ANDREA PAULSON
Hawley Lutheran Church
Hawley,MN
18
years of professional experience
Experienced pastor and strategic leader with expertise in church revitalization, restructuring and congregational growth. Proven ability to inspire and motivate teams, ensuring collaboration and pursuit of shared vision and mission, so that all people may know and be known by God.
Work History
Lead Pastor
6 Years 3 Months- Assumed leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting ministry operations through the development of online worship and digital engagement to maintain congregational connection and participation.
- Guided the congregation through recovery following a major leadership crisis, rebuilding trust, restoring organizational health and establishing a foundation for long-term sustainability and growth.
- Created and implemented the church's mission, vision, and multi-year strategic plan, aligning ministries, leadership teams and resources around measurable goals and priorities.
- Reorganized and revitalized ministry teams across the congregation, creating sustainable volunteer leadership structures and improving ministry effectiveness.
- Led a comprehensive financial restructuring initiative, consolidating multiple ministry accounts into a unified budgeting system that improved financial transparency, accountability and stewardship across the organization.
- Led the revitalization of the congregation, increasing average weekly worship attendance from approximately 200 to 400 participants.
- Rebuilt and expanded contemporary worship ministry, growing attendance from approximately 65 to 250 participants through strategic vision, leadership development and volunteer recruitment.
- Expanded and developed church staff from 7 to 10 employees while strengthening leadership systems, team culture and organizational effectiveness.
- Led a capital campaign that secured more than $1.5 million in commitments and pledges to to address deferred maintenance, facility improvements, ministry expansion and future mission initiatives.
- Managed strategic planning, design and execution of renovation project, totaling over $2.1 million.
- Prepared and delivered weekly biblical teaching and custom sermon series focused on discipleship and spiritual formation.
Associate Pastor
3 Years 9 Months- Partnered with Senior Pastor to plan and lead traditional and contemporary services, resulting in increased engagement from the congregation.
- Designed and led innovative worship series and experiences, including Lenten dramas, Children’s Messages and seasonal outreach events.
- Rebuilt and grew Youth Ministry from 10 to 40 regular participants within 14 months through a renewed discipleship-focused mission and vision.
- Created and implemented new confirmation and Sr. High curriculum for 50 youth, focused on bible, service opportunities and mission projects.
- Expanded church engagement through the implementation of live-streaming, online giving and social media strategy.
Director of Youth and College Ministry
8 Years- Developed and implemented the vision, mission, and strategic plan for a comprehensive youth and college ministry serving middle school, high school and college age young adults.
- Designed and led biblically based, multi-grade curriculum for confirmation and student ministries, shaping discipleship pathways for students from grades 6–12.
- Built and led leadership development systems, mentoring student leaders and recruiting, training and equipping 30+ adult volunteers for ministry and mission engagement.
- Developed and coordinated 12 national and 3 international short-term mission trips, providing students with global discipleship experiences and cross-cultural ministry opportunities.
- Participated in broader congregational leadership including teaching, preaching, worship planning, small group development and care for students, college-age young adults, families and volunteers.
Education
Master of Divinity - Christian Thought and Global, Cultural and Contextual Ministry
Master of Science - Educational Leadership
Bachelor of Science - Secondary Education
Bachelor of Arts - History
Skills
Vision casting
Strategic planning
Preaching
Worship planning
Church revitalization
Financial management
Organizational leadership
Timeline
Lead Pastor
Hawley Lutheran Church
03.2020 - CurrentRead More
Associate Pastor
First St. Paul's Lutheran Church
06.2016 - 03.2020Read More
Director of Youth and College Ministry
Atonement Lutheran Church
01.2008 - 01.2016Read More
Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM)
Bachelor of Arts from History
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Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM)
Bachelor of Science from Secondary Education
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Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM)
Master of Science from Educational Leadership
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Bethel Seminary
Master of Divinity from Christian Thought and Global, Cultural and Contextual Ministry
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SOCIAL MEDIA
- @ajepaulson
- @hawleylutheran