International Baptist Church

Transcription

1 International Baptist Church STUTTGART An English-speaking, Bible-believing church of many nations and cultures Senior Pastor JOB OPPORTUNITY 1

2 Foreword Pastor Search Committee GREETINGS FROM IBC STUTTGART! We have the honor and privilege to serve as the IBC Stuttgart Pastor Search Committee. We are here to faithfully represent God s church and IBC Stuttgart, and this opportunity profile is a first introduction to our church. Please review, discuss, and pray over the information and opportunity presented in this profile. We praise God that He is lovingly leading our church through a season of change. Our current pastor, Dr. David Packer, has faithfully served IBC Stuttgart for over a decade and will soon enter retirement. David has the blessing and wisdom to pass the baton of leadership to the next man who will run with perseverance the race marked out for us as we fix our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). We are pleased to have you join us, as we embark on the journey to discover who God has raised up to pastor IBC Stuttgart into the future. We pray that the Holy Spirit is leading all of us together throughout the process, and that God is guiding our church through each step as we move forward. Our sincerest desire is to seek God, His kingdom, and His righteousness above all else (Matthew 6:33). We trust that as we seek God together, we will be united with the pastor God has already chosen for IBC Stuttgart. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 We look forward to hearing from and getting to know you as we move forward in the process. Thank you for your consideration and God bless you! In His Service, The IBC Stuttgart Pastor Search Committee In the front (from left) Thomas Fesefeldt, Godwill Chimamiwa, Heidi Wallace and in the back (from left) Peyman Merat, Mario Garcia, Stefanie Höhle and Samantha Eigenthaler. 2

3 History HOW WE GOT HERE IBC Stuttgart began as a mission church in 1960 to support American servicemen stationed in Stuttgart. In 1962, the church was officially constituted as the Neckar Valley Baptist Church, with 27 charter members, and joined the European Baptist Convention (now the International Baptist Convention). In 1964 the church began sharing the facility of the German Baptist church in Sindelfingen. During Pastor Larry Jones s ministry, , though few in number the church had a great sense of purpose and vision. They purchased our current property, constructed our building, and changed their name to the International Baptist Church, with a goal to reach the international community in Stuttgart. On Easter of 1989 the first service was held in our current building, built for 150 people to worship in. Jay McFadden served as pastor from , and the church added new staff, increased mission outreach, and began to use the Drees Building (a property across the street for the main church building). In 2008 the Mission and Vision Team was formed and they adopted the following Vision Statement: We are a Bible-believing English-speaking church of many nations and cultures. Our vision is to be a growing family that reflects the love of Jesus as we share the Good News to the Stuttgart community and beyond. In 2009 the church called Dr. David Packer to serve as senior pastor, and the church has continued to grow through these years. In 2018, IBC Stuttgart initiated a new building project to continue to foster organic growth through local outreach to non-christians and intentional ministry to English speak ing Christians. In the course of its history IBC Stuttgart has remained a fellowship of believers characterized by a Biblical faith, an evangelistic heart, and acceptance of people from different cultures. We estimate that over 3,200 people have been members of the church since 1962, with countless other long term attendees. Currently, hundreds of people from over 50 nations worship on Sundays, representing every continent on earth. From humble beginnings to our present-day size and ministry, our history really is His Story. 3

4 Today WHO WE ARE IBC Stuttgart is a community of believers who seek to focus on God through Jesus Christ, encourage one anoth er, and serve others locally and abroad. The future of IBC Stuttgart is very bright. We believe there is a tremendous need for a Bible-believing multi-cultural evangelistic church in Stuttgart. We are easily accessed by highways and public transportation which allows us to serve and reach more people for Christ throughout the region. The strategic location of IBC Stuttgart allows us to function as a regional church with many worshipers commuting to the church. IBC Stuttgart is comprised of people who love Jesus and His word and are committed to following Him. The multi-cultural demographic of German residents, US military members, expatriates, university students, and other visitors makes IBC Stuttgart a diverse and dynamic congregation. For many of our members and visitors, English is a second language and not their mother tongue. The diversity in cultures provides for a variety of opinions and perspectives as well as unique contributions to service and ministry that allows us to experience the manifold grace of God. The church is continually being rejuvenated by newcomers who stay for a few weeks or a few years depending on work, school, family, travel and other varying factors. As a result, the congregation has a vibrant culture of change as can be seen in the ebb and flow of young professionals and families. At the same time there is a core of longstanding members comprised of German nationals or residents who have made Stuttgart their permanent home. The diverse congregational make-up makes IBC Stuttgart seem both new and old, familiar and fresh. This is part of the unique calling of IBC Stuttgart to share the Gospel in Germany, Europe, and beyond. God has been faithful to build His church, and over the years our church has prospered with growing number of English-speaking Christians who find a loving home in IBC Stuttgart. Annual IBC Stuttgart picnic in the beautiful Monbachtal. 4

