DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRIES (Middle & High School)
Potential Candidate –
We are looking for someone to take on the joy and challenge of helping junior and senior high students encounter God, faith, and community. The job description is attached with more detail, but in short this is the position: We want someone who will dream and create and connect and teach and support youth as they move from childhood to adulthood by helping them examine their life and faith in an honest, open, and safe way.
We are a congregation willing to take chances and change where needed, that wants our youth to be involved in changing the world, church, and community, and that wants to provide a safe place for them to encounter questions, challenges, and changes that will inevitable come along the way.
Maybe a smaller town in South Dakota doesn’t strike you as the place to do that. I didn’t think so either.
Almost 18 years ago, while serving a church in the Los Angeles area, I received a call from a congregation in Brookings, SD asking about an interest in moving and serving their church. I had never planned to live in South Dakota, but gave it a shot – and here I am, more than 17 years later, giving thanks for this community in which I’ve raised my family.
Brookings is a community, almost out of place with what you’d expect in South Dakota. Major, international businesses are centered here (Daktronics, Bel Brands, 3M, Larson Doors, and more); there’s a major University that brings in students and families from around the world; our city council has aggressively pursued creating a community that is welcoming, adaptive, and arts-centered. All of this while being connected to nature with parks, bike trails, concerts, and an annual arts festival that draws artisans from around the country.
If you’re looking for the chance to create a dynamic ministry with youth in a supportive, forward thinking community – this might be the right place for you.
Look through the job description, and send us your resume along with answers to these questions:
In God’s grace and peace,
Pastor David Schoeld – Senior Pastor
Posting Date: March 26, 2020
POSITION
Director of Youth Ministries (Middle & High School)
REPORTS TO
Youth and Family Pastor
CHURCH VISION
A community engaging life and the world by and through God’s gift of grace.
CHURCH MISSION
To equip all people to live a life connected with God and others.
POSITION VISION
The Director of Youth Ministries strives to communicate the gospel, creating opportunities for young people to integrate their life and their faith. This person will encourage and build relationships with young people and their families, seeking ways to bring all generations into participation in the mission of God for the world.
QUALIFICATIONS
First Lutheran Church seeks a professional leader with an understanding of the foundations of the Christian faith, and who is passionate about helping young people encounter the Christian Faith with a focus on the Lutheran understanding of grace. We seek a person who values existing programs yet can help vision the possibilities of where we might go, and who supports a team concept of ministry. With this understanding, the following qualifications are essential:
PRINCIPAL DUTIES
Initiate, develop and maintain a professional yet personal relationship with the youth and their families through a variety of activities.
REQUIREMENTS
We are looking for someone to take on the joy and challenge of helping junior and senior high students encounter God, faith, and community. The job description is attached with more detail, but in short this is the position: We want someone who will dream and create and connect and teach and support youth as they move from childhood to adulthood by helping them examine their life and faith in an honest, open, and safe way.
We are a congregation willing to take chances and change where needed, that wants our youth to be involved in changing the world, church, and community, and that wants to provide a safe place for them to encounter questions, challenges, and changes that will inevitable come along the way.
Maybe a smaller town in South Dakota doesn’t strike you as the place to do that. I didn’t think so either.
Almost 18 years ago, while serving a church in the Los Angeles area, I received a call from a congregation in Brookings, SD asking about an interest in moving and serving their church. I had never planned to live in South Dakota, but gave it a shot – and here I am, more than 17 years later, giving thanks for this community in which I’ve raised my family.
Brookings is a community, almost out of place with what you’d expect in South Dakota. Major, international businesses are centered here (Daktronics, Bel Brands, 3M, Larson Doors, and more); there’s a major University that brings in students and families from around the world; our city council has aggressively pursued creating a community that is welcoming, adaptive, and arts-centered. All of this while being connected to nature with parks, bike trails, concerts, and an annual arts festival that draws artisans from around the country.
If you’re looking for the chance to create a dynamic ministry with youth in a supportive, forward thinking community – this might be the right place for you.
Look through the job description, and send us your resume along with answers to these questions:
- What are three of your strongest skills you bring to this position?
- What are areas of youth ministry in which you’d like to learn more and grow?
- Describe an event/activity/program that you led organized that turned out well.
- What do you think most people don’t know about youth ministry?
- What is an area of youth ministry where collaboration seems essential?
In God’s grace and peace,
Pastor David Schoeld – Senior Pastor
Posting Date: March 26, 2020
POSITION
Director of Youth Ministries (Middle & High School)
REPORTS TO
Youth and Family Pastor
CHURCH VISION
A community engaging life and the world by and through God’s gift of grace.
CHURCH MISSION
To equip all people to live a life connected with God and others.
POSITION VISION
The Director of Youth Ministries strives to communicate the gospel, creating opportunities for young people to integrate their life and their faith. This person will encourage and build relationships with young people and their families, seeking ways to bring all generations into participation in the mission of God for the world.
QUALIFICATIONS
First Lutheran Church seeks a professional leader with an understanding of the foundations of the Christian faith, and who is passionate about helping young people encounter the Christian Faith with a focus on the Lutheran understanding of grace. We seek a person who values existing programs yet can help vision the possibilities of where we might go, and who supports a team concept of ministry. With this understanding, the following qualifications are essential:
- Bachelor's Degree in Youth and Family Ministry, Education or a related field, or significant experience in youth ministry.
- Good written and oral communication and interpersonal skills, able to connect with the full range of members of the congregation,
- Organization and time management skills.
- Ability to identify issues, use discretion, and maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
- Willingness to work odd hours when youth and parents are available.
- An approach of flexibility and adaptability, willing to adjust as needed to meet goal.
- A plan for self-care.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES
Initiate, develop and maintain a professional yet personal relationship with the youth and their families through a variety of activities.
- Foster cross-generational and ecumenical relationships.
- Regularly participate in weekly worship and fellowship at First Lutheran and encourage youth and their families to do the same.
- Provide middle school, high school and family-oriented activities outside of confirmation and Sunday school. This includes service projects both within and outside of the congregation.
- Participate on Youth and Family Ministry Team and attend regularly scheduled meetings.
- Prepare a newsletter article, annual written reports for church council, and attend council meetings when requested.
- Keep up to date all First Lutheran Youth Ministry bulletin boards, social media, and web pages with activities and opportunities.
- Create a safe space at the church for youth to gather and share their stories in confidence.
- Serve as an advocate for individual youths and/or groups of youths.
- Work with the Youth and Family Pastor to provide opportunities for faith formation and growth through the confirmation program.
- Meet regularly with the Youth and Family Pastor to inform her/him of what is happening in your ministry.
- Assess effectiveness of youth and family programs modify as necessary in consultation with the Youth and Family Pastor.
REQUIREMENTS
- Verifiable references and a background check
- Participation in continued education opportunities related to position
- Occasional travel