Middle School Ministry Director

FLSA Status: Exempt
Report to: Family Ministry Pastor

The Context
We exist to lead people to be fully devoted followers of Jesus. We desire to be a church of all cultures where curious, skeptical, and hurting people love to attend. As a destination city for the medical and tech industries, we believe God has uniquely positioned us to be Gospel influencers throughout southeast Minnesota and around the globe. We estimate that over one hundred thousand Rochester residents have no connection to the Gospel. Rochester also serves as a medical destination with three million visitors to our city annually, mainly for medical purposes connected with Mayo Clinic.

The Role
Autumn Ridge Church seeks an individual to serve as the Middle School Director, providing leadership in ministry to the middle school students and families already connected to Autumn Ridge. The Middle School Director will champion the discipleship and leadership development pathways for middle school students who are already following Jesus. Along with working to engage the thousands of middle school students with no connection to any church, this leader will actively seek to build trust with the administrations of the area’s private and public schools and attend and engage with the schools’ various extracurricular activities. “The harvest is plentiful!”

The Candidate
This position will have direct oversight for teams of middle school ministry volunteer leaders. We are looking for a leader who loves building and leading teams, equipping and empowering others to lead out of their strengths, and has a deep passion for middle school students to be Gospel-centered for a lifetime. The ideal candidate will have an optimistic outlook towards activities, can generate enthusiasm, enjoys working with people more than things, exhibits healthy rhythms in life, knows how to manage tasks and responsibilities, desires to work in a team environment, and is not afraid to ask for help. Our new Middle School Director will have a contagious love of Jesus that inspires and points others to seek a deep relationship with Jesus. They will be passionate about seeing future generations launch confidently and humbly into their adult lives.

The Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the Family Ministry Team, lead the Middle School Ministry and volunteer leaders to implement a welcoming, safe, intentional, and engaging ministry.
• Be in the community building trust and relationships with the schools, students, and their families (i.e., attend sports, plays, concerts, etc.).
• Be the vision caster, champion, and ministry developer to middle school students.
• Implement discipleship and leadership pathways for middle school students that empower, equip, and encourage them to follow Jesus for life.
• In concert with the entire staff, implement a comprehensive “Join the team!” strategy that equips the church “for works of service.”
• In partnership with other ministries in the church and the community, lead Autumn Ridge to be Gospel-influencers to as many middle school students in the area as possible.
• Be an expert on teenage culture.
• Build teams of leaders to minister to and serve middle school students and their families.
• Collaborating with the Family Ministry and Communications Team, communicate, publicize, and inform middle school students and their families of pertinent ministry happenings.
• In collaboration with the Family Ministry Pastor, build trust with parents and guardians.
• Have lots of fun!

Qualifications and Experience

• Understand and anticipate the theological, spiritual, and cultural questions that are being asked by middle school students who are curious, skeptical, or hurting.
• Have some experience and/or education in student ministry.
• Embrace and adapt to growth, change, innovation, and creativity.
• Be passionate about Middle School Ministry. You wake up every day thinking about how to lead middle school students to be fully devoted followers of Jesus!
• Possess strong problem-solving skills.
• A demonstrated skill at preaching and teaching the Scriptures to teenagers in a way that engages both the believer and not-yet-believer.
• Loving winter and most things Minnesota and Rochester is a must!

Requirements of Autumn Ridge involvement

• Embody our mission, vision, and values to the church and the community.
• Attend a worship service each weekend when not on vacation.
• Take vacation.
• Be in a small group.
• Become a member.

Next Steps

• Get to know us at autumnridge.church.
• Send your resume and cover letter to jobs@autumnridge.church.