An historic congregation with a hopeful future filled with exciting possibilities in northeastern North Carolina.
First Baptist Church of Ahoskie, North Carolina, is prayerfully searching for a full-time Senior Pastor to lead a diverse, multi-generational congregation into its next chapter of ministry.
With more than 220 years of faithful ministry, FBC Ahoskie is a congregation that values its history while recognizing that God is calling it toward a future of renewed mission, deeper discipleship, stronger relationships, and greater engagement in the community. The congregation describes itself as caring, loving, genuine, friendly, and welcoming, and its members consistently identified relationships and fellowship among the things they treasure most about the church.
This is an exciting opportunity for a pastor who can honor what is best about FBC Ahoskie while helping the congregation faithfully discern what comes next.
Learn more about FBC Ahoskie by clicking on the link to download the Church Profile.
About First Baptist Church of Ahoskie
First Baptist Ahoskie is a congregation of approximately 250 resident members with a growing emphasis on young families and children. The church has a long and healthy history of pastoral stability, as only eight senior pastors have served the congregation during the past 100 years. The congregation is now seeking a spiritual leader who can build upon that legacy while helping the church embrace new opportunities for ministry.
Worship at FBC Ahoskie is traditional in style, and music is a vital part of the congregation's identity and worship life. The church also affirms the leadership of women in ministry at all levels, having ordained women serving as deacons and ministers. First Baptist Ahoskie is proudly affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) and CBF of North Carolina (CBFNC) and values the “Four Fragile Freedoms” of Baptist identity:
Bible Freedom: The right of all Christians to read, interpret, and use the Bible under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Soul Freedom: The direct, unhindered accountability of each person to God without the control of any human priest, creed, or government.
Church Freedom: The independence and autonomy of the local church to govern its own affairs, choose its own leaders, and practice its own faith without outside interference.
Religious Freedom: The separation of church and state, ensuring every person has the uncoerced liberty to practice any religion or no religion at all.
A Church Poised and Ready for Its Next Chapter
As part of the pastor search process, FBC Ahoskie engaged in an extensive congregational self-study. What emerged was a picture of a church that is proud of its history, deeply connected to its people, and increasingly eager to move beyond its walls into mission and ministry.
When members were asked what opportunities for ministry were waiting for the congregation, the strongest responses centered on community outreach, missions, youth ministry, children's ministry, music, and evangelism. The congregation's aspirations are notably outward-facing and generational: Members want to serve their community, reach new people, and invest in children and youth.
Members also articulated a compelling vision for the church's future. When asked about God's dream for First Baptist Ahoskie, responses emphasized becoming a "shining light" in the community, an active multi-generational church that ministers to all, a congregation marked by unity and harmony, and a church committed to the spiritual well-being of its children.
Their shared vision offers an invitation to their next Senior Pastor: Help a thriving congregation become increasingly known for the love of Christ that it shares with the community.
What Kind of Minister is FBC Ahoskie Seeking?
The congregation is looking for a humble, relational, Spirit-led, mission-minded pastor who genuinely loves people and is committed to building authentic relationships within the church and throughout the surrounding community.
During the self-study, FBC Ahoskie identified the qualities it most wants in its next pastor. Caring, humility, spiritual maturity, pastoral presence, listening, preaching, and an understanding of the congregation's needs and values rose to the top. Members emphasized character and presence. FBC Ahoskie is looking for a pastor who can lead with humility, trust, presence, and love.
The best-fit candidate will be someone who:
Preaches and teaches God's Word faithfully, with strong communication and preaching skills.
Provides meaningful pastoral care and is present with people in the joys and challenges of life.
Builds authentic relationships across generations and within the wider community.
Leads collaboratively, working well with deacons, staff, ministry leaders, and congregational members.
Values children, youth, and families and is committed to intergenerational ministry.
Encourages discipleship and spiritual formation, helping the congregation grow in its understanding and practice of Christian faith.
Embraces missions, outreach, evangelism, and community engagement as central expressions of the church's calling.
Honors the congregation's history and traditions while helping members discern where God is leading them next.
Organizes the staffing and governance structures so that the church can better serve the congregation and community.
Qualifications
Candidates for Senior Pastor should possess the following:
Abiding commitment to Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.
Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from an accredited seminary or divinity school.
Prior ministerial experience.
Commitment to and support for historic Baptist convictions.
Understanding of and commitment to the mission and identity of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. FBC Ahoskie is a CBF-only congregation.
Compensation and Benefits
First Baptist Ahoskie is committed to caring for its pastor so that s/he can faithfully do the work to which God has called them. The compensation package will be commensurate with ministry experience and qualifications, with a salary, housing allowance, and retirement contribution ranging between $75,000–$105,000. Additional benefits include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), and professional development opportunities. Specific details will be discussed with candidates during the interview process.
Why Ahoskie?
For starters, it’s the only one! Ahoskie offers the best of small-town life with the resources and connections of a regional hub. Located just 24 miles south of the Virginia state line, Ahoskie is Hertford County's largest community. With a population of roughly 4,800, Ahoskie is large enough to offer a good mix of shopping, dining, healthcare, education, and services while remaining small enough to feel neighborly.
For families, Ahoskie and the surrounding Roanoke-Chowan region offer a variety of educational opportunities, including public and private K–12 schools, Roanoke-Chowan Community College just outside town, and nearby Chowan University in Murfreesboro (about 20 miles away). The community also has access to regional healthcare through ECU Health Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, the Roanoke-Chowan Community Health Center, and ECU's School of Dental Medicine community service learning center.
The area is also a draw for those who enjoy the outdoors and a slower pace of life. Ahoskie sits amid the farms and woodlands of northeastern NC, with the Chowan River just minutes away in neighboring Winton (county seat) and opportunities for boating, fishing, hunting, and other outdoor recreation throughout the region. The town's location along major highways and its role as a regional retail and service center make it a convenient home base for exploring northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.
Professionally, Ahoskie is more than a bedroom community. The region has a diverse economic base that includes healthcare, education, manufacturing, agriculture, food processing, and other industries, with employers such as ECU Health, Nucor, Perdue, Hertford County Public Schools, and other local businesses contributing to the area's economic life.
Perhaps the greatest asset for a pastor is the opportunity to become part of a community. Ahoskie's size makes building relationships easy, while its role as the commercial and service center of Hertford County gives a minister chances to connect with people beyond the church's walls. For a pastor who sees community engagement as an essential part of ministry, Ahoskie is a great place to build relationships, serve your neighbors, collaborate with public and private organizations, and help FBC Ahoskie become a more visible partner in the flourishing of the wider community. The town itself has identified its role as the "heart of Hertford County" and as a regional hub for medical care, shopping, dining, and recreation.
The pastor called to FBC Ahoskie, will certainly have a pulpit from which to speak God’s Word faithfully, and s/he will be invited to walk alongside a congregation that knows its story, loves its people, treasures its time together in worship, and is looking forward to living out God's mission in the years ahead.
The congregation's self-study revealed a church with a strong relational foundation and a positive sense of identity, while also acknowledging its need for renewed unity, trust, and shared direction. This a particularly meaningful moment in the life of First Baptist Ahoskie that will have implications for discipleship for generations to come.
Could This Be Your Next Ministry Calling?
If you are a pastor who believes that faithful leadership begins with humility, relationships, spiritual depth, and a genuine love for people, we invite you to learn more about First Baptist Ahoskie.
If you sense a call to mutual ministry and want to help a congregation strengthen its ministry with children and youth, deepen discipleship, expand its mission and outreach, and become an even more welcoming and engaged presence in its community, this is an opportunity worth your prayerful discernment.
First Baptist Ahoskie has retained Greenfields Church Consulting to help facilitate their Senior Pastor search. Our role is to help the congregation and prospective candidates navigate a thoughtful, transparent, and spiritual search process.
Interested applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and references to Craig Janney via email at craig@greenfields.consulting. You will receive a confirmation email along with details on the next steps in the process once your application is received.
Applications are due no later than Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Applications received before the deadline may be considered and acted upon by the Pastor Search Committee.
Download the 2026 Church Profile and learn more about First Baptist Ahoskie before submitting your application.
If you believe God may be calling you, or someone you know, to this opportunity, we encourage you to share this ministry job posting, read through the church profile, and prayerfully consider applying.
