Demographics


  • Oscoda is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan located on the northern side of the Au Sable River where it enters Lake Huron. The community of Au Sable is on the southern side of the river. These two communities are what people generally refer to as the Oscoda area. The community of Oscoda is in Oscoda Township in Iosco County, and not in Oscoda County, which is to the northwest. Many individuals commonly make this wrong assumption.  Oscoda was incorporated as a village in 1885, but disincorporated in 1919 after forest fires devastated the area. The 2010 census population of Oscoda Township was 6,997 and the 2020 census population was 7,152.  The 2010 census population of Au Sable Township was 2,040 and the 2020 census population was 2,016.


    Oscoda is a resort town. The area has a very nice beach park, several other lakefront or river parks, and is very near the Huron National Forest. Fishing, canoeing, hiking, off-roading, along with beachfront activities are the main pastimes.


    Oscoda is rural in setting, but not agricultural. The largest employer in Oscoda Township is Kalitta Air, an air freight service headquartered in Ypsilanti, Michigan. They employ about 900 workers repairing and maintaining aircraft. The company uses facilities that had formerly been a part of the now closed Wurtsmith Air Force Base. There are several fast food and family style restaurants in town, and some stores and businesses.

  • Oscoda Baptist Church was planted in 1956 by a Baptist General Conference missionary. The church moved to its present location in 1958 and added on in 1986 and 1993. In 2010 and 2017 interior renovations occurred.


    The Baptist General Conference changed its name to Converge World Wide in 2008 and more recently it has changed to Converge.


    In 2014 – 2017 Oscoda Baptist Church began to intentionally target a more flexible, family-oriented approach toward ministry and practice. Programming changed along with a revision of the Constitution.


    There is now an active AWANA program in place. The demographics of the church have changed.  There are more young families along with the retirement aged attenders as well as those temporarily placed due to employment. The style of worship is simple, relaxed and somewhat contemporary. Currently, the 2011 NIV translation of the Bible is the most used in corporate worship. The average Sunday morning worship attendance is about 100-120.


    Our former pastor served here for fifteen years and is retiring from ministry in June 2022. His stated desire for the church was that it shared God’s Word in ways that are simple and deep. The vision statement for OBC is “Friends Following Jesus” and the mission statement is “to tell as many people as possible about Jesus Christ.”


    For more information about Oscoda Baptist Church please continue to browse our website or reach out and contact us!

General Application Information

Oscoda Baptist Church is currently in the process of finding a new pastor.  


The search is being conducted in cooperation with Converge Network and their Placement Process.  The Converge Placement Network manual describes the search process as having the following six stages:


• The Organization Stage

• The Information Stage

• The Collection Stage

• The Selection Stage

• The Candidating Stage

• The Arrival Stage

Pastoral Job Description

Oscoda Baptist Church is seeking a pastor to exercise general oversight of our local church, its ministry and functions. Oscoda Baptist Church pastors are responsible for the spiritual ministration and rule of the church, for the implementation of church discipline, and for watching over the souls of the members. The primary duties are as follows:


Preach and Teach

●     Devote himself to the ministry of the Word and prayer (Acts 6:4; 1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9)

●     Preach the Word by admonishing, exhorting, convicting/reproving, and rebuking, with patience (1 Timothy 4:13; 1 Timothy 5:17; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9)

●     Equip the saints doctrinally by teaching the Word (Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Timothy 4:11, 13; 1 Timothy 5:17; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9; Titus 2:11)

●     Teach by speaking and publicly reading Scripture (1 Timothy 4:11-13)

●     Lead by example (1 Timothy 4:11)

●     Make the Word of God fully known, proclaim, warn and teach everyone with all wisdom (Colossians 1:25-29)

●     Toil and struggle to encourage others, in love, to reach understanding, knowledge, wisdom, good order, and firmness of faith in Christ (Colossians 2:1-5)

 

Specific Job:

Lead corporate worship each Sunday. Preach Biblical, doctrinally sound sermons, preferably in an expositional manner. Act as lead Bible teacher for the congregation on Sundays, as well as other teaching opportunities. Administer the ordinances, communion and baptism.

 

Pastoral Visitation and Care

●     Shepherd by focusing on the spiritual needs of the congregation (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-3)

●     Devote himself to prayer (Acts 6:4)

●     Attend and pray over the sick (James 5:14-18)

 

Specific Job:

Shepherd the flock by pastoral visitation and lead others to do the same.

 

Shepherd and Exercise Oversight

●     Tend to, care for, and provide spiritual food to the flock (John 21:15-19)

●     Protect the church from false teachers (Acts 15:6, 22; Acts 20:17, 28-31; Titus 1:9)

●     Judge doctrinal issues (Acts 15:6)

●     Guard himself and his doctrinal teaching (1 Timothy 4:16)

●     Shepherd and oversee willingly by eagerly being an example (1 Peter 5:2-3; Hebrews 13:17)

 

Specific Job:

Lead the congregation in a practical Christian life and provide counseling as needed. Decide the direction and course of teaching, as well as ministry focus. Keep the church on a Biblical, Discipleship-driven focus.

 

Lead and Manage

●     Rule the church by giving instruction and admonishing (1 Thessalonians 5:12)

●     Manage the church as a father manages and cares for his household (1 Timothy 3:4-5; Titus 1:6)

●     Equip elders and the saints by entrusting and presenting them with sound doctrine (2 Timothy 1:13, 2:2)

●     Manage and care for his household and family (1 Timothy 3:4-5; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:6-7)

 

Specific Job:

Lead pastoral staff meetings and direct and lead others. Specifically, provide counsel and encouragement, to assist in the accomplishment of objectives for the church. All church members are responsible to the pastor(s). As elder, he will provide oversight of the deacons, giving guidance and direction on the business and practical affairs of the church.

 

Qualifications

●     The pastor must be the type of man depicted in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.

●     He should demonstrate a strong devotional and prayer life and a thorough understanding of the Scripture, commitment to its authority as the Word of God, and insight into its interpretation. (Titus 1:9)

●     He should have a gift for preaching and demonstrate an ability to relate passages expositionally and the skill to lead worship and preach the gospel. (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9)

●     He should demonstrate an obvious love for Christ and the gospel and a mature personal faith in the Triune God. As well as evidence of spiritual fruit in life. (1 Timothy 3:6; Titus 1:9)

●     He should demonstrate understanding, skill, and compassion in caring for people and congregations. (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8)

●     He should demonstrate a thorough knowledge of, and commitment to, sound doctrine. (Titus 1:9)

●     He should be a strong encourager and lover of people.

●     He should display energy and passion in the ministry along with a heart for disciple making and a growing vision for how to effectively make disciples in our community.

●     He should demonstrate organizational skills to be able to keep all aspects of ministry clear and focused.

●     He should have a heart towards reconciliation in conflicted relationships both personal and corporate.

●     He should possess the creativity to envision new possibilities for the ministry of Oscoda Baptist Church.

●     He should have at least 5 years of experience as a pastor.


To Apply

Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and link a video sermon to: oscodabaptistinfo@gmail.com.


Upon review of the resume and sermon, candidates will be either dismissed or informed of the next step in the online application process through Converge Placement Network.