Switzer First Baptist Church

 

CHURCH PROFILE:
Switzer First Baptist Church is a local church located near Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina. We are committed to living and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a family of believers. We are a pastor-led, congregational-governance, deacon-served, and Kingdom-focused Baptist church that ministers in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention and SC Baptist. Our rich, 136-year history has been characterized by a commitment to God’s Word, God’s plan of salvation, and God’s mission. Our church family spans generations, with a warm, welcoming atmosphere that reflects our mission to grow in faith and fellowship. We have a strong history and a heart for missions.  Anticipated community growth will require an energetic Christian servant leader with a God-given passion for church renewal. While honoring our traditions, we stand ready to embrace new opportunities for ministry and community impact as we grow spiritually and numerically.
Switzer First Baptist has many active ministries including Kids/Youth, Brotherhood, WMU, Deacons, and Sunday School.  We have active committees that take pride in serving the local community through various mission projects. We currently have the following services weekly; Sunday School, Sunday morning worship, and Wednesday evening Bible Study/devotional. We also have a monthly missions focused Family Night typically on the first Wednesday of the month. 
We are seeking someone committed to being a servant leader through leading and shepherding our church and discipling them to share the love of Jesus Christ with our community. 

 

CANDIDATE PROFILE:
•    Must be a born-again, baptized believer, and be able to publicly proclaim his testimony
•    Must demonstrate the qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9, & 1 Peter 5:1-3
•    Must affirm the Baptist Faith and Message (2000)
•    Should display the spiritual gifts and maturity appropriate for this position, including teaching (Ephesians 4:11), shepherding (Ephesians 4:11), exhortation (Romans 12:8), faith (1Corinthians 12:9) administration (1Corinthians 12:28), leadership (Romans 12:8), and discernment (1Corinthians 12:10) 
•    Must be dedicated to the sound biblical proclamation of the Word of God and to making disciples in the church, local community, and around the world in support of the Great Commission
•    The ideal candidate will possess and demonstrate strong leadership skills, excellent communication abilities, a strong work ethic, readiness to lead by example, and a deep commitment to the ministry.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES:
As a spiritual leader of Switzer First Baptist Church the Pastor provides guidance for the church and its ministries. The following are the key duties required of the pastor:
•    Provide a balanced ministry of preaching, teaching, evangelism, service, and pastoral care. Cast and implement a clear, actionable vision that aligns with Switzer First Baptist’s mission to foster community impact and spiritual depth.
•    Be a leader among the church body
•    Provide biblically grounded, engaging Preaching and Teaching for Sunday Worship and Wednesday Night Bible Study (with the potential for starting Sunday Night services or other services in the future) to inspire spiritual growth and discipleship.
•    Model Christ’s love to the church
•    Promote spiritual growth in the members of the church
•    Show evidence of continued spiritual growth
•    Demonstrate a lifestyle of prayer
•    Be zealous for maintaining a biblically healthy relation among the members of the church
•    Perform the various ordinances including the Lord’s Supper, baptisms, and special services such as weddings and funerals
•    Visit with the sick (as needed) and shut-ins (regularly) of the church 
•    Provide compassionate care, counseling, and support to members in times of need.
•    Abide by and hold up the Switzer First Baptist By-laws and Constitution 
•    Community engagement - Be a face for our church within the community
•    Cooperate with local churches, organizations, and pastors that align with our beliefs to reach the community and beyond
•    Assist with church committees, as requested by the committee, to help develop and promote activities within the church and community

 

QUALIFICATIONS:
•    Evidence of license/ordination as a Pastor/Minister. 
•    Preferred Seminary or expected completion of seminary- The church is willing to consider candidates that are actively seeking such.
•    Strong communication skills, both in preaching and interpersonal relationships
•    Skills in strategic planning, leadership development, and discipleship
•    A heart for missions, community engagement, and outreach. 
•    Pastoral experience preferred
•    The pastor must believe the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant word of God, and as such, seeks to preach, minister, and abide by its principals and precepts.