Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Ellsworth.
Hi Jason, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In January of 2020 I stepped into the role of Lead Pastor at Northpointe Church, just weeks before the world shut down due to COVID-19. Our congregation had been meeting at Staley High School, but when everything changed, we were left without a place to worship. For quite a while we were homeless, meeting in various churches and businesses that were gracious enough to allow us to worship in their space when they weren’t using it. COVID had a way of allowing the generosity of our community to shine and we were blessed by it again and again.
During this time we were actively looking for a building to purchase. We had some money in the bank, but it felt like every time we were ready to place an offer, someone else would swoop in and purchase the building. We hit roadblock after roadblock. Then I received an unexpected phone call from a member of First Baptist Church in Smithville, asking if I could meet with a team from the church. I kind of assumed that they might want to sell their building and so I cautiously anticipated the meeting.
A team of people from FBC welcomed me and began the meeting with a pretty thorough interview. The whole time, I wondered what was going on, but toward the end of the meeting they posed a question, “Would Northpointe Church ever consider merging with First Baptist Church in Smithville?” That raised a nuimber of questions and sparked a lot of conversation. But ultimately the members of First Baptist Church were offering their building and resources to the people of Northpointe Church, inviting us to come together as one new congregation, united in mission and vision.
What an incredible act of humility it was for the members of FBC. They weren’t just inviting a bunch of new people into their church home. They were willing to change everything about their worship style, format, and rhythm of life. But they had a vision for something beautiful that could only come from two different congregations laying down their old identities.
In 2022, Prevail Church was born, a congregation focused on making disciples of Jesus, fostering life-long relationships, and bringing God’s kingdom in the Kansas City Northland. For nearly four years, we’ve watched, as people’s lives are positively transformed by the work that is happening through Prevail Church.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, we braced ourselves for a bumpy ride. We hadn’t seen many church mergers and we feared that there could be a variety of strong will and domineering personalities. But that never happened. What we’ve witnessed over and over again is humility, compassion, understanding, commitment to the vision… We’ve never once dealt with church politics or pirates. Instead, God has built a new family, where everyone is valued.
Has it been hard? I’m sure it’s been hard form some, especially for those who have laid down so much for the sake of Prevail Church’s future. I can’t even begin to tell you of the sacrifices the people have made, but those personal sacrifices never turned into corporate obstacles, and I have to give glory to God and honor to faithful believers who could see the vision of what was coming and were willing to lay down so much to get there.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I probably have a unique journey for a pastor. I spent the first part of my adult life playing in a band, traveling across the United States, playing music. It was after my wife and I started to have children that I realized that my traveling schedule wasn’t ideal for my kids. I decided that being present as a father was far more important to me than the career I’d built in music, but I had no idea how I would make that transition.
Unexpectedly, I was approached by a pastor in Liberty who invited me to join the staff of his church in the Worship & Arts department. It was an answer to my prayers. It was there at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church where I learned many of leadership skills that I would need to pastor a congregation. I’m hugely appreciative to Merle Mees for his investment in me.
I suppose that road has influenced who I am as a pastor and who Prevail Church is. We place a high value on our corporate worship and prayer. I’m sure some guests would be surprised to find how much time we commit to singing. In our experience, that is the space where God seems especially near to us. We also place a high value on praying for each other. In a day and age where many people could walk into church and sit through a service without breaking their anonymity, we have built a culture where we stop and pray for each others needs, which requires a measure of vulnerability. But in that space we watch God do incredible things!
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think humility and integrity are the values I most want to embody. We live in a time when religious leaders are being exposed left and right. But I’m convinced that for every single one of those stories that are being told there are a hundred or a thousand pastors who are quietly serving their congregations and communities with humility and integrity. They aren’t famous. They aren’t social media influencers. But they quietly care for the people that God has entrusted to them. They aren’t involved in scandals. They love their spouses and children well. They are responsible with their finances. Regardless of the attributes that could generate “success” or “applause,” I hope that at the end of my life, my children or grandchildren stand up at my funeral and celebrate that I showed up as a father and as a husband, that I was faithful to my congregation, and that I lived what I preached.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://prevailsmithville.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prevailsmithville
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prevailsmithville
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrevailSmithville
