Employment at Northwoods Church

Full-Time

The Student Life Pastor oversees all aspects of ministry on behalf of 7-12 grade students, in partnership with their parents, where they have the opportunity to grow and mature relationally and spiritually through creative, dynamic, and relevant communication of the gospel. By necessity, the Student Life Pastor must be a team builder and mentor to volunteers and students, as well as a team player with Northwoods leadership and staff.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Ministry Development
  • Vision: Cast vision, plan, and execute ministry with volunteer teams, as well as care for them.
  • Recruit: Identify, recruit, and equip volunteers for 7-12th grade ministry through orientation and ongoing equipping.
  • Strategy: Implement the 4 Steps in a relevant way for 7-12th grade students. Create community within volunteer teams and among students through small groups.
  • Teach: Develop and oversee a teaching ministry.
  • Planning: Establish a comprehensive annual ministry plan that incorporates the E4 strategy.
  • Relationships: Build relationships with 7-12th grade students and leaders in the 7-12th grade ministry.
  • Service Projects: Oversee regular service projects and mission trips for high school students.
  • Work jointly: Work jointly with other ministries of Northwoods Community Church, youth functions of the Fellowship of Evangelical Church (FEC) conference, and other Peoria area student oriented Christian ministries.
  • Relevancy: Awareness of current trends in student culture and Youth Ministry.
  • Family: Partner with parents by providing effective resources to assist them as they raise their son/daughter.

• Leadership
  • Leadership Team: The Student Life Pastor is also a member of the Leadership Team who leads the various ministries of Northwoods Community Church.
  • Vision casting: Cast vision and make strategic requests in conjunction with any stewardship emphasis Northwoods Community Church may undertake.
  • Stewardship: Develop a culture of stewardship within the church.

• Administration
  • Budget: Propose and manage an approved budget throughout the year.
  • Communication: Ensure that all communication forms of the ministry are timely, accurate and attractive.
  • Web page: Ensure that the 7-12th grade web page is current.
  • Facility: Practice good stewardship of facility space and all related equipment.

• Pastoral Responsibilities and Expectations

At Northwoods, pastoral staff are spiritually ready and biblically prepared to minister to the congregation and community on a personal level. Pastoral care is shared among many pastors.

• Credentialing: Pursue and maintain ministerial credentials through Fellowship of Evangelical Churches (F.E.C.). Be an active participant in F.E.C. denominational events and initiatives.
• Care Responsibilities: The expressions of pastoral care may include but not be limited to: Prayer, teaching, encouragement, shepherding, equipping, personal ministry, and visitation.
• Officiant: Specific functions pastors officiate include weddings (and pre-marital counseling), funerals, baptisms, and communion.
• Pastor On Call Rotation:  Every Pastor will serve on a scheduled rotation, with the assignment to meet emergency needs and after-hours care to our congregation. Expectations include being available 24/7 by phone, responsible management of requests, needs, and emergencies, and ensuring hospital visitations are being made.   As a minister you will be licensed or ordained and be compensated for doing pastoral duties. 

• Church Staff
  • Participate as a team member of the Northwoods Staff.
  • Attend staff meetings for church wide communication.
  • Communicate with other Ministry Pastors/Directors as necessary.

Interaction with Others

The Student Life Pastor will regularly meet with the Next Gen Team (Birth through High School), the Student Ministry Staff, and the 7-12th grade volunteers.

Desired Skills and Abilities

Outstanding relational and communication skills

Beneficial Spiritual Gifts

Leadership, Administration, Shepherding, Teaching

Educational and Experience Required

College degree, preferably Bible College, and/or theological training

Ideally, the candidate will have 3-5 years’ experience in a large church of 1,000, or more

Full-Time Non-Exempt

The 2^nd – 4^th Grade Associate will provide key leadership over the Upper Elementary Ministry of Discoveryland, and family and children’s events. This position requires oversight of volunteers, facility, and resources required to effectively minister and care for these age groups. The associate will support the Children’s Ministry Pastor with both short term and long-term projects and assist in oversight of Discoveryland during weekend services.  In addition, team building, and volunteer care are critical to success. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Leadership
  • Procedures: Develop processes and procedures to effectively train volunteers in Discoveryland. This effort would include: recruitment, shadow training, and formal training opportunities. These training initiatives would be carried out to ensure the effectiveness of our weekend programming and outreach efforts.
  • Coaching: Provide ministry coaching and accountability with upper elementary volunteers.
  • Resources: Ensure all volunteers are adequately resourced with supplies and curriculum.
  • Program Development: Develop creative programs by organizing teams of storytellers, drama teams, music leaders, and technical support personnel to integrate music, drama, video, and other creative art forms to enhance our teaching efforts during weekend services. Work closely with the Children’s Ministry Creative Developer to develop videos and media enhancements. Practices and technical run-throughs will be required well in advance of service times. This will require volunteer recruitment and close interaction with purchased curriculum.
  • Staging: Provide facility oversight by being responsible for the integrity of the staging areas for kids including: lighting, sound, video, staging props, and multi-media equipment.
  • Summer Programs: Help to organize a summer program by working with the Children’s Ministry Pastor to develop a scope and sequence for summer weekend teaching ministries, if needed. Interaction with paid summer interns will be expected if applicable.
  • Family & Children’s Events: Responsible for development and execution of family and children’s events (examples: Springhill Day Camp, Centered, Family Swim Night, etc.). Other events may include age specific events for children and ministry building events for volunteers.
  • Oversee: Assist with oversight of Discoveryland during our regular service times.
  • Church Membership: Attend the 4 Steps classes and complete church membership

• Secondary Responsibilities
  • Team Building: Assist the Children’s Ministry team in various projects as needed to build teamwork.
  • Volunteer Care: Provide care for the volunteers and ensure age graded volunteers are connected with each other through regular and frequent community building times.
  • Budget: Assist the Children’s Ministry Pastor with the preparation of the department’s annual budget.
  • Facility: Ensure facility and its contents are safe, clean, and in good order for every service. Interface with non-Discoveryland room users as requested by the Children’s Pastor.
  • Communication: Parent and volunteer communication.

• Accountability: The following is a list of things for which the Associate would be held accountable:
  • Staff Meetings: Attend monthly staff meetings for global, visionary, and organizational matters.
  • Departmental Meetings: Attend Discoveryland meetings to ensure personal integrity and fidelity in your personal and spiritual life.
  • Continuing Education: Use of continued education to develop his/her talents to model excellence in the ministry through attendance at conferences, seminars, classes, etc.
  • Bridge Building: Maintain bridge building through regular outside contact and specific bridge building with seekers through a self-chosen avenue of opportunity.

Interaction with others

This person will work most closely with Discoveryland paid staff as well as ministry volunteers and parents. In addition, networking with other children’s ministries for problem solving and creative solutions will be helpful.

Desired Skills and Abilities

Should possess a heart for God and skills in loving adults and children. This person will possess the ability to see and communicate “the big picture” or how a lesson/event will look as a whole with attention to detail and methods of delivery.

Beneficial Spiritual Gifts

Creative Communication, Leadership, Administration, Shepherding, and Wisdom

Educational and Experience Required

Music, Drama, and Teaching.   Plus, a thorough understanding of, commitment to, and hands on experience with directing programming elements and volunteer personnel.

High school diploma, college, and at least two years’ experience in Elementary Education or Children’s Ministry