Preschool Minister

Severns Valley Baptist Church; Elizabethtown (KY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Job summary

Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, KY is seeking a Preschool Minister to shepherd our birth through pre-K ministry. You will create a safe, gospel-centered environment and invest deeply in volunteer leaders and parents as they disciple children.

This relational, hands‑on role emphasizes warmth, presence, and partnering with SV Kids staff to build a sustainable ministry. You’ll join a team, report to the Lead Pastor, and participate in a six‑month Leadership Development partnership

Qualifications

• Background in preschool education or experience in children's ministry.
• Volunteer or leadership experience preferred; not required to have full-time ministry experience.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and empower volunteers; gifts in teaching and pastoral care.

Responsibilities

• Lead by example in discipleship and pastoral care.
• Build relationships with children through consistent presence and genuine care.
• Walk alongside parents as primary disciple-makers in their children's lives.
• Lead and teach regularly in preschool environments on Sundays and Wednesdays.
• Develop ministry pathways that welcome every child, including those with special needs.
• Oversee classroom setup, curriculum preparation, seasonal environments, and ministry space management.
• Select or develop age-appropriate curriculum for Sunday, midweek, and topical studies.

Skills

Preschool education

Volunteer leadership

Recruitment & development

Pastoral care & teaching

Education

Degree or ministry training helpful

Tools

Google Workspace

Basic digital tools

Job description

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• Competitive salary
• Health insurance

Severns Valley Baptist Church

• Position Type | Full-time
• Reports To | Lead Pastor
• Peer Relationship | Children's Minister
• Salary Range | $55k to $65k annually

About This Role

The Preschool Minister shepherds our preschool ministry (birth through pre-K) at Severns Valley Baptist Church. This role exists to help young children and their families pursue God, grow in faith, and connect with our church family—fulfilling their role in God's story.

This is relational, hands‑on work. You'll create a safe, joyful, gospel‑centered environment where young children can begin to know and love Jesus. You'll invest deeply in volunteer leaders, walk alongside parents as they disciple their children, and lead with warmth and presence. You're not managing programs; you're shepherding people.

Whether you're new to ministry leadership or transitioning into kids ministry, you'll join a great team of SV Kids staff and volunteers. You won't figure this out alone. You'll be supported through a six‑month partnership with Shepherd Staff, which provides weekly coaching, volunteer development training, and the systems and rhythms that make sustainable ministry possible.

You'll serve under the Lead Pastor and work closely with the SV Kids Team, other ministry leaders, and the families God has entrusted to our care.

What You'll Do

Our values are pursue, equip, and connect. You'll see those three running through everything in this role.

Pursue — Shepherd children and families toward Jesus

• Lead by example in discipleship and pastoral care
• Build relationships with children through consistent presence and genuine care
• Walk alongside parents as the primary disciple‑makers in their children's lives—equipping them, not replacing them
• Lead and teach regularly in preschool environments on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings
• Develop ministry pathways that welcome every child and create belonging for those with special needs

Equip — Build and develop a thriving volunteer ecosystem

• Identify, recruit, and develop a strong team of volunteer leaders who share the vision
• Train and empower volunteers in their spiritual growth and leadership
• Build a culture where volunteers feel equipped, valued, and called to something bigger than programming
• Oversee classroom setup, curriculum preparation, seasonal environments, and overall ministry space management
• Select or develop age‑appropriate curriculum for Sunday morning, midweek, and topical studies

Connect — Build bridges between children, families, and our church family

• Plan and execute family programming, outreach events, and seasonal activities
• Help lead VBS and preschool‑related missions and service opportunities
• Partner with the SV staff team to maintain a consistent discipleship pathway from birth through senior adulthood
• Be present at key church events and gatherings to foster connection and strengthen community
• Work closely with the SV Kids Team to align vision and values across all children's ministry environments

Who We're Looking For

We're seeking someone relational, teachable, and spiritually grounded. Someone passionate about helping preschool children and families step into a vibrant faith. You may be early in your ministry leadership journey, but you demonstrate strong character, real potential, and a genuine heart for young children and families.

