Lead Pastor

First Baptist Church, Avon, South Dakota, is seeking a full-time senior pastor. We are an established, mission minded church with a rich spiritual history located in Southeastern South Dakota. We currently have 82 active members. On Sundays, First Baptist Church offers Sunday School for all ages with an average attendance of 35, and Sunday morning worship with an average attendance of 56. There is a young adult small group initiated by church members but including others from the community. Wednesday evening the AWANA program is offered with an average attendance of 30 students and 10 leaders.

Areas of ministry the church sees as priorities are Bible-centered preaching and teaching, prayer, children’s ministry, Godly leadership, and youth ministry.

As a church we feel the most important qualities in our pastor are:
• Effective Communication – 2 Timothy 4:1-2 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 Communicates God’s Word and reveals the person of Jesus Christ with clear relevant preaching and teaching. Able to effectively preach and teach God’s Word so as to bring about Godly change in people’s lives. Willing to faithfully preach the Word even when it is contrary to societal norms.
• Evangelism – 2 Timothy 4:5 Reveals God’s Good News, both practically and verbally, to people of all cultures inside and beyond the church facility.
• Shepherding and Pastoral Care – 1 Peter 5:2 Attentively provides pastoral care to and counsels congregation.
• Spiritual Oversight – Acts 20:17-18 Maturely models and teaches godliness and Christian commitment, protects members of the church from error and wrong.