Discipleship Leader, Children & Families

New Wine; Manchester; On-site; GBP 28,224 - 34,496; Full time

Job summary

Ivy Church Manchester is seeking a Discipleship Leader for Children and Families to provide strategic and pastoral leadership across our ministry to children aged 0–10 and their families. You will develop a vibrant discipleship pathway, equip and encourage parents to nurture faith at home, and lead Sunday children's environments where kids meet God through Scripture, prayer, worship and community.

This role also involves building and pastoral care for volunteer teams, safeguarding, and

Qualifications

• Demonstrates a vibrant, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Passion for discipling children and equipping families.
• Experience leading children, family, youth or church ministries.
• Ability to inspire, recruit, develop and pastor teams.
• Strong leadership, organisational and communication skills.
• Confident teaching in Spirit-led environments.
• Shares Ivy Church's vision and values.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee a vibrant discipleship pathway for children and families.
• Equip and encourage parents to nurture faith at home.
• Lead and develop Sunday children’s ministry environments where children encounter God.
• Build, train and pastor volunteer teams, including developing young leaders.
• Create and oversee family-focused outreach and mission initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with staff to ensure seamless discipleship from childhood into youth ministry.
• Champion safeguarding, inclusion and excellent ministry practice.

Skills

Leadership

Discipleship

Pastoral care

Volunteer management

Strategic planning

Communication skills

Training and development

Safeguarding

Team building

Spiritual disciplines

Job description

Discipleship Leader, Children & Families

Ivy Church Manchester, England, United Kingdom

31,360

Description of Job

Help shape the next generation of disciples

Maybe you’s happy where you are right now but what if God is calling you to join our team? At Ivy Church, our vision is to help people find their way back to God. We are looking for an experienced, passionate and Spirit-filled leader to champion discipleship among children and families, helping them to know God, grow in faith, and go into everyday life empowered by the Holy Spirit.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and develop a thriving Children and Families ministry, building a culture where children encounter God personally, parents are equipped as disciplers in the home, and families are connected into the life and mission of the church.

About the role

As our Discipleship Leader for Children and Families, you will provide strategic and pastoral leadership across our ministry to children aged 0–10 and their families.

You will:

• Develop and oversee a vibrant discipleship pathway for children and families.
• Equip and encourage parents and carers to nurture faith at home.
• Lead and develop Sunday children's ministry environments where children encounter God through Scripture, prayer, worship, community and the work of the Holy Spirit.
• Build, train and pastor volunteer teams, including developing young leaders.
• Create and oversee family-focused outreach and mission initiatives that help more children and families discover Jesus.
• Work collaboratively with church staff and ministry leaders to ensure seamless discipleship from childhood into youth ministry.
• Champion safeguarding, inclusion and excellent ministry practice throughout the department.

Who we're looking for

We're seeking someone who:

• Has a vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Is passionate about discipling children and equipping families.
• Has experience leading children's, family, youth or church ministries.
• Is able to inspire, recruit, develop and pastor teams.
• Demonstrates strong leadership, organisational and communication skills.
• Is confident teaching and ministering in Spirit-led environments.
• Shares Ivy Church's vision, values and commitment to helping people Know, Grow and Go.
• Has a heart for mission and helping children and families find their way back to God.

Why Join Ivy Church?

You’ll become part of a passionate staff team committed to seeing lives transformed by Jesus. This role offers the opportunity to shape ministry strategically, invest in the next generation and help build a culture of discipleship that impacts families across our church and wider community.

Occupational Requirement

As this role involves Christian leadership, discipleship, teaching and spiritual oversight within the church, there is a genuine Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010 for the postholder to be a practising Christian with a professed, demonstrated and active Christian faith.

The successful candidate will also be expected to assent to Ivy Church's Statement of Faith and embody Ivy's DNA and values.

Safeguarding

Ivy Church is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check and comply with all safeguarding policies and procedures.

This is a full-time, permanent post attracting an annual salary of £31,360 plus employer pension contributions at 9% of gross salary.

Ivy was founded not as a church but as a mission to help people find their way back to God - and that passion has never changed. Innumerable churches have been planted, missionaries sent, ministries and award-winning charities birthed in our history.

Today Ivy is a dynamic, disciple making, leader multiplying church serving Greater Manchester and impacting far beyond.

We know transformed lives change the world for Jesus and every role – whether front-facing or behind the scenes - plays a vital part in that mission.

Local Impact. Global Reach.

Our first call is to impact and equip the people and communities God has placed around us. We are seeing our neighbourhoods impacted through the love of Christ expressed in our passionate worship, intentional discipleship, radical generosity, innovative incarnation and practical service

At the same time, God has given us many opportunities to serve far beyond our own city renewing culture by restoring Kingdom. Through LAUNCH and many partnerships, we encourage and equip leaders and strengthen churches as we continually develop resources that work here which in turn are helping shape healthy disciples and churches globally.

Who We Are

We seek to be “a supernatural community that is all about Jesus.” Here at Ivy, people of all backgrounds continually encounter God’s presence, discover His purpose and are deployed in his power to live on mission every day.

Our elder and staff teams have a lot of fun - and take that mission seriously.

We are hungry for more of God. We lead with grateful humility - celebrating servanthood above status, prayer before programmes with processes that serve people. We all work hard together - doing the best we can with what we have where God has put us.

We model leadership development by creating environments where everyone is encouraged, trusted and released into all God has called them to be and do.

What It’s Like to Work Here

Working at Ivy is rewarding, stretching and, well – unpredictable! No two days are the same because ministry requires flexibility, creativity and a willingness to embrace change as we respond to the opportunities God places before us.

We believe everyone has much treasure to be discovered so we work collaboratively, celebrate one another’s successes and learn from our mistakes.

You’ll be helped, supported and encouraged to take risks to reach out as you keep growing spiritually, personally and professionally, because healthy leaders build healthy churches.

The Kind of People We’re Looking For

We don’t just look at qualifications and CVs, we’re looking for people whose hearts resonate with ours about what matters most.

People who love the Lord - above all.

People who love this Church - as a result.

People who are teachable and take initiative, resilient and reliable.

Those who embrace responsibility, enjoy serving alongside others and are excited to use their gifts and develop others thrive at Ivy.