Youth Leader
Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Sugar Land, TX seeks part-time (15-20 hours per week) Youth Leader. Reporting to the Rector, the Youth Leader is an enthusiastic disciple of Jesus Christ with a heart for leading middle and high school students into the same life-changing commitment. He/she is a self-directed team player, who works well with others and sees youth ministry as part of the overall mission of the Church. The youth leader will lead a dedicated team of adult volunteers to assist him/her toward the successful execution of his/her ministry, with specific roles and responsibilities which include the following:
Roles and Responsibilities
Personal Qualifications:
Staff Membership
The part-time youth leader will be a member of the staff at Holy Cross, participating in weekly staff meetings (which include spiritual formation and team building) and in periodic meetings with the Rector to set goals, evaluate performance, and provide pastoral support. The part-time youth leader will also establish weekly office hours.
Contact
Our Purpose
Our purpose is simple: To be disciples of Jesus Christ and to make disciples of Jesus Christ (Matt 28:19-20).
Our Process
Our process is as simple as our purpose: To be disciples of Jesus Christ and make disciples of Jesus Christ we commit ourselves and invite others to join us in a simple, 4 step process:
1—WORSHIP God Regularly
2—GROW Together Faithfully
3—SERVE Others Lovingly
4—MATURE in Christ Continuously
Step 1: WORSHIP God Regularly
Ø Jesus Did. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to do what Jesus did. Jesus worshipped God regularly, every week (Lk 4:16). He didn’t do just nine commandments. He kept all ten, including the fourth, which is “Keep the Sabbath Day holy” (cf. Ex 20:1-17). As disciples of Jesus, we do the same.
Ø God’s Promise. As disciples, we gather together each Lord’s Day to worship, pray, hear God’s Word, and receive grace in the sacraments. And God’s promise is that when we do, he will make his special presences known to us (cf. Matt 18:20; Ps 22:3; Jn 4:23).
Ø Learning to Commit. Regularity in worship isn’t easy. There are plenty of other things to do. Treating worship as an option rather than a priority is common. But discipleship calls us to something more. So, as a first level commitment, we commit to gathering each Lord’s Day to worship him who honors those who honor him (cf. Heb 11:6; 1 Sam 2:30b)
Step 2: GROW Together Faithfully
Ø Big things happen in small settings. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we not only worship regularly; we also faithfully commit to growing together with other believers in small groups. Jesus, his apostles, and members of the earliest Church also gathered together in small groups (cf. Acts 2:41-47; Heb 10:23-25). It is often in small groups that believers grow together in big ways.
Ø Now I See You! Small-group fellowship allows us the opportunity to shift from facing forward, to facing each other. This is where significant relationships take shape, and growing together in faith, knowledge, and love really starts to happen (cf. Eph 4:1-7, 11-16).
Ø Doing the “One Anothers.” As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are directed in the scriptures to “love one another” (Jn 13:34), “encourage one another” (Heb 3:13), “serve one another” (Gal 5:13), “be patient with one another” (Eph 4:2), “honor one another” (Phil 2:3), “build up one another” (1 Thess 5:11), etc. The key idea in each of these directives is reciprocation: I love you; you love me. I encourage you; you encourage me. Because the small group is a “face to face” kind of experience, it is the perfect setting in which to do the “One Anothers.”
Step 3: SERVE Others Lovingly
Ø The Genuine Article. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we not only commit to worship regularly, and faithfully grow together with other believers in a small group setting. We also commit to serving others as part of a ministry team. We make this commitment because Jesus said that loving service is the authenticating mark of a true disciple (cf. John 13:12-17, 34-35).
Ø Beyond Consumerism. Most things within our culture are consumer oriented. It’s easy then to think of the church as merely a dispenser of religious goods and services. Committing to serving others allows us to go beyond being just another “spiritual consumer” to becoming a true “spiritual contributor.” Pursuing this third level commitment allows us to shift from merely going to church to actually being the church.
Ø Being the Message. Jesus said that he came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (cf. Mark 10:45). To be a true disciple of Jesus Christ is not just to be a recipient of his gifts, but an imitator of his life. To be a true disciple of Jesus Christ is not just to tell the message, but to be the message. And being the message begins with service to others.
Step 4: MATURE in Christ Continuously
Ø Keep Working the Plan. To mature in Christ continuously is to continue engaging steps 1, 2, and 3, and that “more and more” (cf. 1 Thess 4:1-12).
Ø The Sky’s the Limit! Maturing in Christ is not a thing that is ever accomplished but is a process of spiritual transformation that is ever ongoing (Eph 4:13-15). The more we put into it, the more we get out of it.
Ø Isolation: Not an Option. The maturing process is not something we can do alone, on our own. God, who is himself a community of persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) has designed the maturing process to take place within the context of the Faith Community. At Holy Cross, we are committed to seeing that every believer is growing and maturing in Jesus Christ (Col 1:28).
WHY?
· Why do ministry this way?
· In addition to the fact that being and making disciples is exactly what Christ calls us to do (Matthew 28:19-20)…
· We are doing ministry this way because:
1. Spiritual maturity is an awesome experience and a worthy goal and continuing in spiritual immaturity is not.
2. We were created to live close to God not far away; not with God at our periphery but with God at our center.
3. That mentioned above is what God wants most for us.
4. That mentioned above is what will lead to true transformation of the world around us. Transformation gives rise to transformation. Starting with us.