Youth and Children's Ministry
Overview
The Position: Kids Ministry Director/Pastor
Church: Summit Church
Location: Sparks, NV
Weekly Attendance: 2700+ (online and in-person) 350+ Kids (Birth-6th grade)
Reports to: Executive Pastor of Ministries
Supervises: Administrative Assistant, Preschool Coordinator, and VolunteerCoordinator
Website: summitnv.org
Services: Saturday 5 PM, Sunday 9 & 11 AM
Denomination: Non Denominational Christian Church
Our Purpose: “Live the adventure in Christ and invite others”
The Opportunity
Summit Kids
Summit Church in Sparks, NV is searching for their next Kids Ministry Director/Pastor to lead their dynamic Kids Ministry. The purpose in Summit Kids is to invest in kids and empower families to inspire little adventures in Christ. We strive to create a fun and safe environment that allows us to build meaningful relationships and partner with families. Every weekend, Summit Kids Ministry hosts over 350 children from two months old to 6th grade and has a ministry program designed to meet you and your family where you are on your journey. Summit Kids is excited about the recent launch of our Kids with Special Needs ministry and the renovation of the Kids Ministry space.
From the moment parents drop off their child to the moment they pick them up, the kids will experience safe, age-specific environments designed with them in mind. The Summit Kids Ministry Values and our goals are guides for everything that we do as we partner with Kids and their Parents …
KIDS MINISTRY VALUES:
- We want to experience a growing personal relationship with Christ. (FAITH)
- We are welcomed, known, and loved. (BELONGING)
- We engage with God’s story. (BIBLE)
- We serve God, our families, and the community. (SERVING)
- Our lives will reflect Jesus (CHARACTER)
WHAT DO WE WANT KIDS TO KNOW WHEN THEY LEAVE THE KIDS MINISTRY:
- Experiencing that God is real
- Experiencing God loves them
- Knowing and Feeling they belong to Summit Kids, Summit Church, and God’s kingdom
- They can serve too, no matter how young or how small
WEEKEND SERVICES
Summit Kids Ministry happens every weekend during our regular weekend services. Each environment is a fun and engaging place for your child to learn more about Jesus and grow in their adventure with Him.
The Church
Summit was planted in 1999, starting with twenty five people meeting at the YMCA. Summit quickly grew to become one of the largest churches in Nevada. As the church grew, they eventually moved to their current 36-acre master planned campus, with an intentionally phased building plan, expanding to include a state of the art 1,500-seat auditorium in 2022.
Summit Church was listed as the 53rd fastest growing church in America by Outreach Magazine and is located in one of the least religious areas in the US which makes Summit a great place to do ministry! Summit celebrated over 300 baptisms this last year and many new people took a step in following Jesus.
With the recent spike in attendance of new believers and transplants to the area, Summit Church weekend services are averaging 2700+ people! Summit Kids has over 350 Kids gathering every Weekend to experience an energetic, engaging, and fun filled Kids Ministry service and over 128 new families and almost 1,000 new kids came through the Summit Kids Ministry this past year.
As God has continued to bring Kids and Families, Summit has been busy remodeling the Student and Kids areas. The remodel is designed for kids to experience a fun and engaging space that is reaching kids in Washoe County. In early 2024, Summit will launch a satellite campus in Fernley, NV and are excited about the opportunity to reach even more kids and their families through this expansion.
The Community
Sparks, Nevada is an outdoor paradise. A person can experience the beautiful desert landscape and the Sierra Mountain range all within just a few miles of each other. The city of Sparks is located along the beautiful Truckee River Sparks and is less than an hour drive to Lake Tahoe where a person can experience world class skiing in the winter, as well as hiking and fishing during the rest of the year.
Sparks is a city for family fun events and outdoor living. There is always something exciting going on somewhere in the city. Sparks, NV is best known to host fantastic festivals and events all throughout the year; from the Reno Air Show, Hot August Nights, Street Vibrations, Balloon Races, the Cinco de Mayo Celebration, Open Air Marketplace, Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off, and the annual Hometown Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony. Sparks is a city that has a lot to offer a family at any stage of their lives.