5 Theology WHAT WE BELIEVE We are a conservative, Trinitarian, Bible-believing church. We hold to the five sola s of the Reformation: only Scripture, only faith, only grace, only Christ, and only for the glory of God. We believe that salvation is possible because of the Person and work of Christ for our salvation. We are personally saved when we repent of our sins and turn to Him in faith. We are able to believe through the proclamation of the Word of God and the inner witness of the Spirit. We believe the Holy Spirit indwells each believer in Christ and helps us to understand His Word, helps us to know His will and to pray, and helps us to be transformed into His spiritual image. We believe every Christian is called to live a holy life and to bear testimony to Christ. We practice believer s baptism by immersion as a symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and we view the Lord s Supper also as symbolic of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. We invite Christians from all denominations who are in our presence to share the observance of the Lord s Supper with us. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work 2 Timothy 3:16-17 We believe in the priesthood of all believers, so our church operates with a democratic polity, meaning that we believe that every member is capable of knowing and understanding the Will of God. We believe in the independence or autonomy of individual churches. So, while we are a member of the International Baptist Convention and an associate member of the German Baptist Union, our church operates independent of control from either of these organizations. We believe in cooperating with other Bible-believing Christian groups, so we work together with many different organizations to help fulfill the Great Commission and meet human needs in the name of Christ. 5

6 Church Leadership SERVING TOGETHER DEACONS: Deacons serve in a strategic role of leadership in IBC Stuttgart by assisting the pastor in promoting the spiritual and physical welfare of IBC Stuttgart. The deacons minister to individual families as needs and opportunities arise, administer the IBC Benevolence fund, and lead in the observance of the ordinances Baptism and the Lord s Supper. The council of deacons also serves as a body that oversees the work of the senior pastor. Deacons are elected by the church normally twice a year and serve three-year terms. The constitution specifies that these are to be men. THE PASTORAL STAFF: The pastoral staff or ministerial staff, work under the supervision of the senior pastor and have their responsibilities assigned by the church body. In some cases, the constitution requires that pastoral staff to make decisions for leadership positions and committee or team members. Alongside of the senior pastor, IBC Stuttgart currently holds the following ministerial staff positions: Director of Children s Ministries, Associate Minister of Student Work and Christian Discipleship, Adult Discipleship Coordinator Also, we have paid positions for Church Administrator, Church secretaries, Church Treasurer, Children s Ministry Assistants and Facility Manager. 6

7 Ministries FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP We have many active and dynamic ministries here at IBC Stuttgart. Each has only one purpose bringing glory to our great and wonderful God. We re confident you can find a place to be a blessing to others and a place where you can be blessed. Sunday Morning Services: We offer two weekly fellowship services at 9:30 and 11:30. Sunday Morning Bible Studies: We have various small group Bible studies each Sunday morning for adults, university students, and youth. Home Groups: Home groups offer an opportunity to meet during the week closer to where people live and to fellowship, pray, and study God s word with others. Men s Ministry: The Men s Ministry of IBC Stuttgart exists to develop biblically-grounded men of faith who: lead their families in worship; explore the Word of God in study; reach out to men in the community with the Gospel and hold one another accountable to God s standards. Women s Ministry: We offer a variety of women s Bible studies on Tuesday mornings and Friday evenings. Additionally Moms in the Word is a group where young moms connect with one another. Young Adults Ministry: Fusion is the young adults ministry of IBC Stuttgart and is a very diverse community of believers coming from all over the world, including college and university students, working professionals, singles and young married couples. They enjoy getting to know new people, studying the Word together and experiencing Christ-centered fellowship together. Student Ministry: IBC Stuttgart has an international student ministry comprised of middle school (7th-8th grade), high school (9th-12th grade), and university-aged people (18-25 years old). Our ministry focuses on Sunday morning Bible studies as well as twice-monthly Friday night events, as we seek to see students grow in their relationship with Christ, in the power of the Spirit, for the glory of the Father. Kingdom Kids: A Sunday School, a strong VBS program, and weekly AWANA are hallmarks of our children s ministry. 7

8 Demographics IBC STUTTGART BY THE NUMBERS teenagers children adults 550 to 650 in attendance per Sunday In an international setting many members and regular attendees travel often for business or pleasure, bringing the total number of people who regularly attend the church closer to different nations The official membership stands at 290 adults 20 different Christian denominations IBC Stuttgart has been self-supportive for several decades and has been involved in helping to start and to help several other churches over the years. 3 largest language groups English German Spanish 15% IBC gives more than 15% to outside mission causes 8 The current facility is strategically located in southern Stuttgart near American military facilities and is easily available by Autobahn and public transportation. The space has been maxed out for fifteen years. The new worship hall (to be completed by December 2019) will seat 650 people, and will give the church room to grow. It is estimated that 20% of the people living in the Greater Stuttgart Area (total population 5 million) are fluent in English. The church is set to grow and reach more people for Christ.

