Hillcrest Baptist Church is searching for a senior pastor. Please see the job description and qualifications below.  If you believe you are qualified for this position and feel God is calling you to apply, please contact hillcrestsearchteam@gmail.com.  Thank you!

Hillcrest Baptist Church Profile

Who We Are

Hillcrest Baptist Church is a gospel-centered congregation in Muscatine, Iowa. Our mission is to be a group of committed Christ followers who live biblically, worship passionately, pray fervently, and reach globally. We are passionate about helping people find and follow Jesus Christ and are rooted in the truth of Scripture.

Purpose and Vision

Hillcrest is committed to making disciples by helping people find and follow Jesus Christ. We desire to be a place where people are equipped to grow in their faith and empowered to serve and engage our community and the world. 

Pastoral Search

We are currently seeking a Senior Pastor who feels called to shepherd a multigenerational, loving congregation. This leader should possess a deep love for God’s Word, a commitment to prayer, and the ability to connect with people across various ages and backgrounds. Hillcrest values a leader who will faithfully preach and teach the Gospel, cultivate spiritual growth, and guide the church in reaching the community for Christ.

What We Offer

Hillcrest offers a competitive compensation package designed to support a healthy, balanced life for our next senior pastor. The church provides a salary commensurate with experience, along with retirement contributions and comprehensive health insurance coverage for the pastor and family. Paid vacation time and study leave are included to ensure rest, renewal, and ongoing spiritual growth. Hillcrest also values continued learning and provides funds for conferences, ministry training, and other professional development opportunities. Our goal is to care well for the pastor who cares for us—providing stability, support, and the resources needed to serve effectively for the long term.

Muscatine Insights

Within a 15 mile radius of Hillcrest, the greater Muscatine community is a stable, family-oriented community of nearly 50,000 residents who value strong relationships, steady work, and rooted faith. The surrounding area is experiencing gradual demographic change, with an aging but engaged population, growing cultural diversity, and a healthy mix of blue- and white-collar families. It’s a place where long-standing values meet new opportunities—a fertile field for gospel ministry. The church is strategically positioned to shepherd a region that still feels small-town connected yet mirrors the diversity and spirit of the wider Midwest. Income and education levels in Muscatine continue to rise. At the same time, many residents express a growing desire for genuine community. Together, these trends create a welcoming environment for a pastor who loves God’s Word and longs to see the gospel shape the community.

Congregational Insights

Hillcrest’s members consistently highlight the church’s strong Bible teaching, genuine care for one another, and love for worship as its defining strengths. They appreciate messages that are clear, biblical, and applicable to daily life. They also value music that direct their hearts toward God.  At the same time, the congregation recognizes key areas for growth: especially in outreach and communication within the congregation. There is also a shared desire for stable, long-term pastoral leadership that can help Hillcrest strengthen its mission and engage more effectively with the Muscatine community. The next pastor will find a people eager to be equipped, unified, and mobilized around God’s Word to reach their neighbors with the gospel.

Ministries and Programs

We offer ministries for all ages and stages, including:

• HillcrestKIDS (Wednesday Night Children and Sunday School)

•  Adult Sunday School and Wednesday Night Bible Study & Prayer

• Foundation Youth Ministries (Student Ministry midweek and Sunday)

• Actively support missions

Location and Contact

• Address: 1613 Bidwell Rd., Muscatine, IA 52761

• Phone: (563) 263-8085

• Email: hillcrestbaptistchurchiowa@gmail.com

Senior Pastor

Job Description

Hillcrest Baptist Church

Created October 2024

Biblical Qualifications:

The Senior Pastor will be a man of established and true character, qualified to preach and

teach the Word of God, as described in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. The Senior Pastor

must be willing to perform his duties in accordance with the constitution and bylaws of this

church.

Essential Qualifications:

·       Pastoral Care & Discipleship

·       Willingness to Grow

·       Ministry Experience of 5 or more years

Highly Preferential Qualifications:

·       Experience with Pastoral duties such as premarital counseling, weddings, funerals, grief counseling

·       Biblical Training

·       Married

Preferential Qualifications:

·       Formal Ministry Education (Such as Seminary)

·       Senior/Lead Pastor experience

·       Biblical Counseling Certification

·       Musical

·       Familiar with the Midwest

General Responsibilities:

The pastor is responsible for the overall health and direction of Hillcrest Church. In

accordance with the purpose, vision and constitution of the church, he leads with the Elders to accomplish the Great Commission and the Great Commandment and to implement our goals of evangelizing, making disciples, assimilating new members, worshipping the Lord and meeting the needs of the community in ministry.

Specific Responsibilities:

a. The Senior Pastor is responsible for the weekly church service.  This includes, but is not limited to the bulletin, music, announcements, sermon and the ordinances (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper).  This does not mean the Senior Pastor must execute these responsibilities each week, but rather that they are cared for by a qualified member of the congregation.

b. The Senior Pastor will provide pastoral care including, but not limited to providing counsel, visits to shut-ins, funerals, etc.

c. The Senior Pastor will appropriately provide insight and presence to special ministries such as Christmas and Vacation Bible School.

d. The Senior Pastor will provide direction and as needed content for Sunday School(s) and Bible studies.

e. The Senior Pastor will work in cooperation with the Elders to ensure the facilities and grounds are well cared for and maintained properly. 

Relationships:

The Senior Pastor is the spiritual leader of the church, and is also one of the Elders in a shared leadership of the temporal matters of church life. The pastor must work closely with the Elders to insure unity and oneness among all board members.

Compensation:

This is a paid position.  The church also provides a budget for continuing education and professional expenses. There is a qualified 403 (b) employee contribution retirement plan that qualifying employees are eligible to participate in after one year of service. There is limited provision for medical insurance at this time.