Youth Pastor/Director

Evangelical Free Church of America; Watertown (MN); On-site; USD 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established community church in Watertown is seeking a dynamic youth pastor to lead and inspire young people in their faith journey. This role focuses on developing engaging youth ministry programs, fostering spiritual growth, and building meaningful relationships with students and their families. The ideal candidate will have a passion for mentoring youth and a strong commitment to biblical teaching. Join a vibrant community dedicated to helping individuals find and follow Jesus, and make a lasting impact in the lives of young people.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• A mature relationship with Jesus Christ and a passion for youth ministry.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor youth and their parents effectively.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead comprehensive youth ministry programs and events.
• Foster a welcoming environment for youth to explore their faith.

Skills

Youth Ministry Leadership

Teaching and Discipleship

Organizational Skills

Communication Skills

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in ministry

Relevant experience in student ministry

Job description

Watertown Evangelical Free Church (WEFC) is seeking a dynamic leader to serve as our youth pastor (or director). The primary focus of this role is to provide pastoral leadership, vision and hands-on direction for our youth ministries (Jr. High and High School). Recognizing that candidates bring unique gifts, the role may be expanded to include oversight of young adult ministries, small groups or other areas based on the candidate's passions and the church's needs. The title (pastor or director) will reflect the candidate's qualifications, ordination status and alignment with the biblical requirements for an elder.

Key Responsibilities:

Youth Ministry Leadership (Primary Focus):

• Develop, coordinate and lead comprehensive youth ministry programs, including any Sunday school, mid-week youth group gatherings, retreats, mission trips, special events and discipleship initiatives.
• Foster a welcoming and engaging environment where youth can explore their faith, build community and grow as disciples of Christ.
• Recruit, train, mentor, supervise and empower a team of adult volunteer leaders for both junior high and high school ministries (Ephesians 4:11-13).
• Build meaningful relationships with students, providing spiritual guidance, mentorship and biblical counsel.

Family and Collaborative Ministry:

• Partner with and minister to parents/guardians, offering encouragement, resources, counseling and equipping opportunities (e.g., workshops, classes) to support them as spiritual leaders in their homes.
• Collaborate closely with the Children’s ministry director to ensure a cohesive and integrated discipleship pathway from birth through college age.
• Work collaboratively with the lead pastor, elders, deacons and other staff to align youth ministry with the overall vision and mission of WEFC.

Teaching and Discipleship:

• Regularly teach and preach biblical truth in various settings, adapting content for youth, adults and potentially broader congregational contexts as needed.
• Develop and implement strategies for personal discipleship among youth and adult leaders.

Potential Additional Responsibilities (Based on Gifts/Needs):

• Provide leadership, vision and pastoral care for church-wide small group ministries.
• Develop and oversee ministries for young adults (post-high school/college age).
• Utilize specific gifts (e.g., worship leading, technical skills, community outreach) in other areas of church ministry.

Leadership Role:

• As Pastor: Fulfill the biblical requirements of an elder, serve as a full participant on the church elder board and perform duties as directed by the lead pastor.
• As Director: Engage with the elder board as invited, and perform duties directed by the lead pastor commensurate with skills, training and biblical qualifications.

Qualifications:

• A mature, personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• A clear passion for youth ministry and seeing young people develop into committed followers of Christ.
• Demonstrated ability to relate to, teach and mentor youth and their parents.
• Strong organizational, communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to develop and implement a vision and strategic plan for youth and family ministry.
• Relevant education (e.g., Bachelor's degree in ministry, youth ministry, biblical studies or related field) or equivalent demonstrated experience and training.
• Minimum 2-5 years of experience in student ministry (lay or vocational roles).
• Experience in personal discipleship with both youth and adults.
• Sensitivity to the needs, pressures and culture of contemporary youth.
• Commitment to ongoing personal and professional development.
• Must meet the biblical qualifications of an elder (for Pastor title) (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9).
• Compensation: Competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Reporting: Reports directly to the lead pastor.

To Apply:

Interested candidates who sense God’s leading to explore this opportunity should submit the following to Pastor Bruce Droogsma ([e-mail] )

• A cover letter expressing your interest, philosophy of youth ministry and sense of calling to this position.
• A current resume detailing your experience and education.
• A brief statement of faith.
• Contact information for 3-4 references (professional and character).

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
We look forward to hearing from you!

About this Church

Watertown Evangelical Free Church (WEFC) is a Christ-centered community located in Watertown, Minnesota, committed to helping people find and follow Jesus. We are seeking a passionate and dedicated individual whose primary focus will be leading our youth ministry (Jr. High and High School), fostering spiritual growth within our church family and community. We value relational ministry, biblical teaching and equipping believers for service.