assigned to this new case. With nearly a decade of pastoral experience himself, as well as over 150 successful searches under his belt, Brett recognized the importance of a Youth Director’s role in a church like Eastside Community Church. Brett was enthusiastic to begin the search alongside Senior Executive Search Recruiter Will Hancock, a seasoned and experienced recruiter whom Brett had already completed several successful searches with over the years. After seeing the first slate of candidates, all of whom were great individuals, something still felt missing for Eastside Community Church, so Brett and Will went back to the drawing board. When they met Sterling Sharp in his interview something about him was simply magnetic, and he seemed like the perfect fit for the role at Eastside Community Church.
About Sterling Sharp
Although he was young, Sterling Sharp had a good head on his shoulders and seemed to be great at planning ahead as well as adapting quickly to changes. (Case in point: Sterling’s wife Adei went into labor only two days after his interview and Sterling still managed to submit post-interview application materials and assessments in the hours before leaving for the hospital.) When Sterling was presented as a candidate to Eastside Community Church, they absolutely loved him. They saw him as their missing piece, discovered byBrett and Will. Along with being a generally likable and hardworking person, Sterling was:
- A young leader passionate about student ministry and developing believers
- Experienced in Ministry, having worked as a campus minister for multiple years, tripling the size of their ministry
- Experienced with college students but felt called to work with younger students
- Passionate about one-on-one and small group discipleship with students
- Aligned in priorities and passion with the mission of the church
Another successful partnership between Vanderbloemen and Eastside Community Church led them to their missing piece. Sterling Sharp enthusiastically accepted the position as the Director of Youth and is set to thrive and create positive change. With Sterling at the helm, Eastside can look forward to student and youth ministry growth, as well as increased discipleship and mission work.
