Pastor of Student Ministries - Parkside Church, Waconia, MN

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This position provides vision, leadership, and day-to-day oversight of Parkside’s student ministry (grades 6–12). This role focuses on creating environments where students encounter Jesus, grow as disciples, develop lasting relationships, and learn to live on mission. The Youth Pastor will equip volunteers, partner with parents, engage the community as an individual church and in partnership with approved life-giving churches, and builds a Christ-centered culture of belonging and spiritual growth.

How does this position contribute to the mission and vision of Park Side Church? This job contributes to the mission and vision of Park Side Church through its support of the Lead Pastor. The Lead Pastor is the overall champion for the mission and vision of the church. As a result, his success is affected by the effectiveness of this position.

This job also contributes through the effective leadership and development of aligned Youth ministries.

• Develop and communicate a compelling, Spirit-led vision for youth ministry aligned with Parkside’s mission and values.
• Establish a healthy culture of discipleship, worship, community, and outreach.
• Provide leadership to grow youth ministry in both depth and reach.

2. Weekly Youth Programming

• Plan and lead separate weekly middle school and high school gatherings that are biblically grounded, engaging, and welcoming to new students.
• Serve as the primary teacher of Scripture in ways that connect with students and encourage real-life application.
• Integrate small groups, worship, relational connection, and student participation into weekly programs.
• Develop where appropriate, personal, pastoral, relational discipleship connections and spiritual formation can take root individually and across all student groupings without favoritism.
• Create a clear discipleship pathway for students at all stages of spiritual maturity – utilizing John Mark Comers Practicing the Way as a foundational understanding of being with Jesus, becoming like him, and doing as he did.
• Develop small group structures and mentoring relationships.
• Provide and fully engage retreats, service opportunities, mission experiences, and leadership development environments.
• Recruit, train, equip, and encourage a team of adult youth leaders, drawing from both the Parkside Church body and Crown College students or those within proximity.
• Empower leaders to build relationships, disciple students, and facilitate small groups.
• Maintain consistent communication, coaching, and appreciation for volunteers.

5. Parent & Family Partnership

• Maintain regular communication with parents regarding ministry events, vision, teaching themes, and helpful discipleship resources.
• Support and encourage parents as the primary spiritual influencers in their student’s life.

6. Outreach & Community Engagement

• Build relationships within local schools, area sports teams, student interest groups and community spaces.
• Create welcoming, relational, and invitational environments for unchurched and de-churched students.
• Plan outreach events designed to expand the reach of the youth ministry.
• Encourage student-led relational evangelism and peer invitation.

7. Administration & Organization

• Manage the youth ministry budget with excellent accountability, integrity and stewardship.
• Oversee and engage healthy communication channels (email, church website/app, social media).
• Plan retreats, mission trips, service projects, and special events.
• Ensure adherence to Parkside and C&MA child protection policies, including background checks and safety protocols.
• Maintain a reliable and organized ministry calendar.
• Maintain an ordered and clean office space as well as all ministry activity spaces utilized whether short-term or long-term.

1. Spiritual Qualifications

• A personal, healthy and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Commitment to the mission, purpose, vision, doctrine, and ministry philosophy of Parkside Church and the Christian &…