Discipleship Pastor

First Baptist Lafayette is seeking a Discipleship Pastor to lead our discipleship ministry and build a clear, intentional pathway that moves people from first contact with the gospel to mature, multiplying disciples of Jesus Christ. This is a senior staff role for a pastor with strong shepherding instincts, theological depth, and the organizational discipline to turn vision into sustainable systems across every age group in the church.

Reporting to the Senior Pastor, the Discipleship Pastor provides staff leadership over Sunday School and weekly discipleship groups, drives evangelism and new-member assimilation strategy, oversees ongoing visitation, and develops the next generation of ministry leaders. He will also share in the pastoral work of the church — preaching as assigned, counseling, baptisms, weddings, funerals, and hospital visitation.

First Baptist Lafayette is a Southern Baptist congregation in the heart of Acadiana, fully committed to the inerrancy of Scripture and the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. The right candidate is a called and qualified man as defined by 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, proven pastoral experience, and a track record of actually making disciples — not just running programs.

Job Summary: The Discipleship Pastor assists the Senior Pastor in planning, conducting, coordinating, and evaluating a comprehensive program of Age-Graded Discipleship that streamlines the process from unsaved/unchurched to missional disciple.

Major Responsibilities:

• Serve as the staff team lead over the age-graded Discipleship department.
• Coordinate and lead Sunday School and other weekly discipleship groups.
• Coordinate with staff/department leadership to develop and implement age-appropriate evangelistic strategies.
  • Oversee the perennial visitation program and lead all departments in participating.
  • Lead all departments in the development and execution of age-appropriate "funnel" events and programs.
• Lead in the planning, conducting, coordination, and evaluation of a comprehensive program of member assimilation.
  • Coordinate and lead a New Members/Prospective Members class.
  • Keep up with all prospects/members and their progress toward spiritual maturity.
• Lead in discovering, enlisting, and training future leaders for ministry.
• Manage budget and resources for respective ministries.
• Fulfill preaching/teaching responsibilities in support of the Senior Pastor.
• Assist in pastoral ministry (i.e. counseling during worship invitations; assist in baptisms; conduct weddings and funerals when appropriate, and hospital visitation).

General duties:

• Serve as staff liaison for assigned church committees and ministry teams.
• Keep informed on methods, materials, principles, procedures, promotions, and administration related to pertinent ministries.
• Cooperate with associational, state, and national programs and leaders. Be involved as time permits, giving first priority to the church.
• Maintain openness to new ideas and flexibility in adopting new strategies of ministry.
• Participate in the weekly visitation program.
• Provide support when needed to other departments with "all hands on deck" ministries (i.e. Vacation Bible School, revivals).
• Be present and available to support all church-wide services (Sunday AM/PM and Wednesday PM) and events.
• Work with other ministry staff when responsibilities overlap.Perform other duties and assignments as requested by the Senior Pastor.

Working Conditions

• The Discipleship Pastor shall be responsible as an employee to the Senior Pastor through the Executive Pastor. He will coordinate and cooperate with the Senior Pastor, Executive Pastor, and Church Staff to discharge all duties and responsibilities.
• Observe regular office hours of 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, except as required by the needs of carrying out assigned responsibilities or as provided in the general personnel policies.
• Vacation, holidays, and other circumstances related to working conditions are determined by general personnel policies.
• The Executive Pastor must approve participation in conferences and conventions.

Qualifications

• Be a Christian of high moral character who has demonstrated loyalty to God, the church, and his Pastor, and who expresses a call to the ministry.
• Fulfills the requirements of a pastor/overseer/elder found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
• Able and willing to sign FBC Lafayette's Staff Covenant.
• Has evidenced a heart's desire to win people to faith in Christ and to see them following Him.
• Has demonstrated a work ethic characterized by punctuality, integrity, honesty, diligence, excellence, and industriousness.
• Has demonstrated the ability to lead and work with volunteer workers of all age groups of the church in a spirit of harmony.
• Has demonstrated the ability to work cooperatively with other church staff members.
• Has demonstrated a high level of confidentiality concerning all areas of ministry, especially personal contributions, benevolence, and personal information.