Istrouma Baptist Church is seeking a Senior Pastor to lead our congregation in gospel-centered ministry and mission.

OUR CHURCH
Istrouma is a gospel-centered and Christ-honoring church, with campuses in Baton Rouge and fast- growing Ascension Parish. In addition, Istrouma hosts a vibrant Spanish-speaking congregation at the Baton Rouge Campus. We have a variety of ministries that engage our multi-cultural and multi-generational congregation.

With over a century of ministry Istrouma carries a rich legacy of faith and a history of planting churches. In addition, every year we mobilize God’s people to share the love of Christ locally, nationally, and globally.

As a Southern Baptist Church, Istrouma partners with the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention. We affirm the Bible as the inerrant and sufficient authority for all matters of faith and conduct. Our core beliefs, drawn from God’s Word, are summarized in the Baptist Faith and Message (2000). We have a plurality of leaders and a staff committed to the cause of Christ.

Our mission is clear and compelling: We glorify God by making disciples of all nations.

SENIOR PASTOR JOB DESCRIPTION
The Senior Pastor’s role focuses on teaching the Bible, shepherding the people of Istrouma, leading with strategic vision, and possessing a passion for missions.

PREACHING / TEACHING
As the primary communicator at Istrouma, the Senior Pastor must:

Be a gifted speaker with strong preaching and teaching skills.
Consistently deliver engaging, theologically sound, and Scripture-centered sermons that deepen biblical understanding and lead to spiritual growth.
Provide global leadership of worship services and sermon series planning in collaboration with the Worship Pastor and Campus Pastors.
Desire to be a lifelong learner committed to studying God’s Word and ongoing spiritual and emotional growth.
Be able to reach people across boundaries of age, race, spiritual maturity, and social status.
Maintain doctrinal integrity consistent with the Baptist Faith and Message (2000).

PASTOR / SHEPHERD
In order to shepherd the people of Istrouma, the Senior Pastor must:

Embody a welcoming, dynamic, outgoing, engaging personality while nurturing personal relationships with church leadership and staff.
Model Christ-like compassion by cultivating genuine personal relationships with members of all ages.
Practice disciple-making with key staff and lay leaders.
Work with the Discipleship Pastor to implement a disciple-making strategy that prioritizes multiplication.
Provide spiritual counseling, visitation, and support to individuals and families in times of need (e.g., illness, crisis, weddings, funerals).
Mobilize staff and deacons to provide pastoral care while leading by example.
Encourage a culture of hospitality, belonging, and mutual care within the congregation.

VISION / LEADERSHIP
To effectively lead Istrouma, the Senior Pastor must:

Be a high-capacity leader with the ability to oversee staff, congregations and facilities on two campuses with a vision for outreach and growth.
Shape staff culture to ensure alignment with the church's mission, foster unity, and create a healthy, collaborative environment that supports effective ministry.
Lead and manage 50+ full- and part-time staff through a consistent presence on site.
Cast and champion a compelling, biblically grounded vision for the church’s future.
Lead and equip staff and lay leaders with wisdom, grace, and accountability.
Partner with the church leadership (Lead Team pastors, staff, deacons, committees, ministry teams) to implement strategies for church growth and community impact.
Work with the Executive Pastor & Finance team to ensure a sound annual financial plan.

MISSIONS / EVANGELISM
To cultivate a passion for missions at Istrouma, the Senior Pastor must:

Have the heart of an evangelist with the ability to lead the congregation towards personal evangelism and disciple-making.
Support local, state, and international missions with a focus on partners in the Southern Baptist Convention.
Articulate a vision for mission work which actively engages all generations of the church.

EXPERIENCE / EDUCATION
The Senior Pastor should have:

A Master’s Degree or equivalent theological degree from an accredited, great commission-minded seminary; Master of Divinity (M.Div.) preferred.
At least five years in a senior leadership role on a church staff; experience in a large church is preferred.
Experience leading church growth, implementing a discipleship strategy, and cultivating a strong volunteer culture.
Previous ten years’ experience within SBC churches or organizations.

QUALIFICATIONS
The Senior Pastor must:

Have a clear, personal testimony of faith in Jesus and a life that reflects spiritual maturity.
Meet the spiritual and character qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.
Be ordained and aligned with the beliefs and practices of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Be in full agreement and compliance with the Baptist Faith and Message of 2000.
Have proven excellence in biblical preaching and public communication.
Be relationally warm, approachable, and emotionally intelligent.
Possess strong leadership, organizational, and team-building skills.
Be Spirit-led and prayerful in decision-making.
Have deep understanding of Southern Baptist polity and the Cooperative Program.
Display a passion for mentoring leaders and fostering disciple-making in the church.
Be committed to long-term ministry with a heart for the local church.

HOW TO APPLY:

If you have not yet downloaded our Candidate Profile and watched our Meet The Team video, go to https://istrouma.org/senior-pastor

If you have and are ready to apply, click the Apply Now button on this page. You’ll be asked to answer a few questions and provide:

Your Resume
Personal statement of faith
Links to two recent sermons (video or audio)