Student Pastor

Meet First Baptist Church Sioux Falls

First Baptist Church (First

B) is a warm, historic faith community located in the growing city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Founded in 1875, the church has deep generational roots but is actively looking to the future, as seen by an upcoming move to a new neighborhood perfectly positioned to reach the rapidly developing city with a population of 220,000 and rising. Whether you are a lifelong resident or new to the area, the church offers an accessible, come as you are environment where all people can find a safe space, deep community, and a spiritual home.

At the center of everything they do is a desire to help people encounter God and enter into a lifelong relationship with Him. Their Sunday gatherings have an authentic, casual approach, offering both traditional services with choirs and handbells and also contemporary worship to ensure a meaningful connection with God for every generation. They value genuine worship and practical teaching that equips individuals to meet with God in the everyday moments of their lives.

The true heart of First B is seen in its desire to function as a close-knit, extended family that genuinely cares and shows up for one another through all of life's stages. Through intentional small groups and a renewed focus on children and student ministries, they are passionate about bridging generational gaps and nurturing disciples who follow Jesus together. First B is a highly relational community where pretension is left at the door, vulnerability is valued, and everyone is invited to pull up a chair to serve the city and share the hope of the Gospel.

The Student Ministries Pastor at First Baptist Church of Sioux Falls is, at their core, a relational shepherd dedicated to guiding teenagers and their families in their spiritual development. Rather than just running siloed youth programs, this leader is passionate about walking alongside students in their everyday lives and partnering closely with parents to support them as the primary spiritual leaders in their homes.

They are a highly collaborative team player who thrives on vulnerability-based trust, eagerly working alongside other Next Generation ministries to create a seamless, cohesive discipleship path for major life stages. By intentionally investing in, developing, and equipping volunteer small group leaders and Serve Team members, they multiply their impact and ensure every student has a caring mentor. Ultimately, the ideal pastor for this role loves Jesus deeply and uses that genuine passion to build an authentic, cross-generational community where every young person feels seen, safe, and empowered to grow in their faith.

• Lead and execute the overall student ministry strategy:Oversee the spiritual development of teenagers by actively integrating the student ministry's goals with the broader vision and strategy of the church.
• Recruit and equip volunteer leaders:Identify, shepherd, and intentionally pour into adult small group leaders and Serve Team members, meeting with them regularly for planning, training, and support.
• Partner with and support parents:Come alongside families to equip parents as the primary spiritual leaders for their teens, taking intentional time to connect with them and providing consistent communication.
• Plan and oversee student events:Organize and manage all out-of-routine youth ministry functions, including camps, retreats, events, and mission opportunities.
• Collaborate on a cohesive Next Gen Discipleship plan:Work closely with the Children's Ministry and other Next Generation environments to build a unified discipleship path that ensures smooth transitions across major life stages.
• Engage relationally with students:Build strong, personal connections with the youth, which includes being present in their lives and attending their extracurricular events.
• Deliver live teaching:Actively preach and teach the Bible directly to the students rather than relying exclusively on video-based curriculums.
• Manage financial resources:Take responsibility for preparing, tracking, and maintaining the annual budget designated for the student ministry.
• Supervise and develop team members:Provide direct leadership, supervision, and ongoing development for any student ministry staff, interns, and volunteers.

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

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 3+ years of ministry experience.

• Leadership Equipping and Development:The skill to actively recruit, train, and encourage adult leaders, parents, and volunteer musicians to serve effectively in their respective ministries.
• Strategic Ministry Planning:The ability to develop a clear vision for student ministries and successfully translate ministry theory into a practical, strategic implementation plan.
• Conflict…