Pastor of Students

The Pastor of Students (“Student Pastor”) is responsible for implementing a comprehensive discipleship strategy for the student ministry at Fayetteville First Baptist Church (grades 7-12) and providing leadership to collegiate discipleship efforts. The Student Pastor will be committed to reaching, teaching, and equipping students to be disciples of Jesus Christ. He will be champion for discipleship and Great Commission ministry in the church, and a biblically qualified shepherd to the whole church. He will be the champion student discipleship in our church, developing a long-term vision for their discipleship and service that is strategically aligned with the Senior Pastor and church staff and biblically faithful. He will work to recruit and equip a team of leaders, volunteers, and parents to carry out this work while setting an example in his own teaching, evangelism, and discipleship efforts.

Major Responsibilities:

Ministry and Pastoral Care:

• Coordinate and lead all student activities.
• In coordination with the Pastor of Families, strategize and implement a plan for student discipleship.
• Plan and lead camps, fellowships, retreats and various activities.
• Plan and administrate student ministry budget and relevant designated funds, in coordination with the Pastor of Families.
• Evaluate and approve all curriculum and teaching materials for the student ministry.
• Provide pastoral counseling and support for students facing life challenges, where qualified, and aid students in seeking helper for greater counseling needs.

Leadership:

• Recruit and train volunteers, chaperones and sponsors for student activities.
• Train and equip Sunday School and small group leaders.
• Coordinate effective student ministry activities for Sunday morning, midweek, and all other church-wide services and functions. Provide leadership to student ministry event planning (for example, DNOW, camp, retreats, etc.).
• Provide strategic leadership related to the outreach and growth of the student ministry.
• Ensure student ministry in integrated into the whole of the church, laying a foundation for students to be healthy church members throughout their lives.
• Communicate regularly with parents about ministry events and student needs.

Outreach:

• Coordinate student evangelism and mission strategies.
• Train youth in outreach and gospel-conversation strategies.
• Involvement on campus at local schools (school lunches, FCA, are possible examples).
• Utilize social media and digital tools to engage students.

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Manage the supplies and material needs of the student ministry.
• Maintain student ministry gathering spaces.
• Take part in congregational care ministry of the church, including hospital visits, etc.
• Attend all staff meetings as required by Senior Pastor.
• Office hours to be commensurate to and kept according to agreed-upon hours in coordination with the Senior Pastor.
• Preach and teach within the church as needed.
• Adherence to all policies and procedures outlined in the Employee Handbook and Operations Manual (EHOM).

Other:

This is a general statement of job responsibilities; however, the Pastor of Students is expected to perform other duties as required to support the mission and ministries of Fayetteville First Baptist Church including job duty changes due to pandemics or any other unexpected change in operations.

Supervision:

Supervises area related staff (including student ministry associates, interns, ministry assistants).

Education and Experience:

Be a committed Christian with a calling to the ministry of the gospel and mission of disciple-making. Candidate must meet the qualifications of a pastor set forth in 1 Timothy 3. Should be actively growing in a personal walk of faith in Jesus Christ as exemplified in daily spiritual disciplines, a regular personal witness, and a life of service both in the church and community. Seminary degree required. Holds to Baptist Convictions set forth in the Baptist Faith & Message 2000. Experience in student ministry required. 3 years of experience in pastoral ministry is preferred but not required. M.Div. or equivalent degree required (or, required to be in progress). Should be able to fill the pulpit and other pastoral duties when called upon to do so.