STUDENT MINISTRIES PASTOR
FULL-TIME
POSITION SUMMARY
The mission of Mountain Park Church is to invite the distracted and the disinterested to realize their role in God’s story. The Student Ministries Pastor bears primary responsibility for fulfilling this mission with students (middle school and high school) and their families in our community. In summary, the Student Ministries Pastor will 1) provide spiritual and organizational leadership for student ministries, 2) create opportunities for students to know, love and follow Jesus, 3) encourage and equip their parents to be spiritual leaders, and 4) raise up volunteers to do the work of the student ministry.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide Spiritual and Organizational Leadership
Provide Spiritual Leadership to students, volunteers, and staff
- Ensure that Student Ministries reflect Jesus’ call to make disciples and align with the mission and values of Mountain Park Church
- Maintain a “safe yet dangerous” culture where different students are welcomed without condemnation yet lovingly called to follow Christ in every area of their life
- Maintain a strong, authentic pastoral presence among students and families in the church and community for care, discipleship, crisis response, and outreach
- Complete additional pastoral duties as assigned
Provide Organizational Leadership with vision, detail, and care
- Consistently cast a clear and compelling vision for Student Ministries that aligns all activities with Mountain Park’s vision and strategies for Family Ministries
- Define, document, and track annual, quarterly, and weekly goals for programs and events that effectively fulfill the Mountain Park’s mission and values
- Develop and manage budgets for Student Ministries
- Manage and lead Student Ministry staff to include but not limited to hiring, scheduling, distribution of duties, coaching, training, performance reviews, discipline and termination when necessary
Create Opportunities for students to know love and follow Jesus
Lead, plan, and ensure high quality ministry programs and events that provide pathways for relational discipleship that results in a student attendance/engagement of no less than 10% of overall weekend attendance (with a goal of 15%) that includes:
- Weekly large group services/gatherings where students can learn to celebrate and express their love for God through music, prayer, and spiritual experiences with creative excellence and authenticity while also having fun together
- Weekly small groups and mentoring relationships that help students take the next step in their spiritual journey and build community with other students and adults
- Special events, camps and service trips that foster community, motivate students to take the next step in their spiritual journey
- Opportunities for ongoing, in-depth discipleship that prepares students to be Christian leaders and strong advocates for the Kingdom of God in their adult life
- Service and leadership opportunities that mobilize a high percentage of students to serve in our church, community, and the world at large.
- Strategic connections between student ministry and the larger church experience
- High quality transitions between ministries that introduces and integrates students and their parents into their new programs
Develop and Communicate biblical teachings with excellence, relevance, creativity, humor, and helpfulness that align with the beliefs and teachings of Mountain Park Church by:
Planning and working with a scope and cycle that anchors all teachings in key repeatable values and truths.
Editing curriculum (Orange XP3 and others) and writing original curriculum
Serving as the primary communicator a majority of the time and developing others (as needed) to be successful communicators
Motivating students to take the next step in their spiritual journey including putting their faith in Jesus and “realizing their role” in God’s story by making wise choices, building healthy relationships, practicing spiritual habits, and serving others
Encourage and equip parents to be spiritual leaders
Collaborate with Family Ministries staff to encourage parents to be spiritual leaders by
- Establishing strong relationships with parents and serve as their go-to person for student related issues
- Communicating regularly with parents to celebrate wins, promote upcoming events, share parenting tips, keep them informed of teachings in Student Ministries, and work with them for scheduling their students to serve as volunteers
Equip parents to be spiritual leaders by
- Contributing to resources (as requested by the Family Ministries Pastor) that equip parents to be the primary spiritual leaders in their homes
- Providing shared spiritual experiences where parents and students draw closer to each other and to God
Raise up teams and leaders who move students toward Christ
Collaborate with Family Ministries staff to develop volunteer teams and processes that are effective and sustainable including
- A fully developed multi-layered leadership pipeline of volunteers
- Training for both their positions and pipeline transitions including production of equipping resources such as videos, manuals, guide sheets, etc.
- Regular gatherings (in collaboration with the family ministry staff and other departments as needed) for training, inspiration, and community building no less than quarterly
Recruit, develop, and care for volunteers (including parents) who
- Embrace and implement our Family Ministry strategies
- Take ownership of the ministry as small group leaders, production volunteers, event planners, coaches, high level team leaders, etc.
- Are actively involved with students outside of regular programs
- Commit to serving weekly and for as many years as possible with a vision for staying with their students through graduation
- Cultivate authentic relationships with students and between students that result in authentic, biblical community
QUALIFICATIONS
1. Essential Education/Experience
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
- Willingness to be credentialed with The Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
- Minimum of three years working in a student ministry, including regular speaking opportunities.
- Minimum of three years recruiting, training, and leading volunteers.
2. Preferred Experience
- Track record of growing a student ministry in attendance and spiritual maturity
- Three years leading a student ministry
- Three years working in a student ministry of at least 100 students
- Three years experience managing staff
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND/OR ABILITY
- Naturally extroverted
- Embraces “Orange” values, strategies, and curriculum
- Proficient computer skills, experience with or ability to learn Mac software
- Strong organizational and problem solving skills
- Strong and effective communicator and relationship building skills
- Excellent customer service skills
- Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously under time constraints
- Dependable, responsible and self-motivated
- Ability to make independent decisions and work with minimal supervision
ESSENTIAL QUALITIES
Essential Qualities for growing in your role
1. Authentic dedication to spiritual maturity in Christ with a track record of Christ-like behavior, including:
- Knowing the Story
- Trusting the Author
- Living with Margin
- Thriving in my Family Role
- Thriving in my Kingdom Role
2. Commitment to MPC’s mission, values, and leadership. This includes embracing and encouraging a culture that is:
- Safe yet Dangerous
- Fun yet Intentional
- Confident yet Humble
3. Personal drive to be a self-starter with initiative and a strong work ethic
4. Enthusiasm and joy – a naturally “bright” face and smile
5. Emotional and relational intelligence
6. Personal pursuit of healthy biblical relationships
7. Ability to collaborate and be a team player
8. Positive attitude that motivates and encourages others
ADDENDUM
- Additional projects and responsibilities may be necessary as requested by the Senior Pastor or Executive Pastor
- Job descriptions at MPC are fluid - meaning this job description represents the minimum expectations when it comes to tasks and areas you may be working in. The reality is that we work as a team and there are numerous other tasks that will require the participation of the person holding this position
