Children's Pastor

Description

At Willow Creek, we don’t believe kids are the "future" of the church—we believe they are the church. We’re looking for a visionary leader who doesn't just want to "babysit" the next generation, but wants to ignite their faith, empower their families, and build a ministry where every child knows they are deeply loved by God.

Full-time

As the Willow Kids Pastor for our Wheaton location, you’ll be the architect of the Birth–5th Grade experience. You won’t be doing this in a silo; you’ll be a key part of our campus leadership team and our central Willow Kids family. Your goal? To create environments so engaging that kids drag their parents to church. Willow Wheaton is a portable church location with an office in West Chicago and services taking place at Wheaton Academy in Wheaton, IL.

• Build the Dream Team:
  Recruit, train, and champion a world-class volunteer team. You aren't just filling slots; you’re developing leaders.
• Partner with Parents:
  Act as the primary advocate and resource for families as they navigate the beautiful chaos of raising kids who follow Jesus.
• Execute with Excellence:
  From weekend programming to "big win" events, you’ll ensure every touchpoint is safe, fun, and spiritually intentional.
• Collaborate & Cast Vision:
  Work alongside the Campus Pastor and Central Kids team to ensure the Wheaton campus is a vibrant reflection of our overall mission.

We are an egalitarian, multi-site church passionate about helping people take their next steps with God. Here our Mission is to Love God. Love People. Change the World.

• Salary: $45,000–$63,000 (commensurate with experience and education).
• The Benefits:
  Full medical, dental, and vision; retirement match; parental leave; and generous PTO.
• The Perks:
  Mental health counseling reimbursement and tuition assistance. We care about the whole you.

Success is Defined As A thriving Wheaton Kids ministry where innovation is the norm, volunteers are thriving, and every child leaves knowing they have a place in God's story.

• A Talent Scout:
  You have a sense for spotting leadership potential in others.
• A Solution Specialist:
  When a problem arises, you’ve already thought of three ways to fix it before the meeting starts.
• A Cultural Cheerleader:
  You live out our values:
  Trust is your default, Grit is your style, and Joy is your attitude.
• A Servant Leader:
  Your goal is to serve your volunteers, kids and congregants and nothing is beneath you if it needs doing.
• A Jesus Follower:
  Your leadership flows from a genuine, growing relationship with Christ.

• Experience:
  
  2+ years in kids ministry preferred
• Leadership: A proven track record of building and mobilizing teams.
• Education:
  
  Undergrad degree preferred (but we value your "in the trenches" experience too).
• Heart:
  You genuinely love kids and want to see them thrive.

Salary Description

$45,000 - $63,000 annually