Essential Qualities

• A committed follower of Jesus whose life reflects the gospel—anchored in Scripture and evangelical, Reformed theology within the SBC tradition
• Genuine passion for discipling children and partnering with families
• Relational leadership style—you connect well with volunteers, parents, and staff
• Teachable and humble—open to coaching, feedback, and growth
• Organized and self‑motivated—able to plan, execute, and steward a calendar and team
• Able to communicate clearly and lead with warmth, energy, and presence
• Emotionally intelligent and relationally skilled—able to read a room and adapt
• Comfortable with Google Workspace and basic digital tools
• Aligned with SVBC's theology, mission, and values—willing to become a member

Ideal Background & Experience

• Background in preschool education (local school teacher preferred) or experience serving in children's ministry, education, camps, VBS, or related environments
• Some volunteer or leadership experience; full‑time ministry experience is not required
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and empower volunteersProven gifts in teaching and one‑on‑one pastoral care
• A degree or ministry training is helpful but not required; we're looking for teachability and character above all

How We’ll Support You

You won't figure this out alone. The selected candidate will participate in the six‑month Kids Ministry Leadership Development (KMLD) Program through our partnership with Shepherd Staff. Weekly coaching, practical training, and ongoing support will equip you to thrive.

What the KMLD Program Provides:

• Weekly coaching and leadership development
• Child safety and ministry systems training
• Volunteer recruitment and leadership strategies
• Parent partnership and discipleship coaching
• Curriculum planning and teaching support
• Sustainable ministry rhythms and healthy leadership practices
• Ongoing encouragement, accountability, and practical tools

We're not looking for someone to run programs. We're investing in a leader with real potential—someone who can grow into a healthy, sustainable, and impactful preschool ministry through coaching, support, and partnership.

What Success Looks Like

We want you to thrive in this role, not just survive it. Here's what your first 12–18 months look like:

First 90 Days: Learn & Connect

• Build genuine relationships with volunteers, childcare staff, and families. Know their names, their stories, what keeps them serving.
• Observe the rhythms, systems, and culture of preschool ministry before making changes
• Meet with the SV Kids Team and key volunteer leaders; understand how preschool ministry connects to the broader church
• Identify volunteer capacity—who's thriving, who's stretched, where the gaps are

Months 4–9: Build & Strengthen

• Establish a sustainable volunteer recruitment and development pipeline. Build a growing team of equipped leaders, not one person carrying the load.
• Establish clear communication rhythms with volunteers and families so people feel informed, valued, and connected
• Refine classroom environments, curriculum, and systems to reflect both excellence and warmth
• Identify and invest in potential team leaders who can own specific areas of ministry

Months 10–18: Multiply & Flourish

• Volunteer leaders are taking real ownership of key areas—rooms, events, training—not just filling slots
• Families are engaged and connected—not dropping kids off, but growing in their role as the primary disciplers of their children
• The ministry can sustain a Sunday absence from you because your team is equipped and empowered
• The gospel‑centered vision for preschool ministry is understood and carried by your volunteer team, not just you

Compensation & Benefits

We believe in caring well for those who shepherd our flock. We offer:

• Competitive Salary: $45,000–$50,000 depending on experience and background
• Health Insurance: Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Disability Coverage: Short and long‑term disability insurance
• Retirement Plan: 403(b) with church contribution
• Professional Development: Encouraged and funded by the church (conferences, training, resources)
• Moving/Relocation Assistance: Available to help with transition
• Vacation: 2–5 weeks annually depending on ministry experience
• Sabbath: We believe in rest. You'll be encouraged to actually take your days off.

Severns Valley Baptist Church
1100 Ring Road | Elizabethtown, KY 42701
[phone] | [e-mail] | sv.church