St. John’s Church
- Denomination: Nondenominational/Lutheran
- Location: Elkhorn, WI
- Size: 200
- Website: www.stjohnselkhorn.com/
- Hiring for: Associate Pastor
The need
St. John’s Church stood at a pivotal moment in its 125 year history. For over a decade, Senior Pastor Tom had faithfully led the congregation with vision, warmth, and a pastoral heart. But as the church has grown in size and scope—crossing the 200-attendance barrier, expanding children and youth ministries, and leading ecumenical efforts across Walworth County—the weight of ministry had increasingly fallen on too few shoulders. Pastor Tom carried much of this load, and while the congregation was thriving, the staff was stretched thin. The leadership had discerned that the time was right to expand the pastoral team.
The Associate Pastor role was not a luxury—it was vital. Without it, the church risked stalling its momentum and limiting its capacity to disciple new believers, deepen community connections, and faithfully shepherd its multigenerational congregation. The new Associate Pastor would relieve pressure on the Senior Pastor, bring fresh energy to family and discipleship ministries, and ensure that no one slipped through the cracks. This was about more than hiring another leader—it was about stewarding the mission God had entrusted to St. John’s.
About St John’s Church
Founded in 1898, St. John’s Church is deeply rooted in the Lutheran tradition while joyfully embracing a nondenominational, ecumenical spirit. Affiliated with the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC), St. John’s embodies a “both/and” posture—holding fast to the historic distinctives of grace alone, faith alone, and scripture alone, while welcoming people from diverse denominational backgrounds. Here, unity in Christ is prized above division, and the church seeks to be a bridge-builder in a fractured Christian landscape.
The heartbeat of St. John’s is captured in its mission: Love God and love others in a way that brings hope to the world. That calling is lived out through engaging worship (both liturgical and contemporary), dynamic children and youth ministries, robust community outreach, and a reputation for hospitality that makes people feel known and cared for. From outdoor summer worship in the park, to ecumenical services with other local congregations, to meals that bring the community together, St. John’s consistently finds creative ways to embody the invitational love of God.
The church’s vision–Be known. Known by God. Known by others. Known by yourself–is not just aspirational, it’s actively shaping the congregation. Families, seniors, seekers, and long-time believers alike are discovering a spiritual home where questions are welcomed, the Gospel is central, and people are encouraged to grow and serve. In a politically and theologically diverse area, St. John’s has become known as a “purple church,” where people from all walks of life can come together under the name of Jesus.
The ideal candidate
St. John’s Church was seeking an Associate Pastor to serve as a partner in ministry and leadership alongside the Senior Pastor. Someone who could turn vision and ideas into action while also bringing relational warmth and a steady pastoral presence. This leader would primarily focus on discipleship, assimilation of new believers, and family ministry, helping people of all ages and stages of faith grow in their belief and belonging. The ideal candidate would be:
- Deeply rooted in Christ, practicing prayer, discipleship, generosity, sabbath rest, and faith-sharing.
- Seminary-trained (holding or in progress of receiving a graduate degree) with at least two years of applicable pastoral ministry experience.
- Gifted in leadership, communication, organization, and managing relationships, with a passion for discipling families and children.
- Grounded in scripture, open to the Holy Spirit, and able to serve and preach within a broad, ecumenical, sacramental context.
- Committed to cultivating a community that is Christ-centered, joyful, and welcoming, embracing diversity and unity in Christ.
Strategy and timing
After finding out about Vanderbloemen, St John’s Church and its leaders reached out, and in no time Executive Search Consultant Rick Callahan was on the case. Bringing over 34 years of pastoral experience to the consultant team at Vanderbloemen, Rick knew the value of a role like an Associate Pastor and what a great help they are to the Senior Pastor. He knew that finding just the right candidate for the job could lift a significant weight off St John’s sole full-time pastor’s shoulders and create room for positive change in the entire church as a whole. Additionally, being from the Chicago area himself, Rick brought unique connections and perspective to the search. Joining him on the search was Recruiter Missy Tuft. Together throughout the early months of 2025, Rick and Missy worked together with St John’s Church to bring together the best slate of candidates for the position, interviewing and vetting candidates until they had found the best of the best.
About Eric Haskins
When the team at St. John’s Church was presented with a slate of strong, capable, and well-suited candidates, one immediately stood out from the rest of the slate due to his incredible amount of experience and expertise. Eric Haskins, a seasoned pastor from Illinois who felt called to serve in a new position. In the end, St. John’s offered the role of Associate Pastor to Eric, their unicorn candidate, who seemed to have appeared at the perfect time and fit what they were looking for with:
- Has over 30 years of Ministry Experience
- Very in-tune with his relationship with the Lord
- Able to balance pastoral duties with managing church staff and budgets
- In direct alignment with St John’s values and vision
- Passionate about giving back to the community and shepherding new believers