9 Future building BUILDING FOR HIS KINGDOM IBC is committed to Building for His Kingdom and we as His people are carrying on His work in the world. From its beginning IBC Stuttgart has maintained commitment to a vision to bless the world through its worship and witness. We have had incredible opportunities to reach people from across the globe. We are facing a great challenge and a great opportunity to build a new church building that will allow us to improve the quality of our programming and reach more people for the glory of God. Since 2003 we have been at maximum worship capacity. Our children s ministry and our youth ministry are also at full capacity. Our Vacation Bible School had over 250 children in attendance this year also out of space for growth. Stuttgart will continue to be a major international city in the years to come. A safe estimate is that there are more than 1,000,000 English-speakers living in the Stuttgart area that need a church and a Christian witness. The harvest is great and the space to take in the harvest is too small. The new building will give us the space we need to grow and offer a healthy and balanced church program. On Sunday 22 July 2018 we had a groundbreaking ceremony for our new worship center. The construction is still on schedule and we hope to celebrate Christmas 2019 in the new facility. 9

10 Outreach MISSION FOCUSED AWANA: IBC Stuttgart hosts an international ministry called Awana, which provides integrated programs for ages 2 to 18 that introduce kids, and often their parents, to Jesus Christ and build a biblical foundation for faith. Awana helps churches and parents work together to develop spiritually strong children and youth who faithfully follow Jesus Christ. Its programs offer a proven approach for evangelizing and discipling kids in the church and community. We are one of more than 25,000 churches in over 100 nations around the globe who reach nearly two million kids each week with Awana. The International Christian School of Stuttgart: is the only Christian school in Stuttgart where English is the language of instruction. ICSS is non-denominational, offering a rigorous academic program with a biblical worldview from Pre-K to Middle School. Kainos: Kainos is a nonprofit ministry working against human trafficking and sexual exploitation in prostitution in Stuttgart, Germany and around the world. We have developed and continue to develop professional projects that are designed to help those who have been sexually trafficked or sexually exploited by individuals or circumstances. Our driving passion is to see them become free to be new. Free to be new. Heartbeat International: Heartbeat International is the first network of pro-life pregnancy resource centers founded in the U.S. (1971), and it is now the most expansive network in the world. Heartbeat has over 2,600 affiliated pregnancy help locations including pregnancy help medical clinics (with ultrasound), resource centers, maternity homes, and adoption agencies in around 62 countries around the world to provide alternatives to abortion. International Baptist Convention: We are a full member of the International Baptist Convention a global association of English-language churches who share a common doctrinal heritage. The Convention stretches across Europe, with new churches being established in the Middle East and abroad. Together we share the love and salvation of Jesus Christ to the nations, using English as our common language. IBC s Global Partners serve in the Philippines, India, Nepal,South Africa, Chad, Bulgaria, Romania, Spain and Germany. 10

11 Stuttgart LIVING IN EUROPE AND GERMANY Europe is home to some of the world s richest history and culture, with stately cathedrals and ancient castles, reminiscent of a Renaissance past in which Christianity played a central role in society. In the New Testament, we read about the gospel s early adoption in Europe through Paul s letters to the church in modern-day Greece, Italy and Turkey. Germany itself was once the thriving seat of Christianity and the birthplace of the Reformation, however much of modern Europe has turned away from those roots and there is a great need and opportunity to share the Gospel. Stuttgart is the capital of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany nestled alongside the Neckar River between the Black Forest to the west and the Swabian Alps to the south. Stuttgart is centrally located within Europe with a one-hour drive from the French border and a three-hour drive from the Austrian and Swiss borders. It is a thriving major German population center with a wide variety of industry and tourism, abundunt parks and green areas as well as a great cultural scene. Stuttgart has a population of more than 5 million people in the city and surrounding region, it is the fourth largest metropolitan area in Germany. Many people are drawn to this region because of top universities as well as several major companies headquartered in Stuttgart, including Porsche, Bosch, and Mercedes-Benz. Additionally, Stuttgart is also home to a large United States military community with more than 20,000 U.S. service members, civilian employees, and family members. Our church building is located in the Stuttgart suburb of Vaihingen. We are just across the road from Patch Barracks the American military base and a short distance away from the Vaihingen campus of Stuttgart University. Stuttgart is an international city home to people from over 170 nations around the world, with more than half of all children and young people in Stuttgart coming from a migrant background. Since 2015, Germany has welcomed over 1 million immigrants and refugees many of whcih are from the Middle East and Africa. The large increase in refugees and migrants presents a great opportunity to share the Gospel to all the nations. Europe needs churches like IBC Stuttgart that are beacons of light in our society visible through the good news of the Gospel through our words and actions. 11

