Pastor Jeff Ford

Jeff Ford
191 Pannis Rd
Delanson, NY 12053
(518) 301-0045

pastorjeff@sonrisebible.com

OBJECTIVE

To find an evangelical church in the New England area where I can effectively
minister to families in the church and the community. It is my desire to help
others be better imitators of Christ in all areas of life.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Qualified for ministry by qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

• Call to ministry confirmed by life, vision, and ministry.
• Devoted follower of Christ and servant leader.
• Strong call and desire to minister to the New England area.
• Deep passion for and desire to reach the lost.
• Love for the things and people of God.
• Quality teacher and communicator.
• Authentic care for peoples’ needs. Able to easily empathize with them and share
God’s love and message of hope for their lives.
• Ability to maintain confidence in sensitive matters.
• Proven record of integrity with adults and children.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

INTERPERSONAL AND TEAMWORK SKILLS

• Interacted with a wide variety of personalities on staffs of large and medium-sized

churches, including during transitional periods. Also worked through several
transitional ministries, building them for success after my personal involvement.
• God has used me to take many declining ministries and move them to growth both
spiritually and numerically. These included children, youth, and adult ministries.
• Built a team of volunteers for a brand new recovery ministry. Helped identify and
implement volunteers for leading other existing ministries.
• Often able to diffuse destructive situations and people by listening, empathizing,
and working toward Christian reconciliation. Able to deal with interpersonal
problems in the church in a Christ-honoring and loving manner.
• Recruited, trained, and have overseen groups of volunteers ranging from 1 to 50.

Please call or email to request a list of additional personal references.

Rev. Jeff Ford 518-301-0045
pastorjeff@sonrisebible.com
 Pastor Jeff Ford

PASTORAL/ SHEPARDING SKILLS

• Counseled and worked with youth and adults with personal problems including
abuse, drug abuse, immorality, suicide, grief, rebellion, and other physical and/or
psychological problems. Able to integrate psychotherapy and biblical counseling
under the authority of Scripture.
• Helped to reconcile marriages, parent-child relationships, and brothers and sisters
in Christ.
• Served in all aspects of pastoral care when filling in for lead pastor at Sonrise.
• Currently serve as counseling pastor.
• Started, implemented, and currently lead 12-Step Christian recovery program.

QUANTITATIVE SKILLS

• Formulate annual budgets for all ministries overseen.

• Constantly entrusted with large sums of money.
• Able to implement budgets in new and existing ministries.
• Consistently able to remain within budgets.

ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS

• Formulated and implemented a policy handbook for all volunteers addressing

expectations, requirements, sexual-misconduct policy, background checks, etc.
• Able to due cost analysis on outsourced work.
• Examined and oversaw changes to more efficient products such as church
insurance and telecommunications.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Proficient in programs such as Word, Access, PowerPoint, MediaShout, Premiere,

Photoshop, Cool Edit Pro, and membership programs. Additionally, use
Microsoft Publisher, Excel, FrontPage, Illustrator, and After Effects.
• Create and distribute reports using Excel, Word, and membership programs.
• Able to form basic html websites such as www.sonrisebible.com and
www.sonrisebible.com/cr.
• Operated and maintained approximately 20 computers at a time.
• Currently oversee 8 CPU network including wireless.
• Able to edit digital video and audio and incorporate multimedia into services.
• I have overseen all aspects of and installed sound, video, and lighting in both new
and existing buildings.

Please call or email to request a list of additional personal references.

Rev. Jeff Ford 518-301-0045
pastorjeff@sonrisebible.com
 Pastor Jeff Ford

FULL-TIME MINISTRY EMPLOYMENT

1998-2005 Southwest Baptist Church (806)353-3761

Pastor J. Alan Ford 8201 Canyon Drive Amarillo, TX 79110

Current pastor is Pastor Brad Speer (who was a co-minister of mine for over 7 years)

2005-Present Sonrise Bible Church (518)356-0963

Pastor Bob Hart 1082 Dunnsville Rd Rotterdam, NY 12306

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

• From April of 1998 until July of 2005, I served on staff at Southwest Baptist
Church of Amarillo as the Middle School Pastor. I was also the multimedia
director and station manager of the church’s radio station, KAVW, a satellite
station of the American Family Association. These duties included maintaining
the studio and tower sites, editing messages, loading local weekly broadcasts, and
overseeing live service broadcasts.
• Since July of 2005, I have served as the Assistant Pastor at Sonrise Bible Church
in Rotterdam, NY. My duties have included interim youth pastor and then
children’s director, IT and multimedia director, and currently counseling pastor
and Celebrate Recovery director.
• I have been involved in multiple building programs.

PASTORAL EDUCATION

Baptist Bible College, Springfield, MO -- 1997

Graduate of Theology and
Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministries

Liberty University Online

Master of Arts in Religion: Pastoral Counseling (continuing education online, scheduled
to finish spring of 2011) Current GPA 3.8

Please call or email to request a list of additional personal references.

