Student Pastor

Job Description

We exist to love God, love people, and make disciples by helping people fulfill their role in God's story. Students are not the church of tomorrow — they are the church right now.

The Student Pastor at Severns Valley walks with sixth through twelfth graders and their families through one of the most formative seasons of life, helping them step into who God has called them to be.

This is not a role for someone learning on the job. We're looking for a seasoned shepherd — someone with proven experience leading student ministry well, anchored in the gospel, and equipped to partner deeply with parents and volunteer leaders to multiply the impact we're already seeing in students' lives.

The Opportunity

Our current student ministry is healthy and thriving. We're serving approximately 150 students in 6th–12th grade with over 20 adult volunteers and a Student Ministry Lead Team of 10 students. We're experiencing consistent growth and seeing real spiritual movement in our young people.

Here's where we are: Our student ministry is strong. Kids are being reached. Discipleship is happening.

Here's where we need to go: To reach more students and families, we need a pastor who can lead the whole ecosystem — not just students, but the parents who are their primary disciple-makers and the volunteers who will extend our reach. The next phase of our growth depends on scaling through intentional parent and volunteer leadership.

We're looking for someone who has already learned how to lead student ministry successfully and is ready to bring that expertise to bear on the harder work of building a sustainable, scalable, parent-and-volunteer-centered ministry.

The Role at a Glance

Position: Full-time

Reports to: Lead Pastor

Oversees: Student Ministry Lead Team, adult volunteer leaders, student ministry interns

Serves: Approximately 150 students in 6th–12th grade and their families

Meeting Times: Sunday morning + Wednesday evening programming

What You'll Do

Our values are pursue, equip, and connect. You'll see those three running through everything we ask of this role.

Pursue — Shepherd students and their families toward Jesus

• Lead by example in evangelism, discipleship, and personal walk with the Lord
• Build relationships with students through consistent presence and pastoral care
• Walk alongside parents as the primary disciple-makers in their children's lives — equipping them, not replacing them
• Develop ministry pathways that include students with special needs and create belonging for every student who walks through our doors

Equip — Build and develop a thriving volunteer ecosystem

• Identify, recruit, and develop a strong team of adult volunteer leaders who share the vision
• Train and empower a Student Ministry Lead Team of student leaders in their own spiritual growth and leadership
• Coach student ministry interns in their development as ministry leaders
• Build a culture where volunteers feel equipped, valued, and called to something bigger than programming
• Select or develop curriculum for Sunday morning, midweek, and topical studies

Connect — Build bridges between students, families, and our church family

• Lead Sunday morning student ministry gatherings and weekly programming
• Plan and execute outreach events, family programming, and school/campus presence
• Lead summer camp, VBS, and student missions — here, near, and far
• Partner with the SV staff team to maintain a consistent discipleship pathway from birth through senior adulthood

Who We're Looking For

Experience

You've already learned how to do this well. We're looking for a pastor with:

• At least 3–4 years of proven, hands-on experience leading 6th–12th grade student ministry — ideally showing growth in both students reached and volunteer leaders developed
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and empower volunteer leaders (this is non-negotiable)
• Strong track record of partnering with parents as partners in discipleship, not obstacles
• Proven gifts in teaching, public communication, and one-on-one pastoral care
• A seminary degree in a relevant ministry field, or comparable preparation and demonstrated excellence in ministry

We're not looking for someone figuring out if ministry is their calling. We're looking for someone who's already answered that call and has the scars and stories to prove it. Your path to this calling might have been direct, or it might have been winding — but you know who you are and what you're called to do.

Character

• A committed follower of Jesus whose life and home reflect the gospel
• Anchored in Scripture and evangelical, Reformed theology within the SBC tradition
• A servant leader who builds people up and works well on a team
• Someone who loves students and loves the adults who shepherd them
• Willing and called to become a member of Severns Valley Baptist Church

Skills

• Organized and self-motivated — able to plan, execute, and steward a calendar and team
• Comfortable with Google Workspace, Planning Center, and other digital tools
• Strong communicator — with students, parents, volunteers, and staff alike
• Emotionally intelligent and relationally skilled; able to read a room and adapt

About Severns Valley

Severns Valley Baptist Church is a multi-generational church family in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. We gather Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. at 1100 Ring Road. Our purpose is simple:

Love God. Love people. Make disciples.

We pursue that purpose through three environments:

• Ministries — where we serve
• Groups — where we grow
• Missions — where we go (here, near, and far)
• There is always room for one more.

We're a church family marked by warmth, theological conviction, and a deep commitment to helping people step into their role in God's story. Our staff team is unified, supportive, and genuinely enjoys working together.

Compensation & Benefits

We believe in caring well for those who shepherd our flock. We offer:

• Competitive Salary: $60,000–$75,000 depending on experience and background
• Housing Allowance: Available if ordained
• Health Insurance: Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Disability Coverage: Short and long-term disability insurance
• Retirement Plan: 403(b) with 10% church contribution
• Professional Development: Encouraged and funded by the church (conferences, training, resources)
• Moving/Relocation Assistance: Available to help with transition
• Vacation: 2–5 weeks annually depending on full-time ministry experience, plus denominational conference time
• Regular Sabbath and Sabbital Opportunity: We believe in rest. You'll be encouraged to actually take your days off. Pastors are eligible for Sabbatical leave after 5 years of service at SV.

Next Steps

If the Lord is stirring something as you read this, we'd be honored to start a conversation.

Your application should include:

• Resume highlighting your student ministry leadership experience and volunteer development wins
• Personal testimony and doctrinal statement (1–2 pages)
• Your philosophy of student ministry and how you partner with parents and develop volunteers (1–2 pages)
• Three professional references (ideally: one current or former supervisor, one ministry peer, one character reference from outside your ministry setting)

How to Apply:

• Apply: sv.apscareerportal.com/jobs/3384898

We look forward to hearing from you.

Severns Valley Baptist Church

1100 Ring Road | Elizabethtown, KY 42701

(270) 765-7822 | info@sv.church | sv.church