About Us
August 2024
Dear Applicant:
First Baptist Church Jefferson City (FBC JC) seeks the right candidate to join our pastoral team as Associate Pastor of Families and Formation.
FBC JC, a historically Baptist church affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, was founded in 1837 on the banks of the Missouri River within sight of the Missouri State Capital. In the past four years, our congregation survived the pandemic, lost a long-tenured and beloved senior pastor to cancer, and experienced the attrition of two full-time associate pastors due to retirement and a change in call. These roles are currently filled by part-time and volunteer interim lay leadership.
In May 2023, FBC JC called Reverend Melissa Hatfield as our lead pastor. Melissa previously served in other pastoral roles at FBC JC for 23 years, visibly demonstrating the pastoral leadership, pulpit skills, and vision for taking FBC JC into the next quarter century. Our congregation is aging, but we are reaching new, younger members under Melissa's direction. We seek the right pastoral leader to join us as the Associate Pastor of Families and Formation to work with our children, youth, and adult ministry teams and to assist the Lead Pastor in preaching and pastoral care. This position is an excellent opportunity for those who feel called to invest in guiding Christians of all ages to grow faithfully and serve generously.
From 2014 to 2017, FBC JC went through a spiritual discernment effort called SETTING SAIL to connect with God's vision and partner in God's work in our community and world. The Associate Pastor of Families and Formation will facilitate the implementation of the church's Setting Sail initiatives in partnership with the Spiritual Formation Leadership Team with a mandate to:
1. Develop an intentional plan for life-changing faith.
2. Facilitate relationships that foster life-changing faith.
3. Encourage all people in our church to know their gifts and use them to serve others in collaboration with our Engagement Team.
FBC JC supports missions locally and globally and seeks to work alongside other churches from various denominations. We honor women's call to ministry and the ordination of women in ministry both as pastors and deacons. Our membership is accepting of all who are seeking to follow Christ.
Thank you for prayerfully considering this position.
For the glory of God and the good of the world,
Sondra Allen, Chair, Associate Pastor of Families and Formation Search Committee
Committee Members:
Mandee Carney (Children’s Ministry Representative)
Glenna Honich (Youth Ministry Representative)
James Preston (Adult Ministry Representative)