Senior Pastor

Job Description

Senior Pastor — Elam Baptist Church, Millen, Georgia

Elam Baptist Church is a Southern Baptist congregation in rural Jenkins County, Georgia, averaging 150 in Sunday morning worship and 100–120 in Sunday School. We are prayerfully seeking our next Senior Pastor.

About Elam and our community

We are a multigenerational church family with a particularly strong children’s ministry and a Sunday School culture that consistently engages roughly two-thirds of our worshiping congregation — a reflection of the discipleship rhythms that have shaped Elam for decades. We’re located about fifteen minutes from Millen, with Statesboro (home to Georgia Southern University) and Swainsboro both under thirty minutes away, Augusta about an hour north, and Savannah just over an hour south. The setting is genuinely rural, with the slower pace, lower cost of living, and close-knit relationships that come with it — but with easy access to medical care, regional airports, college sports, and the coast when you want them.

The pastor we’re praying for

Beyond the calling and character expected of every shepherd, we are specifically seeking a pastor who will:

Preach expositionally and faithfully proclaim the whole counsel of God Love and invest in our children, youth, and the families raising them Shepherd a congregation that spans several generations, with patience for both longtime members and newer families Build on Elam’s discipleship foundation while leading us to reach our community with the Gospel Partner with our deacon body in unified, accountable leadership Responsibilities

Spiritual leadership — preach and teach the Word; lead worship in coordination with our Worship [Pastor/Director]; provide pastoral care through prayer, counseling, and visitation; conduct weddings, funerals, and ordinances; mentor the deacon body in congregational care; equip members for ministry and evangelism.

Administrative leadership — provide oversight to church staff and ministries; lead staff and Church Council meetings; serve as ex officio member of committees; represent Elam at associational, state, and SBC gatherings; maintain active cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention.

Outreach and visitation — lead a consistent visitation ministry to members in seasons of illness, loss, or need; engage and follow up with guests and unchurched neighbors; share the Gospel in the community.

Qualifications

A clear sense of God’s call to pastoral ministry Affirmation of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 Ordained or eligible for ordination in a Southern Baptist church A faithful walk with Christ and a healthy family life

Compensation and parsonage

Elam provides a parsonage for our pastor and his family, with photos available upon request. Our full compensation package is competitive for churches of our size in our region. Specific terms will be discussed with candidates as the process advances.

Accountability

The Senior Pastor is accountable to and supported by the Deacon Body, which provides evaluation, prayer, and partnership in ministry.

To apply

Interested candidates should send a resume and links to recent sermons to elamsearch2025@gmail.com. A statement of faith and references will be requested as the process advances. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis.

If the Lord is stirring your heart toward a rural congregation that loves Jesus, loves its children, and is praying for its next pastor, we would be honored to hear from you.