Non-Denominational

WEEKLY ATTENDANCE: 360

Meet First Baptist Church

First Baptist Church is a congregation that worships in love, fellowship and provides support for those in need. Working together, we seek to further the kingdom of Christ through evangelism, discipleship, and prayer. Matthew 22:33-40; 28:18-20. This is an amazing church that is experiencing healing and revival even in the midst of their senior pastor of 17 years stepping down. Volunteers are the backbone of this church and care deeply about its health and future. 

Rooted in a Baptist heritage while operating as a non-denominational family of believers, we are dedicated to our mission to “Love Christ, Love Others, Live Biblically”,. We invite you to join us for our Sunday services—whether you prefer our 8:00 AM blended worship or our 10:15 AM contemporary service—and experience an authentic atmosphere that “feels like home” so deeply you may not want to leave. Currently experiencing unprecedented growth and unity, we are a church on fire for God, passionately committed to Biblical truth, discipleship, and serving our neighbors.

About the Senior Pastor

The senior pastor leads and oversees the preaching and teaching ministry, dedicating time to study, reflection, and preparation of God’s Word. They guide the congregation in making decisions for Christ and encourage spiritual growth within the church, helping members apply biblical teachings to their daily lives. The pastor participates in the worship service primarily through preaching and teaching, offers pastoral care and guidance during key life moments, and helps develop ministries that foster spiritual growth and support the broader mission of the church. Through their leadership, teaching, and example, the senior pastor helps shape a congregation grounded in biblical principles and empowered to make a meaningful impact in the community and beyond.

The Senior Pastor’s responsibilities include:

• We support the preaching/teaching ministry and believe the pastor should have time dedicated to preparation and reflection on God’s Word. We are committed to listening to the Word’s power and its implications for individuals, the church, the community, and the World.
• We believe that leading people to make decisions for Christ is of utmost importance and that continued encouragement in personal growth within the church body is vital.
• We seek to communicate a comprehensive understanding of the Bible and Christian teaching with relevance to one’s personal life.
• We believe in active participation in worship and offer feedback and suggestions for greater participation and effectiveness in the expression of praise, thanksgiving, and devotion to God.
• We support the biblical principles of repentance and forgiveness of sin.
• We support the ministry of pastoral care, which provides by word and presence an empathetic understanding and concern of the joys, crises, and transitions of life. We support the giving of assistance where appropriate and feasible.
• We support the development and maintenance of programs and activities for the development of the individual as well as expanding the membership and/or enlarging the vision of the ministry. 
• We believe that biblical teaching is the foundation of personal belief and life-changing action.

What you bring

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

Education

• Degree: The candidate must have completed and been awarded a Master of Divinity (M.Div) degree or an equivalent from an accredited seminary.
• Theological Alignment: The search committee may look for seminaries that align with their conservative theological values.

Experience

• Ministry Level: The church is looking for someone with some level of experience.
• Open to a current Senior Pastor as well as an Associate Pastor who is ready to make their next step into a senior role, potentially someone younger who could be developed a little bit.
• Career Stage: The search committee expressed a preference for someone younger rather than older.
• Leadership Track Record: They are looking for a leader who has demonstrated the ability to lead a staff compassionately and effectively.

Knowledge (Theology & Doctrine)

• Biblical Inerrancy: The candidate must believe in the inerrancy of the Bible and be doctrinally sound in preaching and teaching.
• Theological Stance:
• Conservative: The church holds a conservative theology. This includes views of marriage, sexuality, and gender; however, all are welcome.
• Soteriology: Their beliefs align more with Arminianism than Reformed theology.
• Baptist Heritage: Although officially non-denominational, they maintain a Baptist heritage (believer’s baptism by immersion) and separated from the American Baptist denomination in 2013 due to theological disagreements.
• Pneumatology: Regarding the Holy Spirit and “sign gifts” (e.g., speaking in tongues), the candidate should understand that while individuals may hold their own views, such gifts are not allowed to disrupt the worship service (not practiced publicly).

Skills

• Preaching & Teaching:
• The candidate must be highly capable of teaching and preaching the Word of God.
• The preferred preaching style is “expositorily topical”.
• The congregation desires a preacher who “speaks from the heart” and does not simply read his sermon.
• Leadership & Vision:
• The pastor must provide vision and direction while sharing leadership with the Church Council.
• He must be able to organize and develop leaders rather than doing all the work himself.
• Discipleship:
• There is a strong requirement for passion in reaching the lost and developing growth through discipleship.
• The church desires a “missional with an attractional bent” approach.
• Communication: He must communicate effectively and relate to people with joy and enthusiasm.
• Abilities & Personal Attributes
• Spiritual Maturity: He must demonstrate a level of spiritual maturity that enables him to guide and teach others, with personal integrity in word and deed.
• Relational Style:
• The ideal candidate is “approachable,” “humble and accepting of criticism,” and “wise and mature”.
• They should be capable of having hard conversations with compassion and love.
• The church desires a Senior Pastor who loves being with the people.
• Family Leadership: The profile specifies a preference for a male (complementarian view) who is a “Husband and Father that is leading his home”.
• Character: He should be bold, not shying away from problems, yet willing to “love and be loved” by the congregation.
• Operational Expectations:
• Governance: The pastor is expected to function within a system where major decisions go before the Church Council and often a congregational vote.
• Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with office hours typically Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM, plus weekend services.

Personal Characteristics & Qualifications

• Be highly capable of teaching and preaching the word of God and exhibit a sound biblical knowledge.
• Have completed and been awarded a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent from an accredited seminary.
• Has a level of spiritual maturity enabling him to guide and teach others, and demonstrates personal integrity in word and deed.
• Has the ability to communicate effectively not only through preaching and teaching, but also to personally relate to people with joy and enthusiasm.
• Is passionate about reaching the lost and developing growth through discipleship.
• Demonstrates the ability to lead the staff in a compassionate and effective manner to accomplish the mission of the church.
• Leads by example and encourages others to grow and develop maturity through discipleship.
• Believes in the inerrancy of the bible and is doctrinally sound in preaching and teaching

What it’s like to live in Aledo, IL

Living in Aledo, IL offers a true small-town experience, where life moves at a comfortable pace and neighbors often feel more like family. The town is known for its friendly community, historic downtown, and local traditions like the annual Rhubarb Fest that bring everyone together. In Aledo they love to say “Everything’s Here!”. It has everything you need to live and raise a family. Housing is affordable, the streets are quiet, and the overall atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Ideal for families, retirees, or anyone craving a peaceful environment. While it doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of a big city, Aledo provides the essentials, from parks and schools to a local medical center, with larger amenities just a short drive away. It’s a charming, community-centered place to call home that is at the start of a revitalization season. It is also 30-45 min away from big cities, airports, and anything else you would need.