EBENEZER Baptist Church

After forming a congregational Vision Team, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Abilene, KS is seeking a Senior Pastor to preach the Word, train the congregation for spiritual maturity, and to help lead and strengthen our discipleship ministry. Pastoral priorities include equipping the congregation for ministry, preaching the Word, training for spiritual maturity, training leaders, protecting the church from heresy, and participating in leadership

SENIOR PASTOR | EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH | MINISTRY DESCRIPTION

Pastoral Priorities:

Scripture paints the picture of the pastoral minister as a man of tenacious, undistracted focus on prayer and the Word (Acts 6:4). Out of this focus flow 6 key priorities:

  1. Equipping the congregation for ministryEphesians 4:11-12
  2. Preaching the Word2 Timothy 4:2
  3. Training for spiritual maturityColossians 1:28-29
  4. Training leaders2 Timothy 2:2
  5. Protecting the church from heresyActs 20:28
  6. Participating in leadership1 Timothy 5:17

Reports to: Deacon Board and Trustees

Ministry Activities:

We envision the Pastor living out the 6 Biblical Priorities through the following Ministry Activities.

  1. Equipping the congregation for ministry
  1. Pray and promote prayer as a primary priority
  2. Promote Corporate Worship and Discipleship Groups as the core ministries of the church
  3. Lead a Discipleship Group
  4. Oversee the planning of corporate worship services
  5. Engage in regular study beyond sermon preparation in order to function as a curator of knowledge and information, able to recommend resources on the wide variety of ministry, theological, and Christian life issues faced by members of the congregation
  1. Preaching the Word
  1. Pray
  2. Devote adequate time to study and sermon preparation
  3. Serve as the primary preacher
  4. Engage in ongoing learning and development as a Pastor
  1. Training for spiritual maturity
  1. Pray
  2. Work with the Deacon Board and Discipleship Groups,to identify maturity in the congregation
  3. Empower Discipleship Groups to create opportunities where congregational members can grow their faith, increase their ability to surrender to the Lord, love others sacrificially, and reproduce disciples
  1. Training leaders
  1. Pray
  2. Continue process of training new Discipleship Group Leaders
  3. Coach Discipleship Group Leaders and recruit, equip, and oversee other coaches to do the same
  4. Develop process for training Discipleship Coaches
  5. Create opportunities for ongoing training of Deacon Board and lay leaders
  6. Work in coordination with Leaders and congregation to help mold Church Ministry Leaders with opportunities for training to develop effective teaching and discipleship outreach
  1. Protecting the church from heresy
  1. Pray
  2. Oversee, with the Church Leadership, all teaching and discipleship curricula
  3. Proactively scan cultural and religious current events and trends for areas of concern and provide the congregation with background and responses from Biblical principles
  4. Provide proactive and reactive guidance, direction and resources to combat heresy and false doctrine as necessary
  5. Confront, in coordination with Church Leadership,members not walking in unity or forgiveness and false teaching if necessary
  1. Participating in leadership
  1. Pray
  2. Invest time in studying, researching, and dreaming about the future and vision of Ebenezer Baptist Church
  3. Lead periodic Leadership and Membership training in coordination with retreats
  4. Team with Leadership and congregation for Church visioning and planning
  5. Oversee day-to-day ministries of the church
  6. Conduct weddings and funerals as able or delegate as needed
  7. Plan for and provide leadership in observance of the church ordinances of Communion and Baptism
  8. Participate in periodic Leadership and/or congregationalmeetings, providing training, resources, and ideas as needed
  9. Develop relationships with other pastors for fellowship and encouragement
  10. Participate in the South West Association, NAB Triennial and other denominational meetings as able
  11. Be in agreement with Church Constitution, By-laws, Beliefs and Covenant as well as the NAB Statement of Beliefs and Code of Ethics
  12. Be willing to submit to a background check

PASTORAL CHARACTER QUALITIES, MINISTRY PRIORITIES, EXPERIENCE, COMPETENCIES AND STYLE

  • Personality Characteristics: Energized by people -Able to spend time in one-to-one and group ministry – Outgoing - Comfortable and Personable with people – help others to discover and utilize their Spiritual Gifts
  • Ministry Priorities: Committed to making prayer the foundation of every ministry - God/Family/Others/Work/Personal – Increase intentional prayer for unbelievers and a passion for evangelism by implementing personal and corporate strategies for reaching unbelievers. Model an evangelistic spirit within our programs and outreach events. Help mobilize members for reaching their unsaved neighbors, friends, relatives and co-workers. Provide the support, resolution and resource priorities to increase and deepen congregational participation in personal and corporate prayer. Promote discipleship groups and ministry within the church. Deepen and cultivate a commitment to Prayer, Worship, Discipleship and Biblical Principles within the church.
  • Experiences: Experience living and ministering in a rural or small town environment, experience in children, youth, adult and senior adult ministry. Training, education and/or sufficient background and experience in Pastoring and Christian serviceare preferred. A vibrant walk with God as demonstrated in the disciplines of prayer, Bible study and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Moral and ethical purity
  • Competencies: Has a proven track record of maintaining a stable to growing congregation, works well with others, evangelical, knowledgeable in teaching and applying Biblical Principles
  • Style: Utilizes consensus decision-making style, Comfortable working with and managing others individually and as groups – Passionate, dedicated, impactful, obedient, consistent, communicator, leader, evangelistic, edifier, disciple, diligent, encourager, Christlike Character and Compassion

Church Historical Brief

Ebenezer Baptist Church (EBC) was organized in 1880 with 21 charter German Baptist members meeting in a newly built rural church and parsonage. In the mid 1920’s the congregation had outgrown its first building and a new building was built in 1926 which remains as the sanctuary of the present church. Additions to the front and rear of this building were added over the years. EBC hosted the Kansas Association at its 50th anniversary in 1930 and the Southwest Association in 1935. English was used exclusively for SS and church services by 1935.

A number of Pastors have led EBC over the years with the most recent Pastor retiring after serving 15 years in 2014. EBC continues to support local rescue and food bank missions and actively supports association church establishments and world missions. World mission support has been concentrated in Cameroon, the Philippines and Japan. Other EBC ministries include: Vacation Bible School, Junior Church, Summer Youth Camps, White Cross, Chain of Love Homes in Brazil, Ebenezer Ladies Fellowship, Community Pancake Supper, Men’s Bible Retreat, Samaritans Purse, Community Concerts and a Community Movie Outreach.