Job Description:

Associate Pastor of Students, Discipleship and Missions

Position: Associate Pastor of Students, Discipleship/Education, and Missions

Reports To: Senior Pastor and Elders

Employee Status: Full-time, Salaried

Church Size/Context: Approx. 400 average attendance; Southern Baptist; Located in the Metro-East region of St Louis, Missouri

Position Summary:

The Associate Pastor of Students, Discipleship, and Missions will assist the Senior Pastor in equipping the church to fulfill the Great Commission by giving focused leadership to the spiritual formation of students (grades 6-12), the discipleship/educational ministries of the church, and the development of local and global mission engagement. This pastor will shepherd, teach, and mobilize members of the church to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ and to live on mission in the community and beyond.

Qualifications:

-A clear testimony of faith in Jesus Christ and a lifestyle consistent with the qualifications of a pastor/elder (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9).

-Agreement with the Baptist Faith and Message (2000).

-Called by God to pastoral ministry and committed to serving in the local church.

-A seminary degree (Master of Divinity or equivalent) preferred; ministry experience required, preferably in a multi-staff church setting.

-Demonstrated gifting in preaching/teaching, leadership, and administration.

-A passion for student ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and missions.

-Strong relational and communication skills; ability to work collaboratively with staff and lay leaders.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Student Ministry ( Grades 6-12)

-Provide pastoral leadership, oversight, and vision for the student ministry.

-Plan, lead, and evaluate weekly gatherings (Bible studies, worship, small groups, etc).

-Preach/teach biblical messages relevant to students' spiritual growth and life application.

-Recruit, train, and equip adult leaders and volunteers for student ministry.

-Develop and maintain a discipleship strategy for students that emphasizes evangelism, biblical teaching, spiritual disciplines, and service.

-Provide pastoral care, mentoring, and counseling for students and their families.

-Organize and lead camps, retreats, mission trips, and outreach events.

-Maintain effective communication with parents, keeping them engaged and resourced in discipling their students at home.

-Ensure that all student ministry volunteers adhere to church child protection and safety policies.

2. Discipleship and Education

-Work with the Senior Pastor and church leadership to develop and implement a comprehensive discipleship strategy for all ages.

-Oversee, resource, and coordinate Small Group ministries, including teacher/leader recruitment, training, curriculum and encouragement.

-Develop pathways for spiritual growth (new members' class, discipleship groups, mentoring, spiritual growth classes, leadership development, etc.).

-Provide doctrinally sound teaching resources and curriculum for church educational ministries.

-Ensure alignment of all discipleship ministries with the church's vision and mission.

-Identify, equip and encourage lay leaders in teaching and discipleship roles.

-Partner with other staff to foster intergenerational discipleship within the church.

-Teach and preach regularly in various settings as requested by the Senior Pastor.

3. Missions and Outreach

-Lead the church in developing a biblical vision for missions– local, national, and international.

-Organize and promote opportunities for members to engage in mission projects and partnerships.

-Coordinate and support short-term mission trips, ensuring participants are trained and equipped.

-Serve as the staff liaison to the church missions team.

-Build partnerships with local ministries and SBC mission organizations (NAMB, IMB, IBSA, Send Network, Send Relief, and local Baptist associations, etc.)

-Equip members to live missionally in their everyday lives.

-Help integrate mission involvement into the overall discipleship process of the church.

4. General Pastoral Responsibilities

-Support and assist the Senior Pastor in overall pastoral care and ministry leadership.

-Share in preaching and worship leadership as requested.

-Conduct hospital visits, counseling, weddings, funerals, and other pastoral care needs.

-Participate in staff meetings, church leadership meetings, and strategic planning.

-Model Christlike character, servant leadership, and a commitment to prayer.

-Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Pastor.

Key Outcomes:

-A growing number of people connected in groups and discipleship relationships.

-A clear, effective discipleship pathway that engages the congregation.

-Leaders and volunteers equipped and released for ministry.

-A culture of spiritual growth, multiplication, and community in the church.

Accountability and Evaluation:

The Associate Pastor will report directly to the Senior Pastor/Elders and will be evaluated annually by the Senior Pastor/Elders in consultation with the personnel committee.