Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Strategy Full Time

Position Summary
The Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Strategy serves as a key member of the pastoral leadership team, partnering closely with the Senior Pastor to advance the mission and long-term health of the church. The Associate Pastor provides leadership in implementing the church’s vision by developing effective discipleship systems, equipping leaders, and ensuring that ministries are healthy, aligned, and advancing.

This position is a pastoral leadership role designed to help move the church from where it is to where God is leading it through making disciples, developing leaders, providing ministry oversight, and executing the church’s vision. Working in close partnership with the Senior Pastor, the Associate Pastor will help ensure that the church’s vision is faithfully communicated, strategically implemented, and effectively multiplied throughout every ministry.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership
•Develop and implement the vision established by the pastoral leadership team and Church Board.
•Help translate vision into actionable ministry plans with measurable goals and outcomes.
•Evaluate existing ministries and recommend improvements that increase effectiveness and spiritual impact.
•Lead strategic planning for adult discipleship and leadership development.
•Assist the Senior Pastor in identifying opportunities for church growth, ministry expansion, and organizational health.
•Establish measurable ministry goals, monitor progress, and provide regular reports and recommendations to the Senior Pastor and church leadership.

Adult Discipleship
•Provide leadership for all adult Bible study ministries, including Sunday School.
•Develop a comprehensive pathway for moving adults from attendance to spiritual maturity and ministry involvement.
•Recruit, train, mentor, and evaluate Bible study teachers and adult ministry leaders.
•Ensure all teaching ministries reflect sound biblical doctrine consistent with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.
•Teach regularly in Bible studies, leadership training, and other discipleship settings.

Leadership Development
•Identify and mentor emerging leaders within the congregation.
•Develop a culture of multiplication by equipping volunteers to lead effectively.
•Conduct regular leadership training for teachers, ministry leaders, and volunteers.
•Encourage every ministry leader to embrace the church’s vision and philosophy of making disciples.

Pastoral Ministry
•Shepherd church members through visitation, counseling, prayer, and encouragement.
•Assist with weddings, funerals, baptisms, the Lord’s Supper, and other pastoral responsibilities as assigned.
•Preach on a regular basis throughout the year and be prepared to fill the pulpit whenever needed.
•Maintain a visible pastoral presence throughout the life of the church.
•Serve as a member of the Church Board.

Staff and Ministry Leadership
•Serve as a collaborative member of the church staff.
•Help coordinate ministry calendars and ensure ministries work together rather than independently.
•Encourage excellence, accountability, and unity among church staff and ministry leaders.

Qualifications

Spiritual
•A man of God who meets the biblical qualifications for a pastor as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9.
•Affirms the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 without reservation.
•Models a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, humility, integrity, and servant leadership.

Education and Experience
•Master of Divinity or equivalent theological education preferred.
•Experience leading adult discipleship ministries in a Southern Baptist or like-minded evangelical church.
•Demonstrated ability to develop leaders and implement ministry strategy.
•Proven organizational and leadership skills.

Personal Characteristics
The ideal candidate will be:
•A visionary implementer who enjoys turning ideas into reality.
•A gifted teacher of God’s Word.
•Self-motivated, organized, and able to lead multiple initiatives simultaneously.
•A loyal member of the pastoral staff, able to partner with the Senior Pastor in order to strengthen and advance the overall ministry of the church.

Measures of Effectiveness

The Associate Pastor will be evaluated by evidence of:

•Effective communication and implementation of the church’s strategic vision.
•Faithful pastoral care and positive collaboration with the Senior Pastor, church staff, and church leadership.
•A healthy and growing adult discipleship ministry.
•Increased member engagement in Bible study, discipleship, and service.
•New leaders identified, trained, and deployed.
•Improved alignment and cooperation among ministries.

Compensation

A competitive salary and benefits package will be offered, commensurate with the candidate’s education, ministry experience, demonstrated effectiveness, and overall fit for the position. First Baptist Church of Pittsburg is committed to caring well for its pastors and staff and seeks to provide the support and resources they need to thrive in ministry.