Senior Pastor - Rural Shade Baptist Church

ABOUT OUR CHURCH

Rural Shade Baptist Church (RSBC) is a family-oriented church, with extensive involvement in our rural community. Our vision is to reach those in and around our community, who are not followers of Jesus Christ and to bring them to know the love of Jesus Christ, while simultaneously focusing on the growth and development of our Christian family at RSBC. Our vision to Love God and Love People, is inspired from Matthew 22:36-39. “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

RSBC has been a part of the Tarkington / Cleveland community since 1870. Tarkington is a small, rural town approximately 7 miles outside of Cleveland, Texas and approximately 50 miles from Houston, Texas. We are rapidly growing in diversity but continue to be a country-styled community. Liberty County is currently one of the top five fastest growing counties in the state of Texas. As our church family and community continue to grow, we are looking forward to the work ahead of loving and reaching our neighbors.

Our current ministries are Students, Kids, Senior Adults, Ladies, Men’s, Celebrate Recovery (CR), Wednesday Kids Awana’s, Beach Club in TISD Schools, and Helping Hands Food Pantry, as well as many other outreach opportunities performed by the volunteers serving in our church.

We offer two Sunday morning service options. A 9:30 am service geared to a more traditional music style and a 11:00 am service with contemporary, praise and worship style music. Both services currently run approximately 75-100 in attendance.

Our church recently demolished our fellowship hall, which previously served as our 4th Worship Center in our church’s history, in preparation for our new Fellowship Hall and multi-purpose building. The construction will be completed in multiple stages with the future proposed building to be approximately 6,000 sq. ft. The RSBC Long-Range Planning Committee and Building Committee will then focus on replacing our existing Student and Kids Ministry building.

We have a very dedicated congregation with devoted volunteers and currently growing in all age groups. Our congregation enjoys discipleship through various Sunday school classes, home groups, Wednesday night family dinners and Bible Study, as well as our Kid’s, and Student Ministry.

The Pastor Search Team is prayerfully seeking the person God is already preparing to lead the RSBC Family as our Senior Pastor. We desire a person with a clear call from God, a gifted preacher with the ability to connect to the congregation and visitors, a strong and dedicated leader of his staff and volunteers and has a heart for his congregation and community. Candidates should have an excitement and love for God’s Word which permeates their own life and should communicate relationally with the congregation to see hearts and lives transformed. With Titus 1 and 1 Timothy 3 as God’s qualifications, we are looking for a person of good character both inside and outside of his home, bearing the fruit of the Spirit, who models faithful leadership in his home that overflows into his leadership at church.

If you meet these qualifications and are interested in the position, please prayerfully forward your resume and cover letter with references.

Resumes must be received by June 15, 2022.

The Pastor of this church shall believe that they have been called into the ministry by God. They shall meet the qualifications for a minister as recorded in the Holy Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:2-7)

The Pastor shall subscribe to the "Baptist Faith and Message" adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1963, and to the covenant of this church and to its established policies.

The Pastor shall be a graduate of an accredited College or University.

The Pastor shall be a graduate of an accredited seminary which teaches the theology, doctrine, and beliefs of the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message.

The Pastor shall have had previous experience in one or more pastorates.

The Pastor shall have basic knowledge and skills, such as: knowledge of the Bible, oral and written communication skills, including computer skills, leadership abilities, planning skills, and a powerful desire to share the Word of God.

Superior interpersonal skills – ability to interface with staff, members, and guests, and a desire to interact with the communities surrounding the church and other church ministries in our area.

The Pastor is responsible for leading the church to function as a New Testament church. The Pastor will articulate the vision and develop leadership within the congregation, church ministries, and the church staff to perform their duties and cast the vision for future strategies in carrying out the Great Commission

The Pastor shall be the under shepherd of the church and is responsible for providing guidance to the church ministries. As such they will collaborate with the Deacons, church staff, volunteers, committees, and church members to:

Lead the church in the achievement of its mission in compliance with the mission statement given in the Church's Constitution and By-Laws,

Proclaim the gospel to believers and unbelievers, and

Care for the church's members and other persons in the community

Encourage and shepherd the spiritual formation of the congregation, demonstrating the compassion of Christ to the people through personal interaction and the actions of leaders and volunteers in our church

The Pastor shall be ex-officio member of all committees.

The Pastor shall serve as moderator at all business meetings of the church.

Oversee the planning and leading of worship services through the work of the Worship Pastor.

The Pastor shall perform administrative duties of the church as directed by the Deacon Body.

The Pastor will be the official contact for Rural Shade Baptist Church regarding formal organizations such as the Tryon-Evergreen Baptist Association, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the Southern Baptist Convention, and local ministerial organizations.

The Pastor shall serve as chairperson of the church council.

The Pastor shall conduct funeral services and wedding ceremonies or approve those who may be invited to conduct such services and ceremonies in this church.

The Pastor shall coordinate all duties of the church staff (including paid, full-time, part-time, voluntary, etc.).

Minister by phone, e-mail, letters, and in person to the body and community