Student Pastor

Student Pastor Opportunity

Shepherd Staff is honored to be working with Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, as they search for their next Student Pastor. Severns Valley is a historic, multi-generational Southern Baptist church founded in 1781 and known for its commitment to loving God, loving people, and making disciples. With a rich heritage, strong community presence, and a growing congregation, the church is passionate about helping people fulfill their role in God's story while investing in the next generation.

The Student Pastor will provide spiritual leadership, discipleship, and vision for students in grades 6–12 and their families. This leader will build upon the healthy foundation already in place, shepherding students toward Christ while developing volunteers, strengthening parent engagement, and creating sustainable systems that position the ministry for future growth.

The ideal candidate will be:

• A seasoned and relational leader with proven student ministry experience
• A developer who can recruit, equip, and empower volunteers and leaders
• A strong shepherd who genuinely loves students and partners well with parents
• A self-starter who is strategic, organized, and able to lead with minimal hand-holding
• A collaborative and coachable team player who thrives within a healthy staff culture
• A mature follower of Christ with strong teaching and discipleship gifts

The Student Pastor will lead a thriving ministry of more than 100 students while partnering with families during one of the most formative seasons of life. Reporting directly to the Lead Pastor, this individual will provide vision, leadership, and care for students and their families while helping create pathways for spiritual growth and discipleship.

This role requires more than managing programs. The church is seeking a leader who can build sustainable ministry systems, develop volunteers, strengthen parent discipleship, and help position the ministry for future expansion. The ideal candidate will take time to learn the culture, build relationships, and lead strategically while maintaining the relational warmth and healthy environment that currently exists.

Responsibilities include:

• Shepherding students and families through evangelism, discipleship, counseling, and relational ministry
• Leading weekly student ministry programming on Sundays and Wednesdays
• Recruiting, training, and developing volunteer leaders and the Student Ministry Lead Team
• Partnering with parents as the primary disciple-makers in their students' lives
• Providing leadership and coaching for student ministry interns
• Planning and overseeing camps, mission trips, outreach events, and special student ministry initiatives
• Developing strategies to engage students both inside and outside the church, including school and community connections
• Managing and stewarding the Student Ministry budget
• Collaborating with church staff to create a unified discipleship pathway from childhood through adulthood