Westside Family Church
- Denomination: Baptist – SBC
- Location: Lenexa, KS
- Size: 3430
- Website: https://www.westsidefamily.church/
- Hiring for: Lead Teaching Pastor
Facing Change
It had been eight years since Westside Family Church gained their cherished lead pastor, who had built up the church through defining seasons of growth. It was time for them to start thinking about passing the torch of legacy and leadership.
Since 2017, Randy Frazee had faithfully served as Westside Family Church’s lead teaching pastor, bringing structure, clarity, and spiritual refinement to a church that had endured many changes. Under his guidance, the leadership team developed an intentional, healthy, and united culture. As Randy prepared to step down, Westside knew they needed someone in his place who could carry the legacy and momentum forward.
This next leader would step into a balanced, collaborative environment, one built on trust and love for one another. This was a result of intentional work over time to become a place where individuals rely on each other across the team, and they were hopeful about finding someone who would value and protect that culture while continuing to guide the church into future growth.
About Westside Family Church
What began as a small neighborhood community in 1976 has grown into a vibrant, multi-campus community known as Westside Family Church. Their three locations across the Kansas City area pursue one mission together: Loving Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and sharing Jesus.
Westside is a church where familial community and bold outreach go hand in hand. With a clear vision to raise up Christ-centered families in their city and beyond, they’re a church of kingdom risk-takers. Their community is committed to pursuing the lost, the last, and the least.
Through the years, Westside consistently invests deeply in its community’s needs. They are currently developing a state-of-the-art Family Care Center, which will multiply their counseling and care resources to support the mental health of their community. Through robust city partnerships and global church-planting efforts, Westside’s influence continues to expand its reach while remaining anchored in scripture and a Christ-centered mission.
The Ideal Candidate
Westside wanted a skilled speaker, but not a polished performer. They were searching for someone who shone with authenticity— someone with the kind of selfless, resilient faith that only comes from walking through hardship with God. Their next Lead Teaching Pastor would need to have maturity of faith, emotional humility, and relational presence. They were looking for someone who had the necessary qualifications and the heart to apply them skillfully. Their list of expectations included:
- Experience in a large, multi-campus church setting
- Seminary training
- A gifted teacher and communicator
- A collaborative and selfless leader
- Relational and approachable
- Strong in strategy, management, and organization
- A model of mature, humble faith
Strategy and timing
Randy Frazee had originally been placed in Westside Family Church by Vanderbloemen eight years ago. With Randy’s season of leadership closing, Westside turned back to Vanderbloemen in search of a candidate worthy of taking Randy’s place.
Senior Executive Search Consultant Jay Mitchell flew to Kansas to spend time on the ground with Westside’s leadership, getting to know their team dynamics, vision, and values, each an important consideration in a successful search. Westside also brought in candidates from their own network, and Jay made it a priority to vet them thoroughly alongside new applicants.
Working alongside Recruiting Operations Manager Emily Hernandez-Basquez, Jay built a candidate profile and began sifting through applications. They searched for individuals who had the right credentials and the refined character and spiritual maturity Westside was praying for. Of the six candidates Jay presented, one stood out as the “epitome” of that prayer.
About Jonathan Hansen
Jonathan Hansen brings more than 14 years of ministry experience to Westside, including roles as a lead pastor, family and kids pastor, and director of student ministries. During his time in a large, multisite church, he developed the skills to organize complex ministries and develop them toward their vision. His Master of Divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary brings depth to his teaching. His leadership experience exceeded every requirement the Westside team had set out to find, and fulfilled the qualities they could only hope for.
More than his resume, it was Jonathan’s story that captured Westside’s heart. His life had not been without hardship, but the way he spoke about his story overflowed with humility and reverence for the work God had done in his life. His words reflected a clear passion for Scripture that shaped every aspect of his ministry.
Jonathan married his high school sweetheart, Lindsey, 14 years ago. Also a gifted teacher of God’s word, Lindsey is currently completing her Master’s in Biblical Studies at Westminster Theological Seminary. With their two children, the Hansens followed God’s call to move from California to Kansas, stepping into a new chapter of ministry with boldness.
With Jonathan Hansen now serving as Westside’s lead teaching pastor, Randy has stepped into an honorary role, where he remains a valued member and resource to the community he loves dearly. Westside Family Church enters its next season with consistency of heart despite change, clarity of vision, and readiness to pursue its mission with a renewed sense of zeal.
