Pastor: First Baptist Church of Virden, IL

Pastor (Part-Time) — First Baptist Church, Virden, Illinois
American Baptist Churches USA | Great Rivers Region

About the Church
First Baptist Church of Virden has been proclaiming the gospel in central Illinois since 1854. We are a small congregation with a big heart for our community: around 30 people gather for worship each Sunday, ranging from toddlers to senior citizens, and many of our young adults serve in leadership. We are praying for a bi-vocational pastor who will help us grow in Christ and share God's love in Virden and beyond.

Our life together is marked by hands-on ministry. Every Wednesday night we serve a free meal to children and families, followed by age-graded Bible stories, crafts, and games. Each year on Faith in Action Sunday, we trade our worship service for service in the community, doing yard work for seniors, painting on the town square, baking for first responders, and sending our children to sing at local nursing homes. We keep an outdoor food pantry stocked, deliver Meals on Wheels one week each month, and open our fellowship hall, Pitman Hall, to community groups and families throughout the year.

We are also committed to working alongside our neighbors. For more than 25 years, First Baptist has led a Community Vacation Bible School with five other area churches, and for 16 years we've helped lead "Back 2 Mac," providing school supplies to nearly 300 North Mac students. We are active participants in the North Mac Ministerial Alliance and its community-wide worship services.

Our congregation also includes an active American Baptist Youth group, an American Baptist Women's group with a strong mission focus, Sunday School for all ages (our adult class is working through the Bible verse by verse), and a lay-led Children's Church.

About the Position
We are seeking a bi-vocational pastor who will:

• Preach and teach the Word faithfully, with time set aside for preparation and reflection

• Provide pastoral care through the joys, hardships, and transitions of life

• Nurture spiritual growth in individuals and groups

• Equip and encourage lay leaders to discover and use their gifts for ministry

• Interpret the Christian faith in ways relevant to everyday life

• Serve as a collaborative administrator, supporting committees rather than doing the work alone

• Take an active role in community life and the North Mac Ministerial Alliance

• Support and participate in the life of American Baptist Churches USA and the Great Rivers Region

We believe in the priesthood of all believers. Our congregation pledges to support our pastor in prayer and with the gifts God has given us, and our Pastoral Relations Committee exists to keep communication open between pastor and people.

Qualifications

• A clear call to pastoral ministry and a vital personal faith in Jesus Christ

• Alignment with American Baptist beliefs and practices, including believer's baptism and freedom of conscience in interpreting Scripture

• Warmth and ability to lead a congregation of varied ages and personalities

• Ordination (or ordination eligibility) in the American Baptist Churches is preferred

About Virden
Virden is a friendly agricultural community of about 3,200 people, located 25 miles south of Springfield, Illinois. Many residents commute to the capital city, and as Springfield's west side grows, Virden is growing with it. The church sits half a block off the town square, near the public library, community center, and post office. Virden is served by the North Mac School District, a new medical clinic, and major hospitals 30 minutes away in Springfield, with lakes, parks, and golf courses close by. Its location makes it well suited to a pastor who is employed elsewhere in the Springfield area.

Compensation
This is a part-time position. Compensation is commensurate with education and experience.

To Apply
CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Questions about this ministry opportunity can be directed to:

Rev. Dr. Rob Kirbach, ABC - Great Rivers Region, rob@abcgrr.org, (217) 726-7366 x13

Applications may be received and screened by the American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region on the church's behalf. All interviews are conducted, and all decisions regarding the call of a pastor are made, by the Pastoral Search Committee of First Baptist Church of Virden, in keeping with American Baptist congregational polity.