Youth/Recreation Ministry

First Baptist Church of Venice and The Lakefront Church

Youth, Recreation Ministry

Current Opening November, 2022

Purpose of Position: The Youth/Recreation Minister will, in the spirit of Ephesians 4:12, equip the flock to live the gospel out in their homes and interactions throughout the week. This is ministry, aimed not at young people alone, but aimed at helping strengthen marriages, parenting, and family discipleship to include sports and home groups. 

The ministry will promote the unity of one church in multiple locations by developing Sports ministry across First Baptist Church Venice that align with the organization’s vision, mission, and values including agreement with “The Baptist Faith and Message” as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention on June 14, 2000. This is a full time position to lead and shepherd Students, their parents and young adults and families to become healthy, balanced, lifelong followers of Jesus Christ. To develop a spirit of fellowship and a heart of service to our Lord and the community to include vibrant small (home) group activity. To equip and encourage families. Working in tandem with the Family Ministry creating a seamless approach for generational inclusiveness. This person will be high energy with the ability to energize, empower, and educate others and execute the deliverables of the position.

Responsible for: Strengthening First Baptist Church Venice and The Lakefront Church with a strong Youth/Sports Ministry. Pouring into families with emphasis on discipleship, parenting, and structuring ministry to fortify the family unit by looking at the “larger story” involving students and parents together in activities with prominence toward building the family unit, by presenting God’s Word in a creative, compelling, relative, appropriate manner and creating environments that will lead them to know the truth of God and His Word. To grow together in community, and go out to serve in the church and community. This position must not only minister to students and their parents, but also to lead adult volunteers and equip them for the work of the ministry. Youth/Sports Ministry will be prominent in developing small home group ministry. Development of the calendar and budget for all Student Ministry at the church that requires collaboration.

Oversees: All Student and Sports Ministry programs, serving with, summer and winter activities, mission trips, outreach, parent meetings, adult volunteer training, equipping, serving, counseling for parents, and small home group activities.

Reports to: Family Minister , and supports him in the accomplishment of the church’s vision and mission for the glory of God

Peers with: other Ministries and staff.

Character: Elder qualified as per 1 Timothy: 3 and Titus 1; vital growing relationship with Christ; Shows a genuine love for the students and families of First Baptist and The Lakefront Church; has a passion for reaching more families for Christ in the surrounding area of Venice; loyalty to Pastor and staff (not one to cause division); shows love for all people of the church, not just specific area of ministry, is a pastor to the church first and has a specific area of ministry second.

Chemistry: Biblical philosophy of ministry in sync with the vision and model of First Baptist Church Venice; agreement with “The Southern Baptist Statement of Faith and Message” able to function well with senior pastor; seeks wisdom, counsel and advice from those around, pastors, deacons, leadership team, staff, adult volunteers; takes suggestions well; takes feedback well. This is a highly relational ministry and thus priority must be placed on building healthy relationships with students, their parents, and volunteers.

Competence Required: This position requires experience as a staff member in youth/sports ministry or a related field. Bachelor degree in Biblical studies, or related field. Strong leader with solid work ethic, self-starter with a passion for teaching and leading others ability to administrate and operate as a department head. Working knowledge of contemporary creative programing, technically sound and up to date with systems beneficial to the church. Able to use God’s Word in everyday life and give students and families a workable, visual plan for growth towards a relationship with their parents and with Jesus Christ; able to cast vision, recruit, equip volunteer workers and leaders (a leader of leaders); proven discipler/spiritual mentor of others; lifelong learner; effective oral and written communicator, demonstrated administrative skills; ability to preach to full congregation as scheduled or needed. Ability to lead worship a Plus. 

Communicated Desire: Must sense a call by God to the position; have a desire and passion to fulfill position requirements.

