NextGen Pastor

PRINCIPAL FUNCTION: The role of the NextGen Pastor is to collaboratively team with other New Hope pastors in ministry to families by focusing on children, youth, and young adults (i.e., ages 0-25).  The goal is to partner with parents in discipling the next generation and strengthen family units in their walk with the Lord.

POSITION SUMMARY:   The NextGen Pastor serves in a full-time capacity, acting as a co-designer and advocate for discipling families with children still at home. The pastor’s primary focus is to develop relationships and effective strategies for ministry that both equip and empower parents to take an active role as faith-trainers within their own households, but also “stand in the gap” in direct discipleship of students via age-appropriate approaches. Additionally, the NextGen Pastor is responsible for managing age-specific ministries that support, enhance, and supplement spiritual development in the home.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

·      Biblical degree preferred, or equivalent, with 3-5 five years of related ministry experience 

·      Mature relationship with spouse; manage household well (with children preferred)

·      Must be able to qualify as an elder

·      Licensed to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and authorized to perform marriages in Michigan,

preferred or completed within first year    

·      Called to this ministry

·      Biblical worldview and aligns with doctrine and belief statements of New Hope Church

·      Effective communication and interpersonal skills (relational connectivity)

·      Well thought of by others

Specific Requirements:    

1. To have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ
2. Spiritually and relationally mature; counsel points families to scripture
3. A Godly character that no reproach may come through him upon the Body of Christ
4. Demonstrate effective level of oral and written communication skills; using appropriate media platforms for target groups
5. Heavy on relationship building and “doing life” with families and their children
6. Has ability to follow-through and complete projects/initiatives assigned with minimal supervision
7. An understanding and appreciation for the total Church ministry, leadership development, team building, shepherding, organizational management, discipleship, and interpersonal relationships as defined by New Hope’s Purposes and Values
8. Completion of core classes within 6 months 
9. Must be able to maintain confidentiality

WORKING CONDITIONS:   Full-time flexible hours reflecting the needs of the congregation served. This position has an office onsite. Evening and weekend events are usual. Days off are posted on the staff calendar. Onsite weekly worship and staff meetings are an expectation. Living in close proximity to the church and its body is strongly preferred. Spousal ministry involvement is a plus.   

DUTIES/RESPONSIBLITIES:

Collaboratively Designs and Implements Vision and Strategy for Family Ministry:

• Partners with other pastors to emphasize child, youth, and young adult discipleship within the larger commitment to whole family unit ministry
• Casts a unified vision within the larger cradle-to-grave discipleship vision that treats parents / guardians as the God-commanded primary disciplers within the home (Deut 6:4-9 model) rather than seeing the church as the primary discipler of children and students
• Aligns all age-specific ministries (nursery, children, youth) under one family-equipping philosophy
• Oversees childcare services and solutioning for parental participation in NHC events, enabling parents to do ministry and support childcare where needed

Strengthens Student and Parent / Guardian Bonds and Equips Both:

• Connects well and develops relationships with parents (especially Dads)
• Selects and/or develops resources, classes, seminars, and coaching to help parents disciple their children at home
• Maintains tools and resources for teaching, biblical media, spiritual disciplines, evangelism, apologetics, etc.
• Adjusts for and responds to changing conditions in the world that affect young lives

Oversight of Young Age Ministries:

• Supervises and/or directly leads children, youth, and early adult ministry
• Recruits, trains and shepherds volunteer teams in those areas
• Ensures biblical worldview curriculum and programming to reinforce what parents are (hopefully) teaching at home
• Collaborates with Camp Ministry Leaders with registration and follow-up, including visits to partner camps and relationship building with Camp Directors
• Develop Junior Membership and involvement in the church

