Associate Pastor

Job Summary And Overview

Smyrna First Baptist Church is located within one of the fastest growing counties in Georgia, with Smyrna itself facing growth at unprecedented levels. This growth in the community has brought a rich cultural diversity to the doorstep of Smyrna First Baptist Church that is an ideal opportunity for local evangelism of the Gospel of Christ. The church was founded 140 years ago and has continued to be a beacon of Christ’s light in the Smyrna community through consistent outreach and ministry. Currently, the congregation of First Baptist is transitioning to a new facility within the heart of Smyrna as a means to better serve the existing congregation and its ministries in an effort to reach the city with the Gospel.

The Associate Pastor will work under the supervision of the Sr. Pastor as the clear second chair. He will give weekly supervision to ministerial staff, supervise ministry programming for family ministry, and develop the church’s recently produced discipleship pathway. He will assist the Sr. Pastor in pastoral care, offer leadership in evangelism and missions, and willingly embrace other pastoral duties as needed.

Required Qualifications

Spiritual

• Have a clear testimony of faith in Jesus Christ and a growing personal relationship with Him expressed by ongoing spiritual disciplines such as Bible reading, prayer, personal worship, pursuit of holiness, fellowship, sacrificial giving, etc.
• Hold to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as a statement of belief
• Have a clear pastoral calling with excellent pastoral and shepherding skills
• Have a heart for discipleship, spiritual development, and growth of children and adults
• Be committed to the local church with a heart for evangelism and outreach
  
  

Professional

• Acquired a degree in either education or theology from an accredited university or seminary (master’s degree preferred)
• Proficient in goal setting, time management, planning, and budgeting
• Excellent in collaborating, communicating, promoting, equipping, mentoring, and celebrating various tasks, events, and people
  
  

Major Duties And Responsibilities

Family Ministry

• Ensure seamless ministry to all ages of the church family, birth through senior adults, that enables their spiritual growth via studying God’s word and building relationships with others
• Serve as the direct report for the Student Pastor ensuring that Family ministry is aligned with the overall vision of the Sr. Pastor
• Ensure Preschool, Children, and Student Ministries provide families with programming that equips parents to be the primary disciple makers of their children
• Manage space for all family ministries and events
• Provide Biblical counsel to children and parents in matters of personal family concern
• Recruit, enlist, and train volunteers for service in all family ministry opportunities
• Build relationships with families and children by attending school activities or other important events when able
  
  

Discipleship Pathway

• Establish educational offerings for Sunday school and Wednesday night Bible study, including the selection and/or development of curriculum, teaching, and enlisting and training new teachers and discipleship leaders
• Establish community group ministries, including the selection and/or development of curriculum, enlisting and training new teachers and discipleship leaders, and assisting church members in discovering groups for their expansion
• Collaborate with the Sr. Pastor and Director of Women’s Ministry to ensure that the Men’s and Women’s ministries are well placed in the discipleship pathway
• Equip each church member to sacrificially serve the church
• Shepherd each church member to find their calling through Biblical teaching and edification
  
  

Outreach and Evangelism

• Work in conjunction with the Business Administrator and Sr. Pastor to develop a new member assimilation strategy and guest outreach process that takes people from prospects to fruitful covenanted church members
• Give evangelistic leadership to the John 4 wells of Upward Basketball and Weekday Education
• Collaborate with the Sr. Pastor to ensure that evangelism classes are included in the discipleship pathway
• Participate and lead church mission trips when able
  
  

Pastoral

• Participate in the general ministerial duties inherent in the calling of a minister such as funerals, weddings, counseling, member visits, Biblical teaching and other pastoral duties
• Be prepared for and participate in all leadership meetings assigned to him by the Sr. Pastor