Friendship Baptist Church (Plainfield, IL) – Senior Pastor - LancasterSearch

Friendship Baptist Church (Plainfield, IL) – Senior Pastor

 

The Big Picture

Friendship Baptist Church (SBC) () is looking for a Senior Pastor that shares our desire for church growth through solid biblical preaching and community involvement and outreach.  

Requirements

The Overview

We are situated about 40 miles southwest of Chicago in the suburb of Plainfield, Illinois. Due to our pastor retiring, we are seeking a full-time senior pastor to provide spiritual leadership, conduct weekly worship services, oversee an administrative staff, and guide the church’s mission and outreach programs.

 

Plainfield is a growing community of around 47,000 with many newly built residential areas and thriving businesses which present great growth potential for the church. 

 

Typical Sunday morning services follow a blended style whereby a mix of contemporary Christian songs and hymns complement sermons that are relevant, practical, and biblically centered. FBC is a Southern Baptist Church that subscribes to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. FBC is affiliated with the Illinois Baptist State Association (IBSA) and the regional Three Rivers Baptist Association.

 

Primary Job Responsibilities

●     Develop and deliver weekly sermons and facilitate a meaningful worship experience.

●     Actively develop relationships with church members to effectively disciple, equip, support, and encourage them.

●     Serve and minister to individuals during times of crisis.

●     Provide oversight to a 4-person church staff.

●     Guide the direction of the church’s ministries and outreach programs.

●     Provide counseling support to church members as needed.

●     Grow the church in its diversity through evangelism, building relationships, and discipleship.

●     Perform baptisms, weddings, and funerals.

 

Minimum Qualifications

●     Deep love for Jesus Christ and His Word and a clear testimony of a growing relationship with Him.

●     SBC Ordained minister with a Master’s level seminary degree preferred.

●     3 years of pastoral experience.

●     Subscribes to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and exemplifies the biblical requirements of a pastor as defined in 1 Timothy 3:1-10, Titus 1:5-16, and 1 Peter 5:1-2.

●     Demonstrated ability to articulate biblical theology in a manner that is understandable and applicable for church members.

●     Servant leader who exhibits strong communication skills (written & verbal) and collaboration to interact with the congregation, staff, and teams.

 

Benefits

Salary and Benefits

●     Salary will be commensurate with educational level and experience.

●     A comprehensive benefits package, including retirement, will be provided.

●     Relocation assistance available.

 

The Process

 

Please look over this job description and the church website. Along with your resume please answer these questions:

 

Why do you believe that you might be a good fit as the Pastor for Friendship Baptist Church?

 

Describe your experiences in ministry and how you may be qualified to serve as the Pastor at Friendship Baptist Church?

 

In just a few sentences please give a summary of your theology and how that is in line with the doctrine of the Baptist Faith and Message. 

 

Please send your resume, the answers to these questions and a link to at least one online sermon to

 

 

The expectation of this minister is to nurture the middle school and high school teenagers in the areas of worship, fellowship, outreach and discipleship. The minister is required to assess the needs of the youth, set the vision, plan and execute curriculum and events, preach and teach the word of God, and review the ministry progress with the board, the youth ministry team, and the parents. It is expected that the minister will be a team player and a communicator; it is not expected that the youth minister will do everything him/herself, but he/she must be able to work with the youth ministry deacon, the adult and youth volunteers and delegate responsibilities. It is expected that the youth minister may spend time with the youth outside the church in more casual or fun settings. Outside of the heart of a shepherd, organizational skills are very important for the position. It is expected that in the interview process, the prospective youth minister provides a self-evaluation on his/her strengths and weaknesses as a youth minister and team player. There is a part-time pastor’s assistant who supports the Mandarin ministry pastor, the English ministry pastor (open position), the children minister, and the youth minister. Founded in 1981, Wilmington Community Evangelical Church (WCEC) is a bi-cultural and bilingual (Mandarin Chinese and English) church committed to building up the kingdom of God in Northern Delaware and the surrounding Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Average Sunday attendance is around 250 of which ~40-60 people attend the English Sunday service, with the remainder attending the Mandarin Sunday service. A typical English Sunday service includes youth, parents of the youth, college students, young professionals, and adults. The church currently has a Mandarin ministry pastor and a full time children’s minister. The average attendance of the weekly youth ministry Friday night activity is between 40 and 60. The church is currently in the process of searching for an English ministry pastor who is expected to be a close coworker with the youth minister. Knowledge of Chinese Culture and Mandarin Chinese is an advantage but not a qualification for the candidate. The vision of the church is “Mission and Planting 宣教與拓植”. Two churches have been planted: One in West Chester, PA [West Chester Chinese Evangelical Church 威徹斯特主恩堂] and another in Bear, DE [New Castle Chinese Evangelical Church 新城主恩堂/Gospel Christ for All Nations] in 2000 and 2007, respectively, with steady growth witnessed in both. The mission of the English Ministry is “Empowering people to serve God in a cross-cultural community through transformed living”. General Qualifications Evangelical faith Education: Bible college graduate or Master’s of Divinity Shepherding experience preferred Spiritual Qualifications Living a life of faith in Jesus Christ Demonstrating a passion for shepherding students Ministry Qualifications A vision for youth ministry Able to recruit and if needed train adult volunteers in youth ministry Able to communicate with youth and parents General Responsibilities Preach and teach Conduct ordinances, e.g., baptism, Holy Communion, etc. Conduct visitation and counseling Collaborate with youth ministry leaders of nearby churches for joint youth ministries Specific Responsibilities -Plan and lead the development of a comprehensive youth ministry in accordance with the long range ministry vision. -Set annual ministry goals and develop plans to achieve such goals -Organize and/or lead weekly Sunday School classes for youths -Recruit and train a ministry team of youth leaders (Student Ministry Team) -Organize an adult youth ministry leadership team (and train if needed) -Organize and/or lead weekly youth ministry events on Friday nights, or additional days as required -Organize special Youth Ministry events, e.g., youth-parent seminars, youth retreat, 30-hrs Famine, Gospel Jam, etc. -Involvement with in-campus ministries in local high schools -Develop and oversee the annual budget for youth ministries Participate in ministry meetings, such as monthly meetings of the church Elder and Deacon Board, and the English Ministry Team -Share responsibility preaching in the Sunday Morning Worship Service