Youth Pastor

Position Overview

The Youth Pastor at Khesed Church is a full-time role that serves as a key leader within the Life Development team, partnering closely with the Pastor of Life Development to guide and steward the middle, high school and young adults ministries. This role focuses on implementing and contextualizing the church's vision for the appropriate life stage of discipleship, cultivating healthy leaders and creating environments where participants are formed into lifelong followers of Jesus.

The Youth Pastor will work collaboratively with pastoral leadership and volunteer leaders to carry out ministry vision, teaching and system building to develop a sustainable, leader driven ministry culture marked by spiritual formation and relational care for the next generation in order to equip them for the ministry of the Church.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Life Development Pastor to align the student and young adults ministries with the vision, theology and discipleship framework of Khesed Church, translating that vision into age appropriate practices and clearly communicating expectations to leaders, ministry participants and families.
• Support a leader driven discipleship culture by equipping, encouraging and caring for adult leaders.
• Partner with the Life Development Pastor to implement and steward systems for onboarding, training, communication and healthy delegation.
• Foster discipleship by providing relational care, identifying and investing in student leaders and creating pathways for ownership, service and spiritual growth in collaboration with leaders and families.
• Teach regularly as part of a collaborative, diverse teaching team under the theological guidance of the Life Development Pastor, reinforcing biblical literacy and gospel centered formation without centering the ministries on a single voice.
• Oversee the planning and execution of weekly gatherings, camps and special events in collaboration with leaders and staff, ensuring environments are welcoming, engaging, mission focused and responsive to the developmental needs of middle and high school students and young adults.
• Partner with families as primary discipleship leaders through clear communication and relational support and work alongside Khesed Kids and church staff to ensure smooth developmental transitions and cohesive ministry experiences.
• Be aware of and proactively address the ever changing trends of middle, high school and young adults for an effective ministry.

Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a pastoral team and shared leadership structure.
• Experience equipping and supporting volunteer leaders rather than carrying ministry alone.
• Ability to teach clearly and engagingly when scheduled, while prioritizing team based teaching.
• Strong relational and pastoral instincts with healthy boundaries.
• Organizational skills that support delegation, leader ownership and sustainable rhythms.
• Emotional maturity, humility and a willingness to receive guidance and coaching.
• Clear communicator who values alignment, consistency and shared expectations.
• Drive by mission rather than personal preference.
• Demonstrates adaptability and flexibility to meet the evolving needs of youth ministry.

Experience

• Preferred minimum of 3-5 years of experience as a church staff member in a student ministry leadership capacity.
• Preferred possession of a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies or a related field.
• An alignment with the culture, beliefs and practices of Khesed Church.
• Exhibit a track record of relational health and integrity in the church, family and/or workplace.

Pay & Benefits

• $45,000 - $60,000 per year
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Khesed Church (formerly spelled Kessid) was started from scratch without any outside support or resources. With only a handful of families we prayed and sought the Holy Spirit’s guidance. He impressed upon us that if we based everything we did in God’s Khesed love, scripture, and the Spirit’s leading, that we would be building a God-honoring ministry.

So a launch plan was developed, God provided the funds we needed, and we continued to base our ministry upon the values of love, Scripture, and Spirit.

After a successful soft launch, we officially opened our doors at The Firstenburg Center in Vancouver, Washington, on October 4, 2009. Over the years, we moved to several locations, including a health club, Endeavour Elementary School, and Clark College. Throughout this time, we had been diligently looking for a permanent church home, but we couldn’t find the right fit.

We continued to faithfully set up and tear down our services weekly, a feat that would eventually grow to take over 140 volunteers every weekend.

In 2017, we held a baptism service at Main Street Church. Little did we know they had been praying about giving their building away to the next generation. Through much prayer, meeting, and promptings of the Holy Spirit, their congregation unanimously voted “Yes” to become part of Khesed and gift their building to us! Along with a wonderful new church family, Khesed was given a debt-free church building with over 30,000 sq. ft. in Uptown Vancouver! After an extensive remodel, we began to hold in-person services in our new church home, Khesed Uptown, 111 W 28th St., Vancouver, WA 98660.

Then, in January of 2020, Khesed was approached by another church family here in Clark County, Columbia Christian Church, located across from Columbia River High School.

Through the Holy Spirit’s leading, we were excited to announce a merger with another church family and the new location of Khesed Columbia Campus, 907 NW 99th St., Vancouver, WA 98665!

Khesed runs weekly services out of both locations with live teaching, including online live streams.