Director of Children's Ministry

What if every Sunday morning you got to watch a child hear the gospel — maybe for the very first time — and you were the one who made sure it happened with excellence, love, and intention? That’s this role.

Full-Time | Reports to Associate Pastor

The Director of Children’s Ministry leads and develops Christian education programs for children from nursery age through 5th grade at Dardenne Presbyterian Church. This is a relational ministry role first — programs exist to serve relationships and form disciples, not replace them. The Director works in close collaboration with the pastoral staff team and the Children and Families Christian Education Committee.

• Pursue genuine, consistent relationships with children and their families as the foundation of all ministry
• Be accessible and warm — children, parents, and volunteers should feel known and welcomed
• Build meaningful connections with families from the Adam Lamb Preschool, creating continuity in early faith formation
• Communicate proactively with parents; equip them with tools and language to disciple their children at home
• Pursue children who are on the fringe or disengaged and reach toward families outside the regular group

• Plan, develop, and oversee Children’s Ministry programming during both Sunday morning services
• Ensure gospel-centered, age-appropriate curriculum is selected and implemented for nursery through 5th grade
• Coordinate classroom setup, volunteer roles, check‑in procedures, and all logistics for Sunday programming
• Connect 4th–5th graders to the broader worship life of the church through intentional integration with Sunday services

• Plan and lead engaging, discipleship-focused Wednesday night programming for children birth through 5th grade
• Select or develop curriculum aligned with the church’s discipleship vision and the children’s developmental needs
• Coordinate all logistics, volunteers, and materials for each Wednesday gathering

• Help coordinate and lead Vacation Bible School (VBS) annually, including planning, volunteer recruitment, and execution
• Plan and oversee other special summer programs and seasonal events for Dardenne Kids
• Recommend and develop new educational offerings as ministry needs arise
• Develop an annual ministry calendar in collaboration with the pastoral team and CE Committee

• Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers and paid staff needed to support all children’s ministry programs
• Recruit, train, and support the youth music programs
• Create a culture where volunteers feel known, equipped, and valued as ministry partners
• Ensure all volunteers are background‑checked and aligned with Dardenne’s child protection and safety policies

• Order curriculum and purchase supplies for all programs within budget
• Attend weekly staff meetings and monthly Children’s Ministry CE Committee meetings
• Collaborate with the CE Committee and Associate Pastor to align children’s ministry with the church’s values and strategic priorities, and establish and execute annual goals
• Grow the children’s ministry program intentionally and in alignment with the church’s discipleship vision
• Coordinate with the Director of Youth Ministry to ensure smooth transitions as students move into student ministry

• Belief in Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior; demonstration of personal faith in word and deed
• Able to affirm ECO’s Essential Tenets and Reformed evangelical convictions
• Strong relational skills with both children and adults — volunteers, parents, staff, and elders
• Experience in children’s education, ministry, or a related field
• Education degree (4‑year preferred) and/or equivalent experience as accepted by the CE Committee
• Organizational ability to plan, execute, and communicate multi‑program ministry

• Full‑time, exempt position; evenings and weekends are a normal part of this role
• Required availability includes Sunday morning services (both hours), Wednesday night programming, staff meetings, and CE Committee meetings
• This is not a remote position — your mission field is where your children and families are
• Compensation commensurate with education, skill, and experience
• Paid vacation, sick days, and personal days per the DPC Employee Handbook

Dardenne Presbyterian Church | O’Fallon, Missouri | ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians