📌 Job Title: Associate PastorLocation: Bear Cove Baptist Church, Sparta, TN

Employment Type: Full-Time

Reports To: Pastor/Elder Team

🛐 Job SummaryWe are a Christ-centered, Southern Baptist church in a rural community seeking a passionate and biblically-grounded Associate Pastor to lead and grow our ministry to students (birth through college) and families. This role is ideal for someone who loves small-town life, values doctrinal depth, and desires to shepherd the next generation in gospel truth. He should be a friendly, extroverted, hard-working servant who does not take himself too seriously. We desire a pastor who has the Spirit-driven motivation and skill to identify, equip, and mobilize leaders in our church family to be prayer-dependent, joy-filled, kingdom-minded disciples who know how to make disciples.

🎯 Key ResponsibilitiesPastoral Duties:Preach and teach at least monthly in worship services (we have a Sunday AM & PM service) and as needed in other church settings.Assist in pastoral care, including hospital visits, counseling, and crisis supportParticipate in the weekly staff meeting and within a team of pastor/elders for strategic planningUphold and promote the church's theological convictions as outlined in the Baptist Faith & Message 2000Perform pastoral duties: Baptism, Communion, weddings, funerals, etc.Keep regularly scheduled office hours and follow policies and procedures as outlined in the church's governing documents

Children's Ministry (Birth – 5th Grade):

Organize and direct the Children's ministry programs (bus ministry on Wednesday night and Sunday programming).Oversee volunteer Nursery workers.Recruit, train, and manage volunteers for children's activities.

Youth Ministry (Middle & High School):Develop and lead weekly gatherings, Bible studies, and discipleship programs for middle and high school studentsEquip students to live out their faith at home, school, and in the communityOrganize retreats, mission trips, and outreach events that foster spiritual growth and fellowshipBuild relationships with students through mentoring, presence at school events, and personal engagement

College/Early Adult Ministry:Organize and oversee all College ministry activitiesRecruit, train, and oversee volunteers for the College ministryOrganize fellowship, conference, and mission opportunities for 18-25 year olds

Family Ministry:Support and equip parents as the primary spiritual leaders of their homesProvide resources, teaching, and counseling that strengthen marriages and family discipleshipLead the ongoing effort to reach the unchurched families of students and assimilate them into the Bear Cove familyOrganize family-focused events and seminars that promote biblical parenting and family unityCollaborate with all student ministry leaders to ensure a cohesive discipleship pathway from childhood through early adulthood

📚 QualificationsSpiritual & Theological:Must be qualified for eldership as outlined in 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, and 1 Peter 5 A clear testimony of trusting Jesus for salvation and a call to pastoral ministryOrdained or pursuing ordination within a like-minded churchFull agreement with the Baptist Faith & Message 2000Familiarity with rural ministry and a commitment to shepherding with humility and grace

Education:Bachelor's degree preferred (Bible College given greater preference)Master of Divinity preferred

Experience, Personality, & Skills:More than five years of student ministry experience requiredAt least two years of vocational pastoral experience preferredStrong teaching and communication skills with theological depth and clarityRelationally warm, extroverted, and able to connect across generationsOrganized, driven, and able to lead volunteers effectivelyProficient in digital communications and social media platforms for ministry useSelf-starter who actively pursues people and ministry opportunitiesAble to preach expositional, Gospel-centered sermonsCompetency in Educational Ministry, Recreation, or Missions is a plus

🙌 What We OfferA supportive church family with a deep love for Scripture and sound doctrineOpportunity to shape a growing ministry in a tight-knit communitySalary and benefits package commensurate with education and experience"Iron-on-Iron Mentorship" and collaboration with the pastor/elder team

If you feel called to serve students and families with gospel-centered passion and pastoral care, we'd love to hear from you.

To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter (which includes an introduction to you and your family, your calling to vocational ministry, and your sense of God's calling to this position in Sparta, TN) to [email protected]. Deadline for submission is November 15.