Associate Pastor of Next Generation MinistriesSouthern Baptist Convention (SBC Job Board)

Associate Pastor of Next Generation Ministries Overview: This year, Lone Oak Baptist Church celebrates 125 years of gospel ministry in our community, and we are prayerfully searching for a pastor with a shepherd's heart for raising up the next generation — and building a lasting legacy of discipleship among the children, students, young adults, and families God has entrusted to us.Cunningham is a rural county community nine miles from the heart of one of the five fastest-growing cities in Tennessee. Clarksville-Montgomery County is anchored by Fort Campbell, the fourth largest military base in the United States and home of the historic 101st Airborne Division, and by Austin Peay State University, now the state's fastest-growing public university. Many families are settling in the Cunningham community precisely to find what it offers: proximity to the opportunities of a growing city alongside the peace of a rural community. It is a community that is at once historic and rapidly changing, rural and connected to a growing city — and it is full of young families in need of pastoral care.Over the past year, LOBC has been particularly blessed with growth among these young families with children. We are grateful for what God is doing, and we feel the weight of the opportunity it represents: these families need intentional, pastoral shepherding, not simply more programming. It is out of this conviction that LOBC is establishing the role of Associate Pastor of Next Generation Ministries — a pastor devoted to shepherding our children, students, and young adults, and walking alongside parents, toward lifelong faithfulness to Jesus Christ.The vision of Lone Oak is to be a gospel-centered family of faith actively living out the love of God in Christ. We are committed to GATHER because we are not meant to live this life alone, GROW because we are not yet everything God created us to be, GIVE because we have been given much in Jesus Christ, and GO because we have been entrusted with his mission.Lone Oak is seeking a dedicated and experienced Associate Pastor of Next Generation Ministries to join our Pastoral Staff. The AP will work closely with the Senior Pastor to shepherd and oversee the spiritual formation of LOBC's children, students, and young adults — and, in a very real way, their families — as together we step into the next 125 years of ministry in this community.Job Summary:The Associate Pastor of Next Generation Ministries (AP) is a member of the Pastoral Staff of Lone Oak Baptist Church (LOBC). The AP shall be under the direct supervision of the Senior Pastor and shall be responsive and accountable to him in all matters assigned. The AP will work in conjunction with the Senior Pastor to advance the mission of LOBC by providing pastoral leadership, oversight, and direct ministry to the next generation of LOBC — children (birth through elementary), students (middle and high school), and college and young adults — and their families.This is not simply the administration of programming for each age group; it is the work of engaging, equipping, and empowering children, students, and parents to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ. The AP will carry primary relational and direct teaching responsibility for Student Ministry (grades 6–12), while providing pastoral oversight and strategic alignment across the Children's Ministry Lead Team and any future College and Career Ministry Lead Team.Salary and Benefits:•     This position offers a starting Total Compensation (salary and housing allowance) of up to $63,000 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience. A full benefits package — including retirement, insurance, and other ministry-related benefits — will be negotiated with the selected candidate at the time of offer.•     The Associate Pastor will receive regular weekdays off, PTO, sick leave, holidays, and time off for professional development, conventions, and conferences, etc.•     Additionally, the Associate Pastor will be provided an IRS-standard accountable expense reimbursement plan for ministry-related expenses.Qualifications:•     A clear testimony of faith in and a growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ, as well as a clear testimony of calling into and the character necessary for vocational pastoral ministry (1 Tim. 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9).•     A minimum of a bachelor's degree is required. Seminary education (M.Div. or equivalent) is a valuable asset but is not required.•     This is not an entry-level ministry position. Significant, demonstrated experience in student, family, and/or next generation ministry — including the recruitment, training, and oversight of volunteer leaders — is strongly preferred. Prior experience walking alongside parents and families in a pastoral capacity is a significant plus.•     Agreement with the principles of faith as outlined in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, and ordination by a Southern Baptist congregation or recommendation to the ministry from a church of like faith and practice.•     A pastoral concern for the salvation, discipleship, and well-being of children, students, and young adults and their families, as well as members of the broader congregation and community.