Student Pastor

Categories Bible Expires: 20th January, 2026 Arkansas

View the FULL CHURCH PROFILE here: /fellowshipstudents

Fellowship Bible Church is a growing non-denominational church located in Searcy, Arkansas. The church is led by Lead Pastor Ben Pukas, who stepped into the lead pastor position over a year ago and has helped guide the church into renewed health and momentum. Fellowship currently sees around 650–700 people on Sunday mornings in a single service that offers a modern style of worship. Beyond Sunday mornings, the church is built around its core ministries of Fellowship Student Ministry (FSM), which gathers weekly on Wednesday nights, and its network of community groups, which are central to discipleship and outreach.

Fellowship serves a distinctive community in Searcy, home to Harding University and a city experiencing significant growth. This creates a ministry environment that is both multi-generational and highly transient, with students, young families, and long-time residents all worshiping together. The church has the opportunity to reach people from diverse denominational backgrounds, including many who come from non-instrumental Church of Christ churches, which shapes both expectations and engagement in worship. Searcy itself carries a strong small-town relational culture, meaning that authenticity, community, and consistency are highly valued, while excellence in programming and leadership is increasingly important as the church grows and attracts new families.

The church is seeking the right candidate to take over as the new Student Pastor to oversee the student ministry at the church. The right candidate will have a deep personal life in Christ and the character and capacity that align with the church’s overall mission and vision. Below are the qualifications and responsibilities Froot Group and the church have identified for this role:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Cast vision for FSM that aligns with Fellowship’s mission, vision, and values, while creating excitement and buy-in from students, leaders, and parents.
• Provide organizational leadership and oversight to all FSM environments including Wednesday night services, small groups, LEAD Team, and special events.
• Plan and lead Wednesday night gatherings for students, including worship, teaching, and small groups, with intentionality toward both discipleship and outreach.
• Preach biblically sound and engaging messages that connect with students in their cultural context.
• Identify, recruit, and develop a growing team of small group leaders, primarily young adults and college students, to disciple students consistently.
• Facilitate and develop LEAD Team (high school student leaders) to equip students to step into ministry leadership roles.
• Build intentional relationships with students and families, prioritizing both care and consistent communication with parents.
• Partner with Fellowship Kids to create a seamless pathway for 6th graders and families transitioning into FSM.
• Plan, organize, and lead student events, retreats, and outreach opportunities that deepen spiritual growth and community.
• Establish and manage the student ministry budget with faithful stewardship and alignment with church priorities.
• Maintain consistent rhythms of leader training through bi-annual retreats and ongoing coaching.
• Collaborate with staff and volunteers to ensure FSM is integrated with the overall life of the church.
• Attend weekly staff meetings and shepherding check-ins with the Lead Pastor for accountability and support.
• Fulfill other ministry responsibilities as assigned by the Lead Pastor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A clear calling to pastoral ministry, specifically to shepherd and disciple middle and high school students.
• Excellent communication and preaching abilities with the ability to connect biblically and culturally with students.
• An engaging, relational, and outgoing personality marked by enthusiasm and humility.
• Strong leadership capacity with the ability to recruit, equip, and multiply leaders.
• Creative abilities that allow for fresh and innovative approaches to ministry and outreach.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills to manage details while maintaining relational focus.
• Proficiency in leveraging technology and social media platforms to connect with students, promote events, and extend ministry impact.
• Education
  • A bachelor’s degree in a ministry-related field is preferred, though not required.
• Experience
  • At least one to two years of proven leadership experience in student ministry, preferably full-time, with tangible measures of spiritual and numerical growth in prior contexts.

Reports to: Lead Pastor

For more information, view the full church profile at /fellowshipstudents.

To apply, email your resume to Meggan at mjacobus@frootgroup.com.

Application Information

For more information, view the full church profile at /fellowshipstudents.

To apply, email your resume to Meggan at mjacobus@frootgroup.com.