Associate Pastor of Discipleship, Assimilation, and Missions

About the role

General hours are 40–45 hours per week, worked Sunday through Thursday, with some Friday and Saturday work required. The position represents Old River Baptist Church in general to the community, and specifically to the church and partners; as such, the role must support the mission statement, statement of faith (BFM2000), and core values of the Old River Baptist community.

The Discipleship Pastor must meet all the qualifications of the overseer outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1–7. The Discipleship Pastor’s life should be marked by a general pursuit of Christlikeness that he can articulate. The Discipleship Pastor will serve as a pastor to the whole congregation, in conjunction with the Lead Pastor and the other pastors on staff.

The Discipleship Pastor oversees the discipleship of the Old River Baptist family in alignment with the church’s mission of “making followers who are ready for the mission.” The Discipleship Pastor will assess communication models for the congregation and work to maintain clear and consistent communication, evaluate and recommend systems for organizational management of discipleship ministries, oversee the assimilation process (from first visit through completion of the membership process), and prepare and equip members and visitors for the work of ministry.

Schedule

40–45 hours per week, Sunday through Thursday, with some Friday and Saturday work required.

Qualifications

• Preferred Education: Master of Divinity, Master of Christian Education, or equivalent from a seminary in the SBC system or another closely aligned institution.
• Preferred Experience: 5+ years of church staff or mission experience, as a pastor or in a discipleship role.
• Other Qualifications: Licensed and ordained by a Southern Baptist Church or a church of like faith and practice preferred.

Responsibilities

• Pastor the entire congregation in conjunction with the Lead Pastor and other pastors on staff.
• Develop and articulate vision for assigned areas in support of the overall vision and mission of Old River Baptist Church.
• Interact with leaders and pastors to communicate accurate assessments of church discipleship systems, ministries, and membership.
• In conjunction with the Lead Pastor, develop and execute a discipleship and servanthood plan that supports the development of members’ ability to share the Gospel, do the work of ministry, and grow in holiness.
• Train and develop teachers for all aspects of discipleship, including prayer meetings, life groups, men’s and women’s ministry, and special events.
• Coordinate efforts of all discipleship ministries for cohesiveness and effectiveness.
• Coordinate special discipleship topic trainings, including a marriage conference and a family conference.
• Working with the Lead Pastor and partner organizations, develop a called ministry strategy and training plan for called residents, including a residency.
• Assess and develop systems for project planning and church-wide information management with the business office and church office.
• Develop, coordinate, and maintain yearly budget lines associated with discipleship, missions, and guest assimilation.
• Assist in data collection for Sunday morning.
• Work with the Lead Pastor and Missions volunteers to plan and implement the mission strategy of Old River Baptist Church for mission and service in West Chambers County, the state, the nation, and around the world.
• Coordinate efforts to advance and support the Cooperative Program through prayer and missions giving such as the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and the Lottie Moon International Missions Offering.
• Prepare and lead the Door-to-Door initiative as the baseline evangelism effort for all members.
• Conduct Baptism and Member Interviews with the other pastors on staff.
• Preach as needed in coordination with the Pastor.
• Pursue personal holiness.
• Develop volunteers for all areas; the objective is not to do all the work but to train, disciple, and deploy members to do the work of ministry for their spiritual health.
• Other duties as assigned.

Reporting structure

The position reports to the Lead Pastor, works with the leadership and other Associate Pastor(s), and serves the membership.

Direct reports

• Student Minister
• Children’s Minister
• Preschool Director
• MDO Director
• Lay leaders of discipleship ministries