Youth Discipleship Ministries Specialist

Youth Discipleship Ministries Specialist

At The Salvation Army, we are dedicated to "Doing the Most Good". We are made up of thousands of officers, soldiers, staff, volunteers, donors, and partners working together to holistically meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our most vulnerable neighbors. We do this through programs designed to combat homelessness and hunger, provide safe spaces for kids after school and on the weekends, achieve and maintain sobriety, and give hope to the hopeless.

The Salvation Army North and Central Illinois Division provides these services to people in need.

The Youth Discipleship Ministries Specialist is to oversee all aspects of Salvation Army organized ministry youth programs, including training of local leaders, managing divisional databases, processing higher awards, and promoting these programs throughout the NCI Division. This role includes developing, promoting, resourcing, and training for corps specific youth ministry programs, emphasizing the growth and sustainability of youth discipleship across the NCI Division.

• Specialize in Salvation Army organized youth curriculum, equipping corps through resourcing and training, including but not limited to Cradle Roll, Jr. Soldiers, Corps Cadets, Character Building, and Sunday School/ APlay.
• Manage divisional databases, such as Corps Management System and Aplay to ensure accurate statistics for enrollments, graduates, and awards are up to date and accurate by supporting corps with their registrations, giving divisional approval for their youth programming, and submitting items to THQ through the databases.
• Consult corps to assess the current discipleship programs to evaluate and measure their effectiveness, offering solutions and resources for advancement in recommended areas.
• Develop and implement divisional strategies to strengthen and expand youth discipleship ministries, including supporting corps where programs do not currently exist.
• Establish and utilize effective discipleship materials and offer trainings throughout the division to maintain a growing effectiveness with new generations.
• Coordinate and conduct on-site visits to all NCI corps and participate in ministry programming, providing feedback, encouragement, and strategic next steps to local leadership.
• Promote and attend Salvation Army approved youth conferences
• Participate in the monitoring and maintenance of social media and websites

• Develop conceptual plans for divisional youth events in partnership with the Divisional Youth Department Leadership and submit proposals for approval in alignment with divisional event guidelines.
• Oversee approved youth events, coordinating logistics including speakers, contracts, schedules, and program elements.
• Support and participate in the planning and implementation of all divisional youth department events as part of the broader divisional youth department team.

• Create a 6-8 week conceptual plan for camper Discipleship and oversee the implementation of the approved plan.
• Equip and train summer staff in the discipleship material they will be utilizing.
• Meet regularly with the camp chaplain to coordinate morning and evening bible times in the general sessions. Provide resources to chaplain and small group leaders as needed.
• Track all youth seekers at each camp, maintain records, and provide the information to each corps at the time of pick-up.
• Develop a comprehensive discipleship follow-up plan to support corps and their families after each camp and at the end of the summer.
• Participate in the planning and implementation of all summer camps.

• Maintain a positive work atmosphere through appropriate conflict management, courteous demeanor, and professional and appropriate communication practices.
• Maintain compliance in The Salvation Army's "Safe from Harm" Certification.
• Perform other duties as assigned as related to the needs of the position.

• Education:
  
  A Bachelor's degree is preferred
• Experience:
  
  Salvation Army experience and church involvement are expected and required.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience leading, coordinating, and evaluating comprehensive youth discipleship and summer camp programs, including curriculum development, database management, leadership training, event planning, and cross-functional collaboration, with demonstrated ability to equip church leaders, strengthen ministry effectiveness, and support youth spiritual development initiatives.
• Valid Driver's license/MVR clearance

• This individual will only commit Army resources that have been allocated or approved.
• This individual will keep the Divisional Youth Secretaries and the Candidates Secretary or the Divisional Youth Director informed on all critical issues relating to their areas of responsibility.
• This individual will adhere to all policies and procedures in carrying out the responsibilities of this position.

• This…