Next Generation Pastor

About the Vision

River Hills Church in Winder, GA, is seeking a high-energy, relational, and self-starting Next Generation Pastor to lead and grow a dynamic student ministry for middle and high school students. The mission of River Hills is to introduce Jesus Christ to those who have not yet encountered Him and guide those who already know Him toward a deeper connection. This role serves under the direction of the Lead Pastor and is responsible for the ministry to students in grades 6–12 and their parents, as well as college students.

The Next Generation Pastor will play a critical role in the future growth of the church. Over the last 18–24 months, the church has grown in attendance by 20%, giving has increased by 25%, and the church is poised to take steps to reach and disciple even more people.

About the Church

River Hills Church, planted in 2007, is committed to “Bringing Truth and People Together.” The mission of the church is clear: “to introduce Jesus Christ to those who have not yet encountered Him and guide those who already know Him toward a deeper connection.”

Today, River Hills is a dynamic and diverse congregation of over 500 people each week, with staff and church members from all over the world and all walks of life. The church and its founding pastor, Chip Wheeler, are passionate about developing leaders, investing in the next generation, and creating environments where people can take meaningful next steps in their walk with Christ. The church is actively engaged in both local outreach and global missions, with a heart to see lives transformed by the Gospel.

Each week, there are two worship services on Sunday at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Worship services are centered around expository preaching, intentional prayer, and songs that exalt Christ in a modern setting. The heartbeat of community at River Hills is Life Groups. These groups meet on campus and off campus throughout the week to build relationships, discuss and apply the Word, and encourage one another in the Gospel. Student ministry Life Groups meet on Sunday, with middle school on campus at 9:30 a.m., and high school in homes from 6:00–8:00 p.m.

River Hills Church values Truth, Authenticity, and Other People. 

1. Truth: the Word of God and the Gospel. 


2. Authenticity: coming to Jesus just as you are and being real. 


3. Other People: loving others, sharing Christ, and dignifying others. 

The church is built around the pathway of Connect, Grow, and Go. 

1. Connect: connecting people to church, each other, and the gospel. 


2. Grow: growing by equipping people to grow personally, serve faithfully, and give generously. 


3. Go: serving and sharing faith with others. 

 About the Opportunity

A more detailed job description will be provided during the interview process.

To effectively lead the student ministry in bringing truth and people together, the Next Generation Pastor is responsible for the following:

1. Create a ministry environment where students feel welcomed and provide opportunities for students to grow in their faith and serve on mission. 


2. Recruit, equip, and empower leaders and teams to invest in the River Hills student ministry.


3. Intentionally evangelize the lost and personally disciple others in their faith.


4. Develop, align, and execute the discipleship and equipping ministry for students in grades 6-12. This includes Merge, Life Groups, and Journey Groups. Merge is the primary student ministry gathering and meets on Wednesday nights from 6:30–8:00 p.m.


5. Engage and build relationships with students during the week by being present at school events, partnering with ministries like FCA and YoungLife, and being active in the community to connect them to the church and to the gospel.


6. Cast vision and clearly communicate the why, what, and when of student ministry.


7. Collaborate and coordinate with the rest of the staff team through meetings, brainstorming sessions, and leadership retreats.

About the Community

Winder is a fast-growing community of 21,000 residents nestled in the heart of Barrow County in Northeast Georgia. The city and county are growing at close to 3% a year, with the county population estimated at over 100,000. The city is perfectly located within a 20–25-minute drive of Athens and 45–50 minutes from Atlanta.

The area is full of young families, strong school systems, and expanding neighborhoods, creating a significant opportunity for reaching students and families with the Gospel. The community includes three high schools and six middle schools, and the church regularly reaches students from surrounding counties as well. High school sports, local events, and community gatherings are central to life here, making it an ideal environment for a relational, externally focused student ministry to thrive.

Though the city is growing rapidly, Winder still feels like a small town where you can know your neighbors and feel like you are part of the community. The area has a low cost of living, affordable housing, an expanding downtown with shops and restaurants, and for those who love the outdoors, there is the 1,800-acre Fort Yargo State Park!

River Hills Church has hired Baptist Search Partners to conduct this search on their behalf. Please do not contact the church directly as they will direct you to apply with us.