Associational Mission Strategist Full Time

Associational Mission Strategist

Cumberland Baptist Association  |  Clarksville, Tennessee

The Cumberland Baptist Association (CBA) seeks a visionary and relational leader to come alongside pastors, strengthen and revitalize churches, and catalyze new church planting. Our mission is “Strategically Resourcing Churches to carry out the Great Commission” through Equipping, Connecting, and Going. We seek a missionary catalyst who builds trust, develops leaders, and mobilizes churches for shared gospel ministry.

Our Association and Community
CBA is a fellowship of 46 congregations serving Clarksville–Montgomery County and the surrounding region. Our town and country setting brings together growing city neighborhoods, established communities, and rural churches, each with valuable gifts and distinct ministry opportunities.

Located northwest of Nashville along Interstate 24, Clarksville offers a ministry setting shaped by Fort Campbell and military-connected families, Austin Peay State University, and residential growth. The area’s combination of long-established residents, students, and newcomers creates opportunities for evangelism, discipleship, church revitalization, and church plants. The next AMS will help churches understand and engage this mission field together.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2025 population estimates, Clarksville has approximately 188,829 residents, and Montgomery County has approximately 249,935 residents. Since 2020, the city’s population has increased by approximately 13.2 percent and the county’s by 13.6 percent. This growth expands the mission field for CBA churches and underscores the need for intentional evangelism, discipleship, church planting, and congregational revitalization.

The Role
The AMS serves as a partner, coach, consultant, encourager, and connector to autonomous churches. His ministry is offered by invitation and with respect for each congregation’s convictions and governance. He is responsible to the Association and directly accountable to its Administrative Team, working with that team and member churches to establish priorities and carry out approved plans.

His direct, personal ministry centers on pastors and church leaders. He advances church health, revitalization, planting, and cooperative missions by equipping leaders, connecting resources, and developing partnerships.

Ministry Priorities
Equipping pastors and churches. Build trusted relationships with pastors, ministry staff, and their families through prayer, encouragement, confidential counsel, coaching, and fellowship. Encourage biblical preaching, spiritual vitality, family health, and sustainable ministry. Assist churches during pastoral transitions, facilitate leadership training, and supervise seminary-level ministry projects and mentor pastors in training as requested.

Strengthening and revitalizing congregations. Help willing churches assess their health and context, develop leaders, and strengthen evangelism and disciple-making. Make revitalization an intentional priority, walking patiently with congregations through prayer, assessment, planning, and implementation. Connect churches with qualified coaches and partners for renewal, adoption, or replanting as appropriate.

Connecting churches for shared mission. Cultivate cooperation among congregations of every size and setting. Encourage prayer, peer learning, and mutual support; assist with conflict when invited; and connect churches with useful ministry resources. Maintain productive relationships with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, Southern Baptist partners, and community leaders.

Going through missions and church planting. Study community needs and identify underserved populations and locations for gospel engagement. Identify potential planters, develop sponsoring partnerships, and connect leaders with assessment, training, coaching, and support. Help churches plant churches and mobilize cooperative evangelism, missions, and community ministry suited to the local context.

Leading with vision and integrity. Translate shared vision into focused plans with clear responsibilities and meaningful measures of progress. Develop and release others to lead. Provide timely ministry and financial reports, practice transparent stewardship, help prepare associational meetings, and oversee approved operations. Recommend staffing needs and supervise authorized staff, building a team that complements his strengths and supports ministry in the field.

Desired Ministry Outcomes
CBA seeks spiritually encouraged and connected pastors; healthier churches growing in evangelism and disciple-making; practical pathways for struggling congregations to experience renewal; viable partnerships for new church plants; and broader participation in cooperative missions. Ministry progress should reflect stronger leaders, churches, and gospel engagement, with events and administration serving those purposes.

Qualifications
Spiritual maturity and calling. A clear testimony of salvation, a growing walk with Jesus Christ, a call to vocational ministry, and conviction concerning associational service. Biblical character consistent with 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9, including humility, integrity, emotional maturity, and faithfulness in personal and family life.

Doctrine and ordination. Wholehearted agreement with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and commitment to Southern Baptist cooperative ministry, including the Cooperative Program. Ordination to the gospel ministry by a Southern Baptist church or a church of like faith and practice.

Education. A degree from an accredited four-year college or university and a master’s degree (M.Div. preferred) from a Southern Baptist seminary or an accredited seminary or divinity school of like faith and practice, consistent with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, as affirmed by the Administrative Team.

Experience and leadership. Substantial local church ministry experience and demonstrated effectiveness in pastoral coaching, strategic leadership, church strengthening, revitalization, or planting. Understanding of Baptist congregational polity and Southern Baptist and Tennessee Baptist partnerships. A trustworthy leader of leaders who listens carefully, communicates clearly, protects confidences, develops others, and leads through relationships. Commitment to continued learning and understanding the local context.

Local commitment. Willingness to reside in the ministry field, generally Montgomery County, and maintain membership in good standing in a CBA church. Ability to perform the essential functions of the role, with reasonable accommodations as applicable.

Compensation and Ministry Support
Compensation and benefits will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, with the final package and terms of call subject to CBA approval and discussed during the search process. CBA may authorize support staff as resources permit to complement the AMS’s strengths and advance agreed ministry priorities.

How to Apply
Submit a cover letter, résumé, three references, and a brief statement of your philosophy of associational ministry addressing pastoral care, church revitalization, and church planting.

Send application materials to [email protected]

Reference, background, and credit checks will be conducted before an offer is made.