Posted by Moody Career Services
United States, Iowa, Burlington
Oak Street Baptist Church New Community Pastor Ministry Description Oak Street Baptist Church seeks to provide a full-time church planter who also has a caring heart for the established church body. This role will focus on reaching out and evangelizing young families that have not been assimilated into a church environment. This person will coalesce a growing group and start a new congregation as a part of our church that will target young families and young adults. This person will demonstrate the qualities, characteristics, and skills of a church planter, including:
a thriving relationship with God
a heart for evangelism and already active and effective in sharing Christ with seekers, doubters and the unchurched
innovative ministry
willing to take risks
ability to cast vision
discipleship & spiritual formation
ability to build teams and engage them in ministry
development of small groups with a neighborhood presence
launching a regular celebration of worship as the core grows and multiplies
preaching and teaching gifts
being comfortable serving the dual role of pastoral care and outreach
can easily and naturally build friendships with those in their 20’s to 40’s
Rationale Burlington and the surrounding area have experienced a gradual decrease in population in the last twenty years – due to both decreasing family size and reduced manufacturing opportunities. The city of Burlington estimates that there are 28,000 people living in the city. If general statistics for this generation hold true, more than 90% of these families will be unchurched. Currently, there are relatively few churches in the North Hill section of Burlington. OSB is the only evangelical church in this section of town. There is a great need and a great opportunity for evangelism. Our Story Oak Street Baptist Church, Burlington, Iowa was founded 150 years ago in 1869. The church had its beginnings in the hearts of eleven German Baptists from Brome, Germany. This group had left their fatherland to look for new opportunities in America, with Henry Rieke as leader. Together in Burlington, they incorporated as the First German Baptist Church on November 15, 1869. They met in the Rieke home until they could erect a church building in 1870. In that founding year of 1869, the group called their first pastor, Rev. John Kohrs, from Germany and he served for six years. Other pastors followed through the years, and the church has experienced a wonderful ministry – affecting and blessing the lives of many through the years and throughout the Burlington community. So the work begun 150 years ago continues, to the glory of God and the growth of His kingdom. Currently, on Sunday mornings, 60-100 people worship with us, with a majority being over the age of 70. Our worship style is blended, using a mix of traditional hymns and contemporary songs. Amongst our congregation, there is still a strong desire to grow as disciples and to serve and reach out to others. OSB has experienced a decline in attendance during the past ten years. A dedicated study was undertaken approximately three years ago to evaluate current church health and ministry emphasis, looking at potential new direction. In 2018, a Transition Team was formed to study the growth happening around us and to pray about how God would want us to respond. The Transition Team consisted of seven dedicated lay people with support and direction from our NAB Regional Minister Jim Renke and our interim Pastor Ralph Wingate. After nearly a year of prayer, study, and discussion, our Transition Team feels strongly that God is calling us to extend beyond our current ministry and start a new ministry to young families. However, we are not naturally attractive to young families. Therefore, the Team proposed we hire a person who has pastoral gifts, a passion to evangelize and disciple, and the ability to build relationships with young couples. We envision this person as a missionary to this younger generation. We believe this is God’s calling for us at OSB and church leadership has unanimously given their approval and our congregation has warmly, even enthusiastically, embraced this vision and plan. Role within OSB’s Current Congregation: As a pastor at Oak Street Baptist Church we want this position to have high visibility, but a lower responsibility with the current congregation. The goal is to build connections and goodwill. So, additional duties will also include:
participation in our Sunday morning services, with a pre-determined schedule for pastoral prayer, announcements, or preaching
occasionally being a guest speaker or teacher for an event or study
participation in weekly staff meetings
meet monthly with an Advisory Team to support this ministry
meet periodically with the Deacon Board
show respect, value, and warmth for our current congregation of seniors
Preferred Qualifications
Previous pastoral experience, preferably with young adults and the development of new ministries
A masters’ degree, ordination is desirable
Although this is not solely a church planting position, the role will be similar, so we will want the candidate to attend and be approved by a church planter assessment process that we will arrange if the candidate has not already participated in one.
Relationships
This position will report directly to the Deacon Board.
A Leadership team will be established to support and facilitate both the function and the actions for this new ministry
The Deacon Board carries the responsibility for overseeing the overall ministry health of the church. So, this position will make periodic reports to the Deacons
Support Finances OSB will financially support this position through our annual budgeting, along with partnering contributions from the North American Baptists, and will provide any necessary start-up funds for this modified ministry initiative. Prayer This ministry will have the strength of prayer from our 60-100 attendees. Although resources are needed, we believe the success of this ministry will come through the work and power of God ignited by prayer. Salary
This is a full-time salaried position
To be determined based upon experience and education
About Our Region Oak Street Baptist Church is located on North Hill in Burlington, Iowa, a city with many beautiful parks on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River and Illinois. Our church reaches out into SE Iowa and Western Illinois with 60-100 in weekly worship attendance. Our church was established almost 150 years ago, but we eagerly desire to continue to preach and teach the gospel to the lost and make disciples who can in turn continue making disciples. We are united in desire to experience healthy spiritual growth in our own lives and that of our community. The city of Burlington has excellent schools, great parks, and an abundance of shopping and restaurants. Southeastern Community College is located next door in West Burlington. A regional hospital, Great River Medical Center, is also located in West Burlington with plenty of good options for doctors. How to Apply If you are interested, submit your resume and other helpful information to altwedt70@gmail.com Once your resume is received we will contact you as needed regarding any further steps in the application process.
