Student Pastor

1,450 Total Attendance at Joplin and Carthage Campuses

Meet Forest Park Baptist Church
At Forest Park Church, our passion is simple: helping people put Jesus first in every area of life. Whether you are exploring faith for the first time or have been following Christ for years, you’ll find a welcoming church family committed to knowing Jesus, growing in Him, and sharing His love with others. Through authentic worship, practical biblical teaching, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to serve, Forest Park seeks to help people take their next step in their spiritual journey.

As a multi-generational church with campuses in Joplin and Carthage, Missouri, Forest Park is dedicated to living out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission-loving God, loving people, and making disciples. From children’s and student ministries to small groups and outreach opportunities, there is a place for every person and every family to connect, grow, and make a difference. No matter where you are in life, Forest Park invites you to experience a community where Jesus is first and everyone is welcome.

Forest Park Church’s Joplin campus is seeking a full-time Student Pastor to lead and grow a student ministry of approximately 60 students. The ideal candidate will be a visionary leader who can build a strong ministry culture, develop volunteers, and partner closely with parents in the discipleship of their students.

Candidates should align with the church’s complementarian and cessationist leaning theology and be gifted in biblical preaching and teaching. Above all, Forest Park is looking for a pastor who prioritizes spiritual depth and life transformation in students while providing strong leadership for the ministry.

The Student Pastor’s responsibilities include:

Preaching and Teaching:
Serve as the primary communicator for Wednesday night student services. Deliver expository, text-driven sermons that do not shy away from hard cultural issues (such as identity, sexuality, and pornography) and challenge students with deep, biblical truths.

Student Discipleship:
Create a ministry environment that balances welcoming unchurched students with cultivating deep spiritual maturity. Equip students to be confident witnesses who can share the gospel and navigate life and faith after high school.

Event and Program Management:
Oversee, plan, and grow all major elements of the student ministry calendar, including weekly services, small groups, mission trips, summer camps, retreats, and service projects.

Volunteer Development:
Since there are no official staff direct reports, the pastor is strictly responsible for overseeing, recruiting, training, and continually investing in adult volunteers and interns. The pastor must unify these volunteers around a cohesive vision.

Partnering with Parents:
Operate under a "Deuteronomy 6" model by resourcing, informing, and communicating with parents to help them frame and shape their children’s spiritual development.

School and Community Presence:
Maintain a high level of visibility and involvement in local schools and the community. This includes attending sporting events, having lunches with students, and connecting with youth outside of the church building.

Church-Wide Duties:
Participate collaboratively with the broader church staff, which includes working "all hands on deck" for Tier 1 church-wide events, such as the Easter egg drop.

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Student Pastor:

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• Master's or seminary degree is preferred
• Requires 3+ years of ministry…