Youth Pastor/Director

Why You'll Love This Opportunity

Vale Church presents outstanding next level opportunities in the midwest. Pastor Shawn Jensen and his team build upon a culture of authenticity, integrity, honesty and a relentless commitment to pursuing Kingdom R.O.I. in all that they do. Our church is going to the next level in our home base of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois.

In just the last 10 years, Vale has grown from 500 to over 3,000 people who call Vale home, with an average of around 1,900 people attending each week and, even though Covid had for a time limited gatherings, things don’t seem to be slowing down as momentum continues at Vale.

Church Description

Vale Church is a dynamic church birthed in Bloomington, Illinois. It is a church with 70+ year roots that has experienced explosive growth over the past ten years. Vale Church is a church on the move. On an average weekend you will experience a welcoming environment, engaging teaching, and excellent worship. Since 2013 Vale Church has been making huge strides to reinvent and redefine itself within the community. It has seen tremendous growth and dramatic impact on people’s lives.

The church is known in the community for its missional philosophy. The staff is young and eager. This church is doing what others will not do in their community to reach those others will not reach. They believe reaching their community goes beyond our 4 walls and actually means getting their hands dirty to reach the community. Vale Church partners with several Christian organizations in town to reach people in ways that alone Vale could not reach. It is not about making Vale’s name great, but about making Jesus known.

Job Description

Job Title: Youth Pastor/Director
Department: Next Gen
Reports to: Youth & Young Adults Pastor
Classification: Full Time

Purpose of this role: The Youth Pastor/Director is responsible for leading and executing the vision of student ministry. Success in this role will depend on people (students and adults alike) in the YP/YD sphere of influence taking the next steps in their spiritual growth, beginning a relationship with Jesus, serving, inviting, giving, engaging in God’s word, and leading.  

Essential functions of this role:

Lead Leaders

Align leaders to work together around a common strategy, values, and language:

• Champion the vision and values of Vale Church throughout Vale Youth.
• Facilitate effective meetings to collaborate with key leaders in your organization.
• Develop and execute an effective volunteer recruitment, onboarding, and equipping strategy that can produce high-capacity leaders. 
• Regularly connect and develop the Vale Youth leadership teams who provide leadership and connection to the larger leader teams. 
• Manage the budget and resources needed to make Vale Youth successful. 

Create Irresistible experiences 

Alongside the YA Pastor, design a messaging strategy & experience strategy that communicates strategic truths to teenagers:

• Produce irresistible experiences that are relevant and engaging for students. 
• Create a message strategy to build a student's faith and to answer questions they want to hear. 
• Create a safe and fun space for students to build community with others and leaders. 
• Invest and recruit communication and experience teams to lead weekly gatherings. 

Engage Every Parent

Engage every parent and guardian to partner with the ministry:

• Execute strategic opportunities to help every parent stay connected.
• Provide resources and experiences that help parents win with their kids.
• Create & schedule opportunities for parents/guardians to meet in person to discuss family and how to better partner with their family. 

Intentional Discipleship

Have a pathway for students to develop and grow in their faith outside of a weekly experience.

• Assist in leading a year-long leadership and discipleship group for key students to grow in knowledge of God's word and keys to leadership. 

Influence Serving

Influence students to participate in consistent ministry opportunities:

• Recruit and develop students as volunteers in various ministries and roles.
• Train adult leaders to co-lead with teenagers.
• Partner with community organizations to broaden student’s experiences.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3+ years of hands-on student ministry experience.

• Effective pastoral leadership.

• Systematic team building and leadership development.

• Ability to communicate vision.

• Student ministry health assessment, analysis, and restructuring.

• Must be willing to learn new programs as needed. 

• Leadership and administrative experience

• Must be energetic and able to stand or sit for lengths of time as needed

To apply, Email: kkauffman@vale.church with resume and supporting documents