Meet Calvary Baptist Church

Calvary Baptist Church is a vibrant, debt-free, multi-generational congregation situated on a beautiful 23-acre campus in Ashland, Ohio. Founded in 1955 as a small home Bible study, Calvary has experienced decades of spiritual fruitfulness and steady growth. Under the 31-year tenure of retiring Senior Pastor Harry Strachan, the congregation rebuilt from fewer than 40 people into a thriving regional ministry reaching 600+ weekly attendees and nearly 1,000 monthly active participants across Ashland, Richland, and Wayne counties.

Calvary is widely recognized for its warm, welcoming culture where attendees naturally "linger in the lobby" long after services conclude. The congregation pairs a deep commitment to uncompromising biblical truth with authentic personal care. The church maintains a traditional, reverent Sunday platform standard while fostering an engaging, multi-generational atmosphere where children, young adults, growing families, and seniors worship and serve side-by-side. 

Missions is an important part of the culture of Calvary driven by their Faith Promise Missions program which has resulted in over $9 million invested into missions since 1999. This mission's emphasis extends into the local communities with our people involved in local jail and prison ministry. 

About the Senior Pastor

Calvary Baptist Church in Ashland, Ohio, is seeking a visionary Senior Pastor to preach the Word, shepherd a thriving multi-generational congregation of 600+ weekly attendees, and lead a dynamic staff team. Operating from a 23-acre debt-free campus, the Senior Pastor will serve as the primary preacher—delivering faithful expository sermons centered on Scripture—while directly supervising four pastoral staff members and collaborating with the Board of Deacons. The incoming leader will focus on building leadership development systems, providing warm relational pastoral care, and advancing the church’s global missions vision.

The Senior Pastor's responsibilities include:

• Serve as primary communicator for Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening services.
• Shepherd the congregation.
• Foster a culture of evangelism by example.
• Oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of the church.
• Directly lead, mentor, and hold pastoral and administrative staff accountable; rebuild and fill open staff roles.
• Moderate meetings of the deacon board and of the church.
• Administer the ordinances.
• Nominate the church officers.
• Prepare the annual budget with the Deacons and Treasurer.

What you bring

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Senior Pastor:

Education and Experience

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies or similar degree. 
• Masters degree preferred (such as MDiv.).
• 8+ years of ministry experience (Senior Pastor experience preferred).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Gifted communicator capable of delivering deep, biblically faithful messages with clear application.
• Proven track record of guiding church growth, building volunteer pipelines, and implementing effective assimilation processes.
• Demonstrated experience managing staff, developing leaders, and establishing functional ministry structures.
• Ability to design and execute organizational growth systems, including leadership development pipelines.

Personal Characteristics and Qualifications

• High emotional intelligence (EQ), warmth, humility, accessibility, and a genuine love for people across all generations.
• Level-headed leader with tact, grace, and firmness, capable of navigating organizational change, staff rebuilding, and potential confrontation with wisdom.
• Conservative Biblical worldview on cultural and social issues.
• Meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9, be ordained or seeking ordination, hold an independent Baptist philosophy, be a male by birth, and affirm our Declaration of Faith in writing.

What it's like to live in Ashland, Ohio

Located in North-Central Ohio, Ashland is a welcoming, family-friendly community of approximately 18,000 residents that offers small-town charm, traditional values, and an exceptional quality of life. Home to Ashland University, the region features strong public school districts, private Christian education, and an active homeschooling community. Ashland's stable economy is supported by healthcare, higher education, research, and manufacturing, with major employers including University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center, Charles River Laboratories, Ashland University, and several established manufacturing companies.

Ashland combines the peaceful pace and affordability of rural Ohio with convenient access to larger metropolitan areas, including Cleveland and Akron (approximately one hour) and Columbus (90 minutes). Residents enjoy beautiful countryside, local parks, and nearby Mohican State Park, offering hiking, boating, fishing, and year-round outdoor recreation. With a ministry reach extending across Ashland, Richland, and Wayne counties, the area provides an attractive setting for ministry leaders seeking meaningful opportunities to serve while establishing lasting roots in a close-knit community.