Pastor - Northwest Baptist Church (Peoria, IL)

Northwest Baptist Church (Peoria, IL) – Pastor

The Big Picture

Northwest Baptist Church in Peoria, Illinois, is prayerfully searching for a full-time pastor. Their former pastor has retired. Website: www.nwbcpeoria.org

This independent Baptist church is considered small, but it has many wonderful qualities. The congregation is generous in its financial gifts and faithfully supports several local ministries. It is a unified and loving body whose members feel like family and are truly valued by the leadership team and by each other. About 35 people attend on Sunday, with about 15 in Sunday School. The church is debt free and has good cash reserves.

The church sits in a residential area and is known for preaching the Word of God and devotion to prayer. During Sunday School and the worship service, time is set aside to hear prayer requests, followed by prayer. The congregation meets Wednesday nights for prayer and Bible study.

In 2024 the church started a web-based prayer ministry to connect with the needs of the community. Twenty-one prayer campaigns were launched to people living within a 15-mile radius of the church. The outreach has reached about 126,000 people, and well over 1,500 have responded with a prayer request. Many of them are prayed for every day and communicate regularly with the prayer team through messenger.

This is a great opportunity for a pastor to cultivate a presence in the community and a shepherding spirit with his congregation. He can focus on the core principles of preaching the Word, prayer, discipleship, and outreach.

Northwest Baptist Church was founded in 1961 by Pastor J. T. Matthews, a graduate of Baptist Bible College who had a burden for the Peoria community. The church met in his home until a building was purchased in 1962. The name was changed to Northwest Baptist Church in 1964, and in 2001 the church moved about two miles northwest to its current location on Big Hollow Road. As an independent and non-affiliated church, its seven pastors have all held that the ultimate authority in the church is the Bible, and have faithfully preached God’s Word.

Peoria is a historic and vibrant city of about 112,000 people (about 400,000 in the metro area) along the Illinois River in central Illinois. It blends Midwestern charm with cultural depth, with a riverfront district, festivals, restaurants, and museums such as the Peoria Riverfront Museum. The economy is anchored by manufacturing and agriculture and has diversified into healthcare, education, and technology. Cost of living is lower than in many U.S. cities, and homeschooling and co-ops are very popular.

Job Profile

Position: Pastor (full-time)

Candidate Requirements

• Accepts the Statement of Faith as outlined in Article 2 of the Northwest Baptist Church Constitution (www.nwbcpeoria.org)
• Experienced in teaching the Word of God or has formal seminary training

Candidate Duties

• Give himself to prayer and the study of the Word of God
• Preach and expound on the Word
• Administer the church ordinances in accordance with the Word of God
• Share in the pastoral care of the congregation along with the Elders and Deacons
• Perform marriage ceremonies at his discretion in accordance with the laws of God and the State
• Officiate funerals of members of the church and non-members at his discretion
• Together with the Elders, maintain church discipline
• Act as an ex-officio member of all committees and boards
• Actively participate in all activities of the Elders and Deacons

Compensation & Benefits

Specific salary and benefit arrangements will be discussed during the interview and call process.

The Process

If you would like to be considered for this position, please send me your answers to the following three questions, along with your résumé and a link to a recent sermon (video preferred):

1. Why do you believe that you might be a good fit for this position?
2. Describe your experiences in ministry and how you may be qualified to serve at this Church?
3. In just a few sentences please give a summary of your theology and how that is in line with the doctrine of this Church?

Please send all of the information to [email protected] .