Associate Pastor*
Church Overview
Rocky Point Baptist Church exists to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ in Erath County and around the world by the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God the Father. Located in Stephenville, TX (one hour southwest of Fort Worth), our congregation of 125 members has been entrusted with the responsibility to reach a community of over 40,000 residents, including 18,000 college students, for Christ. Our church is led by a council of five elders, including one staff elder and four lay elders.
Ministry Aim
To minister to the flock of God at Rocky Point Baptist Church through devoted prayer, expositional preaching, intentional discipleship, zealous leadership, and strategic equipping. This is a full-time position.
Requirements
- Must have a love for God and people (Matthew 22:36–40)
- Must aspire to the office of overseer/elder/pastor and must have demonstrated the character, wisdom, maturity, and ability the Bible requires for a man who holds the office of overseer/elder/pastor (Galatians 5:22–23; 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4)
- Must be devoted to prayer and the Word in private, in his family, in disciple-making relationships, and in congregational leadership
- Must understand, endorse, and teach with conviction all of the biblical and theological views outlined in the RPBC Statement of Faith, the RPBC Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality, and the Baptist Faith & Message 2000
- Must be willing to agree to the RPBC Membership Commitment and Pledges of an Elder
- Must demonstrate an agreement with RPBC’s philosophy of ministry
- Must support and submit to the authority of the RPBC elder body
- Must be able to exposit Scripture in a faithful, compelling, and courageous manner (2 Timothy 2:15; 4:2)
- Must be devoted to equipping the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12)
- Must be a servant leader who takes initiative, builds strong relationships, and excels in clear communication
- Must be able to provide biblical counseling to individuals, couples, and families in his care
- Must be committed to reaching the lost, both locally and cross-culturally
- Minimum of five years of pastoral ministry experience preferred
- Must hold a master’s-level theological degree from an accredited seminary whose doctrine is consistent with that of RPBC. A Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is preferred.
- Must be willing to submit to a background check
Responsibilities
Youth Ministry
- Shepherd junior high and high school students through expositional teaching
- Oversee the selection, equipping, and deployment of qualified youth workers and teachers
- Partner with and equip parents to fulfill their calling to disciple their children
- Select and participate in various youth ministry initiatives (camps, conferences, mission trips, etc.)
- Counsel students and parents in various discipleship issues with sound biblical methods
Preaching
- Preach expositional sermons in Gathered Worship approximately 6–8 Sundays a year
Other Areas of Designated Ministry Leadership
- Share with fellow staff members in providing designated leadership to other ministries of the church in a way that best fits each staff member’s gifting and workload
General Ministry Leadership
- Support and implement the mission, vision, and strategies of the church as set out by the elders
- Personally make disciples, both by sharing the gospel with the lost and by teaching believers to observe all that Jesus commanded
- Provide biblical counseling and soul care to members in times of need (we would expect him to either be certified with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors or begin the certification process immediately after being hired)
- Regularly practice hospitality
Relationships
- Serves as a member of the RPBC staff, reporting to the Lead Pastor
* While we intend for this position ultimately to be a pastoral position, our practice as a church is not to immediately install a man hired from the outside into the office of pastor/elder (1 Timothy 5:22–25). The man hired would initially function as a staff minister under the authority of the elders, but not as a member of the council of elders. He would temporarily hold a title like, “Pastoral Assistant” or “Minister of [Youth, etc.].” During this initial phrase of employment, his compensation would be the same as that of a staff pastor, and his ministry responsibilities would be largely the same. However, he would not yet hold the office or authority of an elder. This transitional period allows our elders and our church members to observe the man as he lives and ministers among our congregation before appointing him to the office of elder.