Job Description
Leading our Youth Ministry in a way that provides a safe, engaging, and joyful experience of community and faith for the children and youth of LifeSpring Church.
The Youth Ministry Director will report to the Strategic Team and will look to Pastor Fran for guidance on a daily/weekly basis.
Hours and Salary
It is estimated that the task of this position will require 12-15 hours per week. The starting salary will be $15,600 per year.
About LifeSpring
We are a church with a Jesus-Centered approach to the faith.
It is important for all staff and leaders at LifeSpring to understand that while LifeSpring has a fairly “evangelical” heritage, over the years God has shaped us into a church which has a very Jesus-centered approach to the Christian faith and journey. Most Christians would probably say their faith is “Jesus-centered,” but we mean some very specific things by that, things like this:
In Jesus we see exactly what God’s heart is like, so we read the Bible with and through Jesus. God is not “half-love and half-wrath”—he may discipline his kids or use hardship and even our failures to shape us, but all of this falls under a heart that is 100% love, because this is what we see in Jesus. We want our children to learn good things in the Bible, but even more we want them to know that Jesus himself is the true and beautiful Word God has spoken, and the one who can lead us in “the light of life.”
The goal of the Christian life is not merely to keep a set of moral standards or rules—Jesus came to restore each of us, through love, to wholeness. He teaches us that this happens through a transformed heart, which means we can never focus our ministry to adults or children merely on behavior. We are being made new from the inside out.
The end game of the Christian journey is to become people who, in being remade and renewed by God, are capable of authentic love. That is the high calling—as the Apostle Paul said, “Without love, I am nothing.” This means that as tellers and deliverers of the good news of love, we are interested in loving all people, and not interested in waging culture wars or identifying who we will despise or exclude. At LifeSpring we welcome everyone and come alongside them wherever they are in their journey in life and with God. To that end, we are teaching our children to love all people, and to see beyond people’s exteriors to the value of every human being.
Qualifications
This is what will be true of you if you are the right fit for this leadership role in our church community:
You love God and have been on a journey with him for some time.
You love preteens and teenagers, and love having relationships with them
You have some experience in either a volunteer or staff role in a church children and youth ministry.
You have a warm, positive, and energetic vibe about you.
You have completed, or are working to complete, a prescribed course of study in theology and possibly also youth ministry. This requirement may be waived for a candidate who is a highly motivated reader and student of the Bible, theology (particularly that which resonates with LifeSpring’s convictions, as defined by the Eldership and Crux communities), and ministry topics.
You are self-confident and outgoing enough to have fun with a group of kids and engage well with their parents.
You are reflective about the substance of transforming Christian faith, and curious and open about the ways the Lord still wants to change and deepen your understanding and living of a life with Christ at the center.
You have the emotional and relational awareness to A) Create a connected and welcoming youth group culture; and, B) To read kids well (their concerns, questions, etc.) and use your reading of kids to engage rather than alienate them.
You have the ability to work as part of a team with a cooperative attitude. Healthy communication is key for this role and as part of the LifeSpring team.
You can take direction and execute tasks as requested by the leaders you report to.
You are a self-starter who can often work remotely without constant supervision.
You are organized and detail-oriented.
You have good communication skills (phone, text, email, etc.).
Job Requirements
Being present on Sunday mornings a minimum of 47 Sundays per year (any absences beyond 5 Sundays must be cleared/approved with the Strategic Team).
Being present at all youth events (ie. Bridge Vibe, Feed My Starving Children, Night in Bethlehem, and any new events that may be created, etc.)
Researching and recommending the appropriate curriculum to be used in youth ministry, which would be approved by the Lead Pastor.
Attendance at all Core Leadership meetings with a positive attitude and a team spirit of working with other leaders.
Meeting with the Lead Pastor and Strategic Team as requested.
Continued Spiritual Growth and Professional Development: From time to time the Lead Pastor, Strategic Team, or Eldership Team will ask you to read books and articles, or to attend conferences or learning events, in order to stimulate your own spiritual growth or to grow in understanding and skills related to youth ministry. These are required parts of your position to help you grow, and you will be asked to discuss what you learned from each of these, and how it will shape your own spiritual life and/or ministry.
Submitting a complete budget request, on time, when requested by the Strategic or Financial TeamsLBCF is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming community.
The Goals of Our Youth Ministry
To create an atmosphere in which adult leaders build meaningful relationships with young people that help them with their faith and life journeys.
To keep young people safe in all the activities and experiences we create for them.
To create a place and a community where young people know they are deeply loved.
To help each young person see the beauty and goodness of Christ in a way that they are likely to be drawn to him, begin a relationship with Jesus in their own hearts and lives, and be drawn to the Christian journey through this connection to the Lord.
To help young people navigate their own journeys and choices as they move through those very formative years of their lives.
To give young people safe and engaging places to process and discuss important life and faith questions, including processing the issues they see unfolding around them in society.
To create a community of young people, who themselves own, reaching out to other young people and creating a place of belonging for newcomers to the group.
To help young people meaningfully participate in the broader life of the church community, rather than existing as a subset of people always separated from the larger community.
To support parents in their efforts to raise their children well.
Specific Tasks of Our Youth Ministry
Recruiting, training, scheduling, and developing volunteer leaders for the youth ministry team.
Cultivating a team atmosphere and culture within the youth ministry team through collaborative planning and thorough communication with the team (work as a team when thinking about new events, curriculum, etc.).
Planning the activities of the youth ministry classes, fun gatherings, retreats, serving opportunities, etc.
Organize and execute a frequent youth group gathering outside of Sunday morning (VIBE), with the minimum frequency of twice a month, in collaboration with the youth ministry team.
Planning the content for learning and discussion experiences.
Being the primary relational connection with middle school and senior high students.
Finding intentional ways to relationally connect with kids moving toward this age group (i.e. 4th and 5th graders) so that when the time comes “the bridge is good and smooth,” and something they are looking forward to.
Modeling good and healthy ways of doing this for volunteers and making sure there are gender-appropriate leaders to pursue relationships with every kid.
Managing all practical aspects of the youth ministry (plans, communication, budgets, etc.).
Communicating with parents about youth activities, maintaining open communication with them, and making sure parents know you hear their voice.
The Question of How Children are Connected to the Larger Church Community
To encourage the connection between our youth and our larger church community, youth will begin and end the morning in the worship service and transition to their youth ministry time when they are dismissed. Additionally, the Director Youth will need to work with the Pastor of Worship Arts and the Strategic Team to explore and implement additional opportunities for the youth to engage in the larger community on Sundays.
Capitalizing on Our Strengths
It is important, especially as a smaller church trying to reach out to more families, that we capitalize on our strengths. We cannot offer the largest youth programs, but we can 1) Offer a connected and warm community of belonging, and 2) Offer a fun experience for youth. The Youth Ministry Director is encouraged to place a major emphasis on these two factors, which can serve as strong “glue” to make LifeSpring an attractive community for their family.
How to Apply
Please send your resume and letter of interest to Pastor Fran Leeman at fran@yourlifespring.org.
Learn more about LifeSpring at YourLifeSpring.org