12 Job Description EXPECTATIONS FOR THE SENIOR PASTOR OVERVIEW IBC Stuttgart is first, a Biblically and secondly, a constitutionally organized church. The church constitution states: The Senior Pastor is the overseer and shall have charge of the welfare of the Church. He shall preside and be moderator at all official meetings of the Church. He conducts the regular services, organizes the preaching ministry of the church, and is responsible for the overall administration of church business. He is an ex-officio member of all ministries and committees. Additionally, he performs duties as specified contractually. He is accountable to the will and mind of the Church body which shall be expressed through the Council of Deacons. The Senior Pastor must be an ordained Baptist minister and subscribe to the doctrinal statement of the Church. In periods when the Church has no serving Senior Pastor, unless otherwise determined, the leadership responsibility will go to the Council of Deacons. The Senior Pastor serves as the elder, overseer, and shepherd of the church. His responsibility is to feed the flock through a systematic preaching and teaching of the Word of God, to oversee the entire church staff, to lead the church to fulfill God s will, to care for the spiritual needs of the body, and to represent the church in appropriate ways by serving on boards and committees, and by attending meetings of the International Baptist Convention and the German Baptist Union, and any other meaningful association of churches. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it Titus 1:9 RELATIONSHIPS The Senior Pastor is the under-shepherd of the Lord, who is the chief shepherd. He is responsible to the Lord, first and foremost, in the performance of his duties and in the conduct of his ministry. He is secondly accountable to the church body, which will be expressed through the Council of Deacons. The deacons and the pastor have a mutual accountability relationship. The pastor is the supervisor of the entire church staff, and the staff exists to support him and to help him care for, lead, and spiritually nurture the church. 12

13 SPECIFIC DUTIES The scope of his job is large. Due to the nature of the position there will be many needs and opportunities of ministry in the performance of his duties that are not mentioned in this document. For example, the need to maintain private devotions and a strong personal prayer life is not mentioned here, but certainly it is one of his first duties. And the precise way in which the job is achieved will depend much upon the pastor s individual spiritual gifts and personal talents. Among the duties which the pastor shall be expected to fulfill are: Prepare and preach biblical, relevant, and interesting sermons each week in worship. Provide direction to the worship services in coordination with ministerial staff associates and volunteers. Lead and/or supervise the church s observance of the ordinances of the Lord s Supper and Believer s Baptism. Provide leadership to the church staff: lead weekly staff meetings; supervise their individual ministries; appraise their job performance, mentor them and encourage personal and professional growth; and serve as the liaison between the staff and the Personnel Committee (Deacons) on the needs of the staff. Attend and contribute to the meetings of the Council of Deacons, the Finance Committee, the Missions Committee, and special ad hoc committees, such as Building Committee. Lead the Church Council meetings. Lead the Nominating Committee and prepare its annual report and recommendations for volunteer church leadership. Prepare the agenda and chair the meetings of the church in Family Conference. Lead and supervise regular equipping and training meetings of the volunteer leaders in discipleship or ensure that they are regularly done. Facilitate special events such as baptisms and special programs. Provide support for members and attendees in the church through counseling and encouragement. Perform weddings and funerals as needed. Lead the church in organizing certain essential ministries: discipleship, Sunday School, AWANA, prayer ministry, witness and outreach, small groups, etc. Communicate regularly with the church body. Make personal in-home visits (dinners or visitations) and meetings in public places (coffee or meals) of members and attendees upon their request and as the opportunity arises. Be shepherds of God s flock that is under your care, watching over them not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:2-3 13

14 The application process WHAT S NEXT? OUR TIMELINE Phase 1: Applications accepted until the end of July Phase 2: Screening of candidates August through September Phase 3: Interviewing potential candidates September through November For frequently asked questions about arrivinig, living, and working in Germany, please visit the Stuttgart Welcome Center Website: Here you will find the most up to date information on a variety of topics to include: visa requirements, learning German, schools, health care insurance and more. Specific questions related to salary, relocation assistance, or other church specific matters, will be addressed during the interviewing phase. POINT OF CONTACT psc@ibcstuttgart.de In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. If you are interested in being considered for the position of Senior Pastor, please send your CV and a cover letter to the address above. Above all we ask you to join us in prayer as we seek God s man for this position. Thank you. Proverbs 16:9 In His grace, The Pastor Search Committee International Baptist Church of Stuttgart 14