Position Requires: A passionate heart, strategic mind, and driving force behind the discipleship of FBC Venice’s students, and families. In collaboration with the Senior Pastor, Family Minister, staff, and key volunteers, the youth/sports minister will be responsible for developing, implementing, leading, and refining a comprehensive discipleship strategy for our Students and families. Membership to First Baptist Church Venice; a commitment to tithe at First Baptist Church Venice. This is a full time position.

Primary Responsibilities: 

1. Student Ministry

• The Minister of Youth and Sports Ministries is a high caliber leader who serves as the Leader of The Lakefront Church’s Sports Ministries Programs and is primarily responsible for all ministry teams, programing, and volunteers across the ministry. This includes the role of building teams, identifying leaders, managing for quality, solving problems, championing the DNA and mission of The Lakefront and ultimately inspiring people to follow Jesus Christ.  If you love unchurched people, believe in equipping volunteers, and want to use your leadership gifts to help people follow Jesus Christ, we want to talk to you!  
• Provide pastoral, strategic, and organizational leadership, coordination, training and support
• To recruit volunteers to support the ministry.
• Plan with lens on family.
• Participate in community, school events involving elementary middle, high school and college students and their parents in conjunction with youth ministry.
• Timely follow up with new attenders.
• Ministry accessible to parents as a sounding board, provide prayer and counsel when and where needed.
• Garner resources that show church ministry is not just “caretaking” but the glue that will hold families together. Parents involvement will reduce stress in family.
• Plan events on regular basis that are engaging not only to church family, but those in the community.
• Increase the number of students and parents in Worship Service, Connection Classes and Small Groups.
• Parenting and marriage workshops at minimum twice each year.
• Be present in the Church Worship Services and lead their family to also be involved in the life and ministries of First Baptist and The Lakefront Church. 
• Plan, prepare and preach/teach/lead the main Family meetings.
• Develop and follow 7 year plan as to what is wanted as students leave group.
• Build relationships with students and families, lead group discussions.
• Provide a safe, comfortable and exciting environment that children are excited to invite others into, coordinate protocols that protect the physical, spiritual and emotional well-being of students.
• Serve in the vital role in the church’s sports ministry program. This may include alignment with church’s outreach strategy.
• Ensure Worship leader (extra consideration given if candidate is able to lead worship!) and team are prepared for group time.
• Lessons, handouts and media are prepared and ready to go.
• Recreation equipment, snack shop, sign in area, set out.
• Plan, prepare and lead small group meetings during week.
• Remind students of upcoming activities. Have monthly activities planned which encourage fellowship, discipleship and service.
• Plan camps, retreats, and mission trips.
• Discipleship with students.

2. Sports Ministry

• Sports Ministries will contribute to FBC Venice and The Lakefront Church’s mission of leading people to realize and reach their full potential in Jesus Christ by developing and leading a multi-site ministry that exists to connect families through sports. Sports Ministries will provide a comprehensive program that not only develops the skills of players, but also comes alongside the parents to help form a foundation that will develop character and integrity.  
• Focus on this group to provide volunteers serving in family ministry.
• Plan, prepare and preach/teach/lead the main young adult group meetings.
• Build relationships with young adults and lead group discussions.
• Lessons, handouts and media are prepared and ready to go.
• Have resources ready as needed.
• Plan, prepare and lead small group meetings during week.
• Have monthly activities planned which encourage fellowship, discipleship and service.
• Discipleship with Young adults.

3. Collaborate with the Family Ministry

• Encourage and assist with “big picture planning (activities Easter, Christmas programs, recruiting, training and shepherding)
• Create and maintain an integrated NextGen Ministry for students,

4 Connections Ministry

• Visitor Package at information area, have people to man this area, follow up during the week with emails and phone calls to visitors.
• Experienced with current technology and social media.

5 Local Outreach

• Work with Deacons, staff and small groups to coordinate local outreach, keep ministry visible and active.
• Offer compelling programing to draw in community.

6 Other duties as assigned

• Stay flexible as this is a fluid environment.