Rev. Jeff Ford 518-301-0045
pastorjeff@sonrisebible.com
 Pastor Jeff Ford

Testimony:
I was raised a pastor’s kid in Amarillo, Texas. My father took the church 1 year after it
was founded. I grew up knowing both the highs and lows of ministry. I spent summers
travelling the country going to conferences, and I spent summers cleaning restrooms at
local fast food restaurants to make ends meet for our family during financial down times
at the church. I accepted Christ as my Lord at age 6, and was baptized at age 7. I spent
much of my teenage years serving in the bus ministry, knocking doors, and occasionally
teaching. I felt God calling me to full-time service when I was 14, and dedicated the rest
of my life to Him then.
I attended Bible college immediately after high school to train for the ministry. I chose a
school that was strong in doctrine and theology over ones that were more liberal arts type
schools. I had no doubts of the calling of God on my life. I underwent some major
physical problems during my time at school, and was forced to withdrawal for a semester.
During that time, I questioned God as to why He was allowing me to face such trials. I
underwent 10 surgeries over the course of 5 years. I am happy to say He healed me
physically, but more importantly spiritually. I gained a new understanding of who He is
and what His love does. I graduated from school, married my wife, and jumped into
ministry.
I first served in Amarillo, Texas as the Middle School director. The church ran around
1500 and the middle school program ran around 30. God blessed and the group grew to
an average attendance around 80. I enjoyed what God was doing, but sensed a deep
desire to minister elsewhere, specifically New England (Maine or New Hampshire). I
had never been to either, but knew that God wanted me there. The church underwent
internal struggles, and I was unable to leave due to my dedication to stay through the
storms. When the church had recovered, I began to search for a way to get to the
Northeast. My family and I were ready to pack up and move hoping to find jobs so that
we could be where we felt God wanted us.
I was introduced to Pastor Hart by email when he was searching for an interim youth
pastor/assistant pastor. Less than a month after initially contacting each other, we were
loading a truck and heading for New York. The pastor convinced us that his area was
more New England than New York, and we were happy to have someone willing to pay
us to move to the area. After the interim, we mutually decided to stay on. My family
was content and comfortable, and we love the people. I have personally grown as a
minister, an individual, and a Christ follower during my time at Sonrise. It has been a
time of great growth for the church and for my family. I developed an even deeper
passion for sharing the love of Christ with hurting people.
Recently we have felt pulled away and looked into starting a church. My personality
does not lend itself to starting a new church, but I was willing to follow God’s leading. I
was convinced that a person must be wholly committed to starting a new church for it to
be successful however and found myself questioning whether it was the correct decision
due to my personality. When I found there was a church in Maine that was seeking a
pastor, my heart jumped and I realized I needed to follow through on what God had led
me to do years ago. I am now committed to finishing my journey to New England. That
is where I have felt God leading and preparing me for.
Please call or email to request a list of additional personal references.
Rev. Jeff Ford 518-301-0045
pastorjeff@sonrisebible.com
 Pastor Jeff Ford

Vision and philosophy of ministry:

I have recently developed a deep desire to see discipleship in the body of Christ balanced
with the wonderful grace of our savior. I believe that we are all under grace, and that the
church is to be a place of healing, not condemnation. I believe we are not to care how
people look, dress, or how much money they make. We are to reach out to all people
equally. I also believe that the lack of spiritual discipline in the mainline Christian
church has led to a great deal of “Atheistic-Christians.” The vast majority of Christians
are so called because they claim to be so, but they live their lives as if there is no God.
God’s church has started to lean toward easy-believism and the body is suffering for it.
The church has become so consumed with asking what Jesus would do, that we have
failed to do what He did. I have come to realize that without adherence to spiritual
discipline in the life of the believer, there will be no maturity. Christ called us to a
difficult life of servitude and sacrifice, yet we have become obsessed with happiness and
materialism.

The pastor I currently serve under is aware of my intentions, so feel free to contact him.
Here are some more personal references if you would like to contact them. If you want
more, please ask.

Pastor Scott Jordan The Bridge Church Bismarck, ND 701-426-6500

Ian Bonthron Church member Rotterdam, NY 518-452-1129
Ray Crawford Previous Volunteer Amarillo, TX 806-683-6726

Personal Info:
I am 35 years old and have been married and in full-time ministry for 12 years. My
wife’s name is Jessica and she grew up on a farm in Missouri. I have a 6-year-old son
(Jayden), and a soon to be 2-year-old son (Westley). My personal overarching goal is to
be an imitator of Christ, and to help others do the same. I will be happy to answer any
more questions about me personally or my family.
I try to lead with servitude and humility. I am praying that God will lead me to a church
where I can serve for the rest of my ministry or life, which ever comes first.

May God’s hand bless you and guide you in your search.
Pastor Jeff Ford

Please call or email to request a list of additional personal references.

Rev. Jeff Ford 518-301-0045
pastorjeff@sonrisebible.com