Participates and Supports the Life Group approach at New Hope Church

• Participates in a young family life group
• Designs practical on-ramps and systems to help kids and students move from visiting to belonging and growing within the Body in all domains of life by:
• Effectively modeling and teaching how to “be the church” outside its walls (e.g., seeking involve-

ment / presence within homes, at school events, hobbies, etc.), encouraging child / student life to

be holistically experienced as a believer in the world but not of it

• Actively encouraging group leaders to connect with families and kids during the week (visiting, coaching, discipling, etc.)
• Providing opportunities for kids and students to discover their unique purpose and begin developing and exercising their talents, abilities, and Holy Spirit giftings
• Planning and leading event gatherings for students (e.g. VBS, Family Fall Festival, etc.) as well as develop other regularly scheduled events (utilizing the 5 purposes of the church)
• Designing student outreach efforts in the community
• Offering young family life group leaders choices in curriculum, coaching materials, and creative approaches to life group ministry
• Implementing a strategy to equip parents to help their kids take their next steps toward Christ
• Cheerleading and advocating for young family support solutions

Administrative:

• Provides regular feedback and seek continual improvement for team members
• Create and follow-up methods to ensure that new families and their kids are plugged in to NHC
• Develops, submits, and manages budget forecasts and expenses for team leaders
• Creates an environment that attracts, develops and empowers the leaders providing ministry programming to all children and students by:
• Communicating a clear vision and defined ministry wins for staff and volunteer teams on a regular basis
• Building systems and structures that lead people from being spectators to volunteers
• Overseeing safety and security systems for children and students (e.g. background checks, safety and security procedures, etc.)
• Leading volunteer meetings
• Championing the family ministry leadership development strategy
• Providing centralized efforts for training leaders (retreats, tools, continuing education opportunities, etc.)
• Ensuring that the family ministry team answers questions and provides remarkable customer service to parents, students, and kids on a consistent basis.
• Establishing “success” metrics that help determine the effectiveness of their position
• Identifies, recruits, and interviews potential team members
• Provides intentional opportunities to show appreciation to volunteers and staff
• Maintains a good network of Christian counseling resources

Pastoral Care of Families

• Identifies opportunities of needed parental and marital support
• Encourages couples and families in crisis; triages and refers appropriately for coaching and counseling
• Witnesses to, teaches, models for, listens to, and prays with others from a biblical worldview as led by the Holy Spirit
• Creates a plan for inclusive child and youth ministry practices that support families with special needs

Support of Marriage and Family events

• Co-designs and facilitates events intended to strengthen marriages, family unity, and parenting skills by:
• Implementing a pastoral collaborative strategy to equip parents in helping their kids take their next steps toward Christ
• Designing a strategy to support the needs of couples, providing opportunities for married couples to enrich their marriage 

ACCOUNTABILITY:

The Associate Pastor will supervise the work of this position. The NextGen Pastor will be assessed at three (3) months, six (6) months, and then annually thereafter by the Associate Pastor and Board of Directors representative with representation from the Pastor's Cabinet. A written report will be provided and explained. Should the NextGen Pastor feel mistreated by any staff, church member or committee in the church, the NextGen Pastor may discuss any grievances confidentially with the Pastor’s Cabinet. 

New Hope is an evangelical, nondenominational church in northeastern Michigan, focused on loving God and others. We hold two Sunday services, averaging 200 attendees, led by a staff that includes pastors and ministry leaders, with music from our contemporary Praise Team. Governance is managed by a Board of Directors, and a Pastor’s Cabinet for spiritual guidance.

We prioritize young families by offering nursery care at both services and interactive children’s programs during the second service. Our youth and adults participate in a variety of groups and fellowships throughout the year. Life Groups, Women’s and Men’s Discipleship Groups, and outreach efforts are integral to our community. We seek to deepen our family focused ministry with intentional discipling and pastoral support.

We carry out our Ministry year-round with efforts like food distribution, working alongside organizations such as the Salvation Army, Samaritan’s Purse, Compassion International, and Engage Africa. Seasonal activities include Vacation Bible School, Fall Festival, Bountiful Harvest, and global missions support.

Located amid Lake Huron’s beaches and vast forests, New Hope serves its congregation and community with compassion and purpose. Check us out at: http://www.nhchurch.cc