Part-time
We now have an opening for an assistant pastor mainly focussed on our children’s and youth evangelistic ministries, with some preaching. We hope the man who takes this position could grow to become an elder and possibly the next pastor. I assume that you already understand what it means to be “Reformed” in practice. That is, you hold to the doctrines of grace (TULIP) and the regulative principle of worship and so committed expository preaching, the sovereignty of God in salvation (so no manipulative altar-calls), church discipline, covenanted membership, psalm-singing (though not necessarily exclusively), multiple elders (if qualified men are available), men’s headship (so the elders are all men but women deacons are okay), we value scholarship in Bible study and so don’t use the KJV as our main translation, etc. We expect all members to be active in some way in ministry, as they’re able, and so we’d normally expect the wife of an assistant pastor to also be active in some capacity. I have an M.Div. and a Ph.D. We planted this church about 14 years ago. I have recently published a book “Seven Pillars of a Biblical Church” (https://wipfandstock.com/9781666736236/seven-pillars-of-a-biblical-church/). If this assistant pastor position develops into a long-term ministry, which is our hope, this may be a good environment in which to learn and grow to eventually become the full-time, lead pastor. However, that will take a meek, teachable spirit.
Some information about us: We currently have an opening for an assistant pastor (with the possibility of becoming the senior pastor eventually) who will specialize in youth and children’s ministries; pay for the pastor is only $1,200/month, so outside employment will probably be necessary. We’re a very small church and so can only afford one full-time pastor, and I may not be able to step aside in the near future. The cost of living in this area is low, but that would probably require some employment for your wife or supplementary income for you somehow. I am the current pastor. If possible, we would like a man who can lead the church’s children’s and youth programs, help grow and nurture the church according to the principles as a Reformed, 9 Marks, “Desiring God”, active evangelistically, cross-cultural (with several Chinese members), evangelistically active (especially to the African-American youth in the area), and covenanted membership church. Every Sunday evening, we host local youth in our gym and give a brief, evangelistic message to them. We have a gym for the evangelistic opportunities it provides.
Here’s the notice about the position:
Covenant Reformed Baptist Church of Providence NC (Danville, VA) is open to an assistant pastor, with focus on evangelistic children and youth ministries. Such a man should agree, broadly, with the principles of 9 Marks and “Desiring God”, the Nicene Creed and the 1833 New Hampshire Baptist confession, and generally with the 1689 London Baptist Confession. (He should not be egalitarian, dispensational, use the KJV or a doctrinaire cessationist.) He should have a gift for preaching, be able to relate passages expositionally to people of different cultures (especially Chinese) and be self-disciplined enough to have sermon preparation done in time for notes to be translated into Chinese. He should be open to multi-ethnic outreach, particularly to African-Americans and Chinese, in a challenging small city, and be willing to make a long-term commitment. The church is very small and so would require a man willing to do pioneering, church-planting-style activities.