Youth Pastor

Leaf River Baptist Church | Leaf River, Illinois

Full-Time | $40,000–$45,000 annually | Reports to: Lead Pastor

Help build what does not yet exist

Leaf River Baptist Church is seeking a faithful, teachable, and relational man who is called to pastoral ministry and excited by the opportunity to build a gospel-centered youth ministry in a rural community.

This is not a role for someone who wants simply to maintain an established youth program. It is an opportunity to help create one.

We are praying for a Youth Pastor who loves Christ, believes in the power of God’s Word, enjoys investing in teenagers, and sees the potential in small beginnings. The right man will have the privilege of personally discipling students, partnering with parents, building a volunteer team, and helping establish a ministry that can serve Leaf River and the surrounding area for years to come.

Why this matters

Leaf River Baptist Church is a welcoming, Bible-centered church committed to our mission: To know Christ, grow in faith, go make Him known. We value biblical teaching, genuine relationships, prayer, discipleship, and ministry for every generation.

Within the Village of Leaf River, there is no other established local children’s or youth ministry. We believe that presents a meaningful opportunity to reach students and families who may have few places to hear Scripture taught clearly, ask honest questions, build healthy relationships, and encounter the hope of Jesus Christ.

A handful of teenagers currently attend Sunday mornings, but there is not yet a regular youth gathering, established youth volunteer team, or developed youth discipleship program. We are looking for a pastor who is energized—not discouraged—by the opportunity to start small, build trust, invest deeply, and see what God may do over time.

The church already has a healthy foundation in children’s ministry: approximately 15–20 children regularly attend Children’s Church on Sunday mornings, supported by strong and faithful volunteers. The Youth Pastor will help strengthen that ministry and build a clear path for children to remain connected and growing as they become teenagers.

What you will help build

The Youth Pastor will have meaningful ownership to develop a youth ministry that fits our church, our community, and our mission. Key opportunities include:

• Teach God’s Word faithfully to middle-school and high-school students.
• Build relationships and personally disciple teenagers through prayer, conversation, Bible study, encouragement, and appropriate pastoral care.
• Establish regular youth gatherings, Bible studies, outreach efforts, activities, and discipleship opportunities as the ministry develops.
• Partner with parents and encourage them as the primary disciplers of their children.
• Recruit, train, and care for a youth volunteer team over time.
• Support and encourage the existing Children’s Church volunteer team.
• Become involved in the Leaf River community and build relationships with young people and families beyond Sunday morning.
• Help create a welcoming place where students can bring friends, ask questions, hear the gospel, and grow in Christ.

We are not looking for instant attendance numbers or a polished program in the first year. We are looking for a pastor who will faithfully teach, pray, love people, develop leaders, and trust God to bring growth.

You will not build alone

The Lead Pastor has approximately 20 years of youth-ministry experience and is committed to providing regular encouragement, practical wisdom, accountability, and pastoral mentorship—especially for a man entering his first full-time pastoral role or growing toward ordination.

The Youth Pastor will not be expected to duplicate a previous program or follow a rigid template. He will have real freedom to lead, build relationships, and shape the ministry in alignment with the doctrine, mission, and pastoral leadership of Leaf River Baptist Church.

Who we are seeking

This role may be an excellent fit for a recent Bible-college, ministry-school, or seminary graduate; a youth leader or ministry intern pursuing pastoral ministry; or a young pastor looking for a meaningful opportunity to build and grow.

The right candidate will:

• Have a clear and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Demonstrate the character expected of a pastor/elder (1 Timothy 3:1–7).
• Agree with the church’s statement of faith, doctrine, mission, and biblical convictions.
• Be able to teach and apply Scripture faithfully.
• Be ordained or able and willing to meet the church’s ordination requirements over time.
• Be humble, prayerful, teachable, dependable, relational, and team-oriented.
• Be willing to live and serve in a rural community and invest patiently in people.
• Maintain integrity, appropriate boundaries, and safe practices in ministry with minors.

Leaf River Baptist Church is complementarian and affirms qualified male pastoral leadership. Married applicants’ wives are warmly welcomed as members of the church family, but this position is for the Youth Pastor—not a ministry couple. A wife will not be expected to hold a formal ministry role or carry unpaid responsibilities as a condition of employment.

Apply

Please send the following to staffing@leafriverbaptist.org:

• Résumé, including ministry, employment, education, and volunteer experience
• Brief cover letter explaining your interest in the Youth Pastor role and rural ministry
• Short personal testimony and statement of your calling to ministry
• Brief church and ministry history
• Links or recordings of recent teaching or preaching, if available

We would be glad to send interested candidates a more detailed ministry and church information packet after receiving an initial application.

Leaf River Baptist Church is a community of believers. We believe that together, in fellowship, we grow closer to God and one another. The Bible speaks about iron sharpening iron, and we believe that together we grow stronger.

Jesus calls for us to go outside the walls to reach the lost and the broken. While many churches find it more comfortable to sit inside, we strive to go outside the walls of the church and engage the lost and dying around us.

Leaf River is a village with fewer than 500 people. That size truly allows us to have an impact on the entire community. While Ogle County has roughly 50,000 people, we have found that about 80% do not attend an authentic Bible-teaching church. This drives us to boldly proclaim the Gospel to everyone around us.

To the new Family Pastor, I want to let you know about the amazing opportunity awaiting you in Leaf River. Currently, there are no children's or youth ministries in the village, and there are families in the community who are seeking activities and community for their kids. There is a basketball goal and community park right in the middle of town. This would be a great "outdoor office" for you as our next pastor. There is also a nice and mostly renovated community center right in the middle of the village, allowing for great children's or youth ministry activities. Of course, the church is available as well, but we are just a little bit outside of town. Additionally, you will not be alone in ministry. I (Pastor Billy) am seeking a young pastor to mentor and grow into a leader and pastor who can have an enormous impact for the Lord.

leafriver.church/about to find out more...