Elizabeth Ward

I have grown up attending church. From small churches as a child and
teenager to Centerpoint Church (which reaches almost 2000 people in a weekend) to True Hope Church in Downtown Boise (which planted several churches and reaches the entire Treasure Valley in Idaho). Most of my experience has been with teens and youth, but I also have a passion for families and women (especially single women). I want to see all Christians anchor their identity to Christ and nothing this world has to offer .
Through my varied experiences at Granada Heights Friends Church (as a
college-aged intern), Centerpoint Church, and True Hope Church Downtown I have led many different ministries and small groups. I am selective about curriculum and often adapt several together to meet the needs of my students. I have a degree in Spiritual Formation as well as Youth Ministry and I love seeing Christians engage in community discipleship groups while they seek an intimate relationship with God on their own.
While at True Hope Church I expanded a lunch to Boise High students from a
weekly BBQ for 20 students to a full-blown, hot, oven-prepared lunch for over 300 people (students and volunteers). This experience taught me how to cast vision in order to recruit volunteers and how to accomplish a BIG task in a VERY short amount of time (lunch is only 40 minutes long). We also partnered with other local churches and parachurch organizations to show the love of Jesus to the students through one-on-one relationships.
Another ministry experience that utilized all my organizational and planning abilities was a teen girls conference called Worthy. While at Centerpoint Church I co-led this conference with my co-leader, Erin Melzer . Together, we created a targeted conference to talk about the topics most relevant to teen girls’ lives. We recruited a volunteer leadership team, speakers, and other volunteers. We also set (and stuck to) a schedule, planned theme and decorations, and partnered with other local churches to make a greater impact on the surrounding community.
I have accumulated a wide array of church ministry skills and experiences. I am accustomed to creatively solving problems and jumping in wherever my help is needed. I love working on a team and collaborating to make ministry experiences the best they can be.

Youth Pastor, True Hope Church Downtown-Boise, ID
August 2021 - January 2024
Ownership and Responsibility of all ministries related to 6th-12th grade students. “Wins” include:
● Rebuilt the midweek group from three students to twelve students and the Sunday morning group from three students to six students
● Took eight students on a ten day Mission Trip with YWAM
● Boise High “Church Lunch”
○ Grew from 30 students to 300 students weekly
○ Recruited over 40 volunteers, including a Leadership team
● Hired and Oversaw two Seasonal Interns
● Cinco de BINGO Church-wide fundraiser night
 

Jr. High Pastor, Centerpoint Church-Colton, CA
January 2018 - July 2021
Wins include:
● Volunteer & internship recruitment & development
● Increase student volunteers across church departments from 10% to 25% of the student population
● Worthy Conference for Teen girls: Created, organized, & hosted conference for teen girls for over 100 attendees from over 10 churches from multiple states with a team of volunteers
● Visitor Assimilation/“Next Step” Process: Launched & maintained a system for tracking church visitors & attenders through the “Next Step” process
● Developed a church-wide internship program called LEAD and taught spiritual formation classes
 

Jr. High Staff, Centerpoint Church-Colton, CA
October 2011 - December 2017
● Win: Small group curriculum development & student discipleship
 

Kids Ministry Staff, Centerpoint Church-Colton, CA
October 2005 - April 2010
● Win: Planning specific Girls Only Discipleship experiences

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE
● Clothing Department Manager at Roger Dunn Golf Shops - Santa Ana, CA
● Customer Service at Joann Fabrics & Crafts - Ontario, CA
● Elementary and Middle School Tutor - Inland Empire, CA

MA Spiritual Formation
Talbot School of Theology
Aug 2015 - Dec 2018
Honors, Kappa Tau Epsilon Honor Society
 

MA Youth Ministry
Talbot School of Theology
Jan 2012 - May 2015
Highest Honors, Kappa Tau Epsilon Honor Society
 

BA Christian Education
Biola University
Aug 2001 - Dec 2006