Senior Pastor Bridge Baptist Church

Senior Pastor – Great Bridge Baptist Church

Meet Great Bridge Baptist Church (GBBC), located in Chesapeake, Virginia, a vibrant Southern Baptist congregation committed to creating a welcoming space where people can meet Jesus, engage in life‑giving community, and be welcomed. With regular gatherings on Sundays—Life Groups at 9 AM followed by worship at 10:30 AM—along with weekly studies, music rehearsals, and youth programs, GBBC fosters discipleship across all age groups.

Our ministries aim to grow together in our relationships with God, each other, and our world.

Beyond worship, GBBC invests in local and global missions. We serve the community through a food pantry ministry (Cupboards for Christ) and the #FOR Chesapeake Food Trailer, support local ministries such as Chesapeake Area Shelter Team (CAST), the Great Bridge/Hickory YMCA, the Crisis Pregnancy Center, and local schools, and back global efforts with But God Ministries in Haiti and the Noble family in Uganda through the IMB as our sending church.

GBBC also hosts popular community events—Annual VBS, VBX programs, Fall Festival, Community Christmas Celebration, and a Faith & Freedom patriotic concert—designed to engage families and the broader Chesapeake community. We nurture spiritual growth while serving as a hub for community gatherings and life‑stage ministries.

Great Bridge Baptist Church seeks a Senior Pastor who is a gifted preacher, strong leader, and humble shepherd. The new Senior Pastor will provide theological leadership, visionary direction, and relational care to a diverse, growing body of believers.

• Preaching & Worship Leadership
  :
  Serve as the primary preacher (40–45 Sundays/year) delivering biblically faithful, gospel‑centered, and engaging sermons. Partner with the Worship Pastor to plan and shape weekly services, maintaining a visible presence on Sundays.
• Vision Casting & Strategic Leadership
  :
  Develop and communicate a compelling, unified vision for the church’s future that aligns with GBBC’s mission – Loving God, Sharing Jesus, Serving Others. Shepherd the church through future growth opportunities, including potential multisite expansion and ministry integration, and address competing ministry philosophies with clarity, unity, and grace.
• Pastoral Care & Staff Development
  :
  Provide pastoral oversight and encouragement to ministerial staff, building unity, clarity, and healthy rhythms across departments. Maintain an open‑door presence and engage meaningfully with staff, volunteers, and members. Collaborate with the Executive Pastor and leadership team for a cohesive ministry strategy.
• Discipleship & Outreach
  :
  Champion GBBC’s bridge‑building mission to God, neighbors, and the world through life groups, missions, and community engagement. Equip the church to reach the unchurched, serve the hurting, and disciple all generations, especially young families and emerging adults.

• Spiritual & Personal
  :
  Clear testimony of personal faith in Jesus Christ and a call to pastoral ministry. Humble, authentic, relational leader with high character, deep love for the local church, and models personal spiritual disciplines and family health.
• Relationally Warm & Extroverted
  :
  Warm, people‑oriented, and capable of connecting across diverse groups.
• Professional & Educational
  :
  Minimum 10–15 years of ministry experience, including 3–5 years as a Senior Pastor. Proven leadership in a congregation of 500+ with staff‑management experience. Master’s degree in theology or divinity required (MDiv or equivalent; DMin strongly preferred). Theological alignment with the Baptist Faith and Message (2000).
• Doctrinal & Cultural Fit
  :
  Theologically centered, gospel‑driven, and not politically partisan. Complementarian in leadership. Able to preach to believers, skeptics, and seekers with clarity and compassion.

Chesapeake, Virginia offers suburban comfort, natural beauty, and family‑friendly living with access to cultural and economic opportunities in nearby Norfolk and Virginia Beach. The city features low crime rates, excellent schools, and a strong sense of community. Natural attractions include the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, parks, rivers, and wetlands, providing opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and bird‑watching. Chesapeake balances proximity to the beach, Intracoastal Waterway access, and a temperate climate that supports year‑round outdoor activities.

The city’s growing job market spans defense, health care, and technology, supported by favorable business climate and low property taxes.