Student Pastor - First Baptist Church of Okeechobee

Baptist – SBC

WEEKLY ATTENDANCE: 900

Meet First Baptist Church of Okeechobee

First Baptist Church of Okeechobeeis a growing, vibrant and community-centered church that is centered around these three core principles:
Worship God. Love others. Make disciples. They are known in their town for keeping the main thing the main thing. They are committed to biblical teaching, inspiring worship, and a family-like, close-knit atmosphere throughout their church. Relationships are key in this south-central Florida gem of a town, and are nurtured through groups and ministries for all ages. At FBC Okeechobee you’ll find a diverse group of people who are ready to welcome those who are homegrown and those who have recently relocated to the area.

The staff at FBC Okeechobee have incredibly loyal, long-tenured ministries, as the church celebrates supporting and serving their leaders. The church is experiencing an influx of young families and is highly supportive of family and student ministries, actively providing the resources needed for these areas to flourish. FBC Okeechobee also is blessed with a PreK-12 Private Christian School, Solid Rock Christian Academy, serving the educational needs of families in the area.

The Student Pastor’s main responsibility is to lead and disciple middle and high school students (grades 6–12) and their families. The Student Pastor will serve under the direction of the Senior Pastor and in collaboration with the church staff to fulfill our mission of Worship God, Make Disciples, and Serve Others. The ideal candidate is a biblically grounded, gospel-centered leader who loves students, parents, and volunteers, and who is committed to equipping the next generation to know Christ and live for Him.

• Lead and pastor the church’s student ministry (grades 6–12), including weekly Bible study, discipleship gatherings, small groups, and large-group events tailored to the spiritual needs of students in our church and community.
• Proactively reach unchurched students in Okeechobee and surrounding areas with the gospel, inviting them into the life of the church and helping them grow as followers of Jesus.
• Recruit, train, equip, and shepherd a team of adult volunteers and leaders who will faithfully minister to students.
• In collaboration with the Senior Pastor and church leadership, develop and manage an annual student ministry budget, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources.
• Design, evaluate, and oversee age-appropriate curriculum, programs, events, retreats, camps, mission trips, and fundraisers that align with Scripture and the church’s doctrinal statement.
• Partner with the Family Pastor to equip parents in discipling their students and addressing the spiritual and relational needs of families.
• Provide biblical counseling, mentoring, and pastoral care to students and families as needed, including crisis intervention and referral when appropriate.
• Participate in general pastoral duties (e.g., weddings, funerals, hospital visitation, member care) as needed.
• Develop and communicate a clear, long-term vision for student ministry that supports and advances the overall vision of FBC Okeechobee.
• Regularly communicate with church leadership and the congregation about student ministry developments, needs, and victories.
• Foster ministry opportunities for students within the broader church family (e.g., serving in children’s ministry, worship team, outreach events, etc.).
• Engage appropriately in local schools and community events to build relationships and demonstrate Christ’s love.
• Attend and participate in all staff meetings, retreats, and church-wide events.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Pastor.

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

• Bachelor’s degree in ministry, biblical studies, Christian education, or a related field (seminary or Bible college training strongly preferred).
• 3–5 years of experience in student ministry (or equivalent pastoral/leadership experience working with youth).
• A clear testimony of faith in Jesus Christ,…