Director of Youth Ministry

Job Title: The Director of Youth

Vacation Level: Flexible Time Off, Non-Accrual, Non-Capped

Hours: 10 hours/week

Reports to: Lead Pastor

First Baptist Church of Reading is seeking a missional leader who will engage and inspire our youth to develop the next generation of Christians disciples with a robust and resilient faith from middle school through high school.

The director of youth will be responsible for developing and leading ministries to youth that provide the opportunity to hear, respond to and grow in the Gospel, foster genuine biblical community, and encourage participation in the overall life and mission of the church. They will intentionally make disciples who make disciples. The director of youth will mentor existing leaders and train up new leaders in these ministries, equipping them and releasing them to lead events or full ministries, resulting in ministries that are not solely dependent on the director of youth.

Youth ministries will be vertically aligned and missionally focused, reaching Reading and the surrounding communities. The director of youth will work closely with the lead pastor, other members of the staff and volunteer ministry teams.

The specific duties of the director of youth will include:

• Leading the youth (6-12 grades) of the First Baptist Church, including but not limited to: planning, coordinating, and overseeing year-round weekly meetings and planning annual retreats, or ensuring these take place by equipping and releasing leaders to do them
• Developing, training, leading, and supporting a ministry team of volunteers and volunteer leaders who minister to our youth.
• Participating in programs of continuing education to enhance personal and professional development
• Encouraging parents in the equipping of their children
• Connecting students with mission opportunities inside and outside the church
• Attending monthly staff meetings
• Meeting every other week with the lead pastor for general ministry supervision
• Developing and ensuring youth Sunday morning are running acceptably
• Developing and ensuring weekly youth programs are running acceptably during a time other than Sunday morning
• Maintaining a consistent presence on Sunday morning to greet and develop relationships with parents and youth
• Researching, implementing, and evaluating, along with the volunteer team, new models and/or programs for effective youth ministry
• Meeting regularly with the youth ministry team(s) and other volunteers as needed throughout the year)
• Utilizing opportunities outside regular church activities to teach, disciple, encourage, and connect with youth
• At times being required to perform various tasks and assignments not specifically noted above in accordance with the needs of the church
• Ensure all ministries create a safe environment for our young people and comply with our children protection policies
• Foster a team mentality with staff and volunteers through encouraging one another, and supporting the church in action and words
• Promote a grace-driven church community

The director of youth will be a creative, energetic self-starter. The director of youth will also exhibit good interpersonal and administrative skills, function well as a member of a ministry team, and be responsive to supervisory direction. The director of youth will have a philosophy of ministry that prioritizes people over programs, yet they will strive for programmatic growth and alignment with the larger vision and mission of the church.

The director of youth will also:

• Be unmistakably passionate and committed to serving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and to sharing your faith with youth
• Demonstrate emotional and spiritual maturity
• Have a track record of equipping and discipling leaders, both adult and youth, to lead events and ministries
• Profess a theological perspective that supports the Affiliation of Faith of FBC Reading
• Articulate a clear sense of call to ministry and love for the Church
• Become a church member
• Demonstrate competency in working with youth
• Social media fluency
• Pass a relevant background checks

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a clear calling to youth ministry, a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, and a heart for discipling students.

In addition, the following qualifications are preferred:

• A bachelor's degree or higher, preferably in ministry, theology, Christian education, or a related field.
• At least two years of successful experience serving in youth ministry or a closely related ministry role.
• A demonstrated commitment to vocational ministry as a long-term calling.
• Candidates with a degree in an unrelated field will be considered if they have a proven record of effective youth ministry and can demonstrate the gifts, experience, and character necessary to lead and disciple students.

The director of youth will be accountable to the lead pastor in matters of day-to-day and overall performance.

To be determined.