High School Youth Pastor

Position Purpose

The Senior High Youth Pastor provides spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and ministry direction for the high school students of Journey South Bay. The primary goals of this position are to reach more students for Christ and help them become better followers of Christ.  

Primary Responsibilities

1. Lead the Senior High Ministry - Provide leadership, organize, and coordinate our student ministry, including weekly gatherings, teaching, worship, small groups, activities, and special events. Create an environment that is spiritually meaningful, relational, welcoming, and fun.

2. Teach and Disciple - Provide biblically grounded, relevant teaching that helps students understand Scripture and apply it to everyday life. Build relationships with students and encourage them toward spiritual maturity. May be opportunities to preach on Sunday morning.

3. Build Relationships with Students - Develop meaningful relationships with students beyond weekly programming. Personally, and through youth leaders, look to support students by attending school activities, sporting events, performances, and other appropriate events. Be available to encourage, mentor, and pastor students as they navigate their high school years.

4. Develop and Lead Volunteers - Recruit, train, encourage, and equip adult volunteers to invest relationally and spiritually in students. Oversee and work with the student leadership team to give them ownership and responsibility in the ministry.

5. Partner with Parents - Maintain regular communication with parents regarding activities, schedules, teaching themes, camps, and special events. View parents as the primary influence in their teenager's life and seek opportunities to resource and encourage them.

6. Create Outreach Opportunities - Develop a culture where students feel comfortable inviting friends who do not attend church. Plan periodic/quarterly outreach events and equip students to build friendships, share their stories, and invite others to follow Jesus.

7. Plan Camps, Retreats, and Special Events – Coordinate related to winter and summer camps and other activities designed to strengthen relationships and encourage spiritual growth.

8. Connect Students to the Larger Church - Encourage high school students to see themselves as an important part of JSB, not simply participants in a youth program. Help students find meaningful opportunities to serve and participate in the broader life of the church.

9. Collaborate with Church Staff - Work cooperatively with the pastoral staff and other ministry leaders to support the overall mission, values, and direction of Journey South Bay. Participate in appropriate staff meetings, planning, and church-wide events.

Qualifications

• Have a growing and vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Demonstrate strong biblical knowledge and theological alignment with JSB.
• Have a genuine love for teenagers and a desire to see them grow spiritually.
• Be relational, approachable, energetic, dependable, and teachable.
• Can communicate Scripture effectively to high school students.
• Demonstrate leadership skills and the ability to recruit and develop volunteers.
• Communicate effectively with students, parents, volunteers, and church staff.
• Work well as part of a ministry team and support the overall mission/leadership of JSB.
• Demonstrate personal integrity and appropriate boundaries in relationships with students.
• Previous experience working with teenagers in a church or ministry setting is preferred.

Details of Position

·      Hours: 10-20 hours per week during the school year.

·      $20-30 per hour depending on experience and education.

·      If they attend summer camp, we will agree on additional payment for that week.

·      Initially, works with and reports to Discipleship Pastor.

·      Long term they will report to Senior Pastor.