John Spurling

John Spurling

I am a seasoned senior leadership pastor, professor, and university president who desires to serve a dynamic church where I can contribute to the church’s ongoing impact and growth. I am a passionate leader who thrives on communicating for life change, making disciples, connecting with non-believers, developing dynamic leaders, building strong team collaboration, and finding innovative solutions to complex challenges.

STRENGTHFINDER PROFILE

Learner Achiever Strategic Relator Belief

JOHN SPURLING RESUME

RECENT MINISTRY EXPERIENCE SUMMARY

EXPERIENCE

MOST RECENT MINISTRY EXPERIENCE

2023 - 2026

ELEMENT CHURCH

Wentzville, MO

EXECUTIVE PASTOR

2018 - 2020

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC

LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION

Served on the Executive Team with responsibilities to provide oversight, leadership, and ministry engagement across the spectrum of church ministries including all Discipleship/Equipping, Small Groups, Connections, Children, Youth, Volunteers, Leadership Development, Guest Services, etc. Element Church is a non-denominational church located in the western suburbs of St. Louis with three campuses and a weekly attendance of 3,500. I also serve as a Teaching Pastor.

SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

Lakeland, FL

Until to full impact of COVID 19 June of 2020, I served as the Executive Director for Strategic Leadership & Innovation at Southeastern University. My position functioned within the Graduate, Unrestricted Education department. During my time at SEU one of the programs I developed was a new Regional Executive Master’s degree in Ministry Leadership. These executive level cohorts launched in several locations around the country with over 80 new graduate students, and within two years the program increased enrollment by over 100%.

2005 - 2017

GATEWAY CHURCH

Southlake, TX

ASSOCIATE SENIOR PASTOR

As an Associate Senior Pastor, I served on the Senior Leadership Team and developed all of the spiritual formation/discipleship, new believer, volunteer leadership, and membership resources for the church. And I was involved in all significant decisions related to church operations, expansion, staff leadership development, organizational transformation, biblical (Equip) training, and budgetary decisions. During my time on staff the church grew from 2,200 to 32,500 in weekend attendance, with more than 48,000 active members and a yearly budget of $142 million dollars.

2012 - 2017

THE KING'S UNIVERSITY
Southlake, TX

PRESIDENT

PROFESSOR OF PASTORAL LEADERSHIP

As chief executive officer, I worked with the Board of Trustees to confirm the strategic vision for the university, communicate the vision to all internal and external constituencies, and secured needed resources to accomplish all strategic goals. During my time as president the university also increased its enrollment by 255% to 867 ministry training students and added 9 new ministry training degree programs. As the administrative leader of the university, I exercised general authority over, and supervised the operations of, all departments, members of the faculty, administrative officers, other employees and the student body with over 75 full-time employees and a $12 million dollar operating budget.

EDUCATION

1989 - 1994

FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Pasadena, California

Doctor of Ministry Degree

Pastoral & Organizational Leadership

1986 - 1987

AG THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Springfield, Missouri

Masters of Divinity Degree

Graduated with Academic Honors

1985

VANGUARD UNIVERSITY

Costa Mesa, California

Masters Program

Strategic Leadership

1981 - 1984

EVANGEL UNIVERSITY
Springfield, Missouri

B.A. in Biblical Studies

Graduated Magna Cum Laude

TEACHING AND PREACHING

VIDEOS