•     A genuine conviction that ministry to the next generation is, in significant part, ministry to their parents — a shepherd's heart for entire families, not only for the young people within them.•     A servant's heart, a generous spirit, and a commitment to the discipleship and spiritual formation of the next generation, so that they and their families might grow in Christ.•     Exceptional organizational, administrative, and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to recruit, train, and lead volunteer leaders and lead teams.•     A background clear of any criminal activity and/or evidence of child abuse or neglect. Reference and background checks will be performed before the offer of any position.Responsibilities:Personal:•     Maintain an authentic and ongoing walk with Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.•     Preserve a healthy home environment, taking care to love and lead his family well.•     Be constantly growing in the skills and knowledge necessary for this position.Pastoral:•     Assist in all areas of Pastoral Ministry, including but not limited to preparing and delivering sermons at the discretion of the Senior Pastor, administration of the ordinances, visitation of members and prospects, and performance of weddings and funerals.•     Perform other duties as assigned or agreed upon by the Senior Pastor.Next Generation Ministries — Leadership and Oversight:•     Provide pastoral oversight and strategic direction for LOBC's ministries to children, students, and college and career-age young adults, ensuring a unified, gospel-centered discipleship strategy across all three.•     Directly supervise the Children's Ministry Lead Team, the Student Ministry Lead Team, and any future College and Career Ministry Lead Team, meeting regularly with each team's leadership for prayer, coordination, and strategic alignment.•     Guard against ministry silos by fostering regular collaboration among Children's, Student, and College/Career leadership, so that each age-group ministry serves a coherent, cradle-through-adulthood discipleship pathway.•     Recruit, train, and disciple volunteer leaders across all Next Generation Ministries in partnership with each Lead Team.•     Assist in the development and oversight of comprehensive policies to address safety, security, and codes of conduct to safeguard all involved in LOBC's Next Generation Ministries.•     Prepare and administer an annual budget for LOBC's Next Generation Ministries, and maintain all related equipment and supplies.Student Ministry (Grades 6–12) — Direct Ministry:•     Prayerfully plan, organize, and personally lead a balanced approach to student ministry that includes Bible study, discipleship training, fellowship, recreation, and outreach — including weekly gatherings, retreats, camps, and service projects.•     Serve as the primary teaching and relational presence for LOBC students, building trust and investing personally in their lives over time.•     Maintain a consistent, caring adult presence in the lives of students outside of program hours, including attendance at school events and extracurricular activities where appropriate.•     Provide Christian guidance, counsel, and pastoral care to students navigating the challenges and opportunities of adolescence.Ministry to Parents and Families:•     Recognize that ministry to the next generation is, in significant part, ministry to their parents; cultivate a real and ongoing proximity to and knowledge of what is happening in the homes and lives of LOBC families.•     Develop and maintain intentional, structured touchpoints with parents to understand each family's context, build trust, and walk alongside them proactively — not only in moments of crisis.•     Equip and encourage parents as the primary disciple-makers of their children, providing teaching, resources, and coaching that support gospel-centered discipleship in the home.•     Ensure that the same ethos of parent engagement and family discipleship is being cultivated within Children's Ministry, working with the Children's Ministry Lead Team.•     Be available and accessible to parents and families for counsel, prayer, and pastoral care, coordinating with the Senior Pastor on any matters requiring escalation.Communication and Administration:•     Regularly communicate updates regarding Next Generation Ministries with students, parents, church leadership, staff, and the congregation, utilizing the most appropriate available resources.•     Coordinate with church staff and Lead Teams to ensure ministry communications are accurate and consistent.How to Apply:If you are a pastor with a shepherd's heart for children, students, and their families, we invite you to apply for the Associate Pastor of Next Generation Ministries position at Lone Oak Baptist Church. Join a church rooted in 125 years of gospel faithfulness in this community as we look expectantly toward raising up the next generation — and build a lasting legacy of discipleship among the children, students, and families God has entrusted to us.Submit a cover letter, resume, and a brief written statement of your philosophy of ministry regarding family and next-generation discipleship to personnel@loneoakbaptist.com.We look forward to hearing from you!