Oak Street Baptist Church New Community Pastor Ministry Description Oak Street Baptist Church seeks to provide a full-time church planter who also has a caring heart for the established church body. This role will focus on reaching out and evangelizing young families that have not been assimilated into a church environment. This person will coalesce a growing group and start a new congregation as a part of our church that will target young families and young adults. This person will demonstrate the qualities, characteristics, and skills of a church planter, including:
a thriving relationship with God
a heart for evangelism and already active and effective in sharing Christ with seekers, doubters and the unchurched
innovative ministry
willing to take risks
ability to cast vision
discipleship & spiritual formation
ability to build teams and engage them in ministry
development of small groups with a neighborhood presence
launching a regular celebration of worship as the core grows and multiplies
preaching and teaching gifts
being comfortable serving the dual role of pastoral care and outreach
can easily and naturally build friendships with those in their 20’s to 40’s
Rationale Burlington and the surrounding area have experienced a gradual decrease in population in the last twenty years – due to both decreasing family size and reduced manufacturing opportunities. The city of Burlington estimates that there are 28,000 people living in the city. If general statistics for this generation hold true, more than 90% of these families will be unchurched. Currently, there are relatively few churches in the North Hill section of Burlington. OSB is the only evangelical church in this section of town. There is a great need and a great opportunity for evangelism. Our Story Oak Street Baptist Church, Burlington, Iowa was founded 150 years ago in 1869. The church had its beginnings in the hearts of eleven German Baptists from Brome, Germany. This group had left their fatherland to look for new opportunities in America, with Henry Rieke as leader. Together in Burlington, they incorporated as the First German Baptist Church on November 15, 1869. They met in the Rieke home until they could erect a church building in 1870. In that founding year of 1869, the group called their first pastor, Rev. John Kohrs, from Germany and he served for six years. Other pastors followed through the years, and the church has experienced a wonderful ministry – affecting and blessing the lives of many through the years and throughout the Burlington community. So the work begun 150 years ago continues, to the glory of God and the growth of His kingdom. Currently, on Sunday mornings, 60-100 people worship with us, with a majority being over the age of 70. Our worship style is blended, using a mix of traditional hymns and contemporary songs. Amongst our congregation, there is still a strong desire to grow as disciples and to serve and reach out to others. OSB has experienced a decline in attendance during the past ten years. A dedicated study was undertaken approximately three years ago to evaluate current church health and ministry emphasis, looking at potential new direction. In 2018, a Transition Team was formed to study the growth happening around us and to pray about how God would want us to respond. The Transition Team consisted of seven dedicated lay people with support and direction from our NAB Regional Minister Jim Renke and our interim Pastor Ralph Wingate. After nearly a year of prayer, study, and discussion, our Transition Team feels strongly that God is calling us to extend beyond our current ministry and start a new ministry to young families. However, we are not naturally attractive to young families. Therefore, the Team proposed we hire a person who has pastoral gifts, a passion to evangelize and disciple, and the ability to build relationships with young couples. We envision this person as a missionary to this younger generation. We believe this is God’s calling for us at OSB and church leadership has unanimously given their approval and our congregation has warmly, even enthusiastically, embraced this vision and plan. Role within OSB’s Current Congregation: As a pastor at Oak Street Baptist Church we want this position to have high visibility, but a lower responsibility with the current congregation. The goal is to build connections and goodwill. So, additional duties will also include:
participation in our Sunday morning services, with a pre-determined schedule for pastoral prayer, announcements, or preaching
occasionally being a guest speaker or teacher for an event or study
participation in weekly staff meetings
meet monthly with an Advisory Team to support this ministry
meet periodically with the Deacon Board
show respect, value, and warmth for our current congregation of seniors
Preferred Qualifications
Previous pastoral experience, preferably with young adults and the development of new ministries
A masters’ degree, ordination is desirable
Although this is not solely a church planting position, the role will be similar, so we will want the candidate to attend and be approved by a church planter assessment process that we will arrange if the candidate has not already participated in one.
Relationships
This position will report directly to the Deacon Board.
A Leadership team will be established to support and facilitate both the function and the actions for this new ministry
The Deacon Board carries the responsibility for overseeing the overall ministry health of the church. So, this position will make periodic reports to the Deacons
Support Finances OSB will financially support this position through our annual budgeting, along with partnering contributions from the North American Baptists, and will provide any necessary start-up funds for this modified ministry initiative. Prayer This ministry will have the strength of prayer from our 60-100 attendees. Although resources are needed, we believe the success of this ministry will come through the work and power of God ignited by prayer. Salary
This is a full-time salaried position
To be determined based upon experience and education
About Our Region Oak Street Baptist Church is located on North Hill in Burlington, Iowa, a city with many beautiful parks on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River and Illinois. Our church reaches out into SE Iowa and Western Illinois with 60-100 in weekly worship attendance. Our church was established almost 150 years ago, but we eagerly desire to continue to preach and teach the gospel to the lost and make disciples who can in turn continue making disciples. We are united in desire to experience healthy spiritual growth in our own lives and that of our community. The city of Burlington has excellent schools, great parks, and an abundance of shopping and restaurants. Southeastern Community College is located next door in West Burlington. A regional hospital, Great River Medical Center, is also located in West Burlington with plenty of good options for doctors. How to Apply If you are interested, submit your resume and other helpful information to altwedt70@gmail.com Once your resume is received we will contact you as needed regarding any further steps in the application process.