One of the best parts about living in Sparks, Nevada, is the proximity to major shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues while still enjoying the beauty of nature in the many lakes, rivers, and mountains surrounding the city. Residents can enjoy the best of urban and rural living and pay an affordable price to do so.
Sparks, NV is not only a great place to live, it has recently become a great place to work! Recently the community has experienced growth through an influx of new industry such as the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center and Tesla Gigafactory. Truly, this area is a great place to live and raise a family!
The Candidate
This position will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Kids Ministry. We desire to create fun and engaging environments that help students experience community and grow in their relationships with God through our discipleship process.
The Summit Church Kids Ministry Director/Pastor will help our church family reach, love, and make disciples of our students, while discipling them in order that they achieve spiritual growth while Living the Adventure.
The Summit Church Kids Ministry Director/Pastor will build relationships with kids, while also helping to equip parents to disciple their own children. The ideal candidate will be an energetic, organized person who is passionate about the spiritual growth for today’s Kids.
Leader: Provide direct oversight and pastoral care for kids and families, leadership development and strategic vision for Summit Kids. Model servant leadership while actively identifying and empowering leaders and use the gift of teaching and leadership to sharpen, refine, and mobilize kids and their families toward kingdom impact.
Builder: Develop and maintain a healthy, engaging Christ-centered discipling process that helps children grow consistently as disciples and leaders, as they cross different life stages, while building partnerships between church, home and the community.
Shepherd: Shepherd our church family in various forms of pastoral counsel, including one-on-ones, weddings, funerals, etc. Have a lot of fun serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Demonstrates commitment to spiritual growth by spending regular time with the Lord.
Education
Bachelor’s degree with a background in Christian ministries, Biblical study, or a related field. Masters in appropriate purview preferred
Ministry gifts of Leadership, Teaching, Pastor/Shepherd, Administration, Exhortation
Experience
3+ years experience in the children’s ministry at a thriving church is preferred. With relevant understanding of current trends in children’s ministry
Expectations
The following describes the ideal candidate for the Children’s Pastor:
Culture Carrier
Desire to form strategic partnerships with parents to engage children and their friends through engaging age graded services, intentional discipleship and while fostering a culture of volunteerism. Also, can help expand the Summit DNA and culture to other campuses and their Kids Ministry.
- Encourage cross-generational community between Children/Student/Young Adults/Adults, as well as providing smooth, seamless transitions along generational lines.
- Lead or attend a Summit Community Group on a regular basis.
- Be a friend who speaks truth with love—doesn’t shy away from crucial conversations.
- Recruit, disciple, and equip Kids Ministry Volunteers, kids and parents.
- Support and lead parents and families in the spiritual formation of their child(ren)’s faith.
Big Vision Caster
Passion for casting big vision that includes fun, creative, and innovative ways to reach children and parents. Finds fulfillment in overseeing and designing environments where children and families are able to engage in discipleship and relationship.
- Maintain both a 30k-foot view and be able to “get in the weeds.”
- Cast vision, monitor, and influence Kids Ministry Team direction to ensure it reflects the vision, values, and goals of Summit Church.
Lead teaching team during weekend kids ministry
- Ensure that the Summit Kids and the Weekend experience remains relevant and fresh in order for kids to engage, have fun, and thrive.
- Assist in implementing Summit’s Leadership Development Pathway with Kids Ministry team members and volunteers.
- Lead departmental meetings and meet with and empower direct reports.
Activator and Catalyst for Growth
An exceedingly strong ability to effectively coach, equip, and mobilize the volunteers of the ministry. The ideal candidate must understand how to nurture the spiritual journey of the children in the ministry by developing and maintaining a healthy, engaging Christ-centered discipleship process that helps children grow as disciples.
- Curious about growth and current trends in Kids Ministry
- Desire to see spiritual growth in the kids, their parents and the volunteer teams
- Exudes a growth mindset in all aspects of the Kids Ministry
Relationship Builder
Model relationship, talk about the value of relationship, equip volunteers to build relationships, develop programs which facilitate relationships. Be a resource to families for the spiritual development of their children.
- Energetic and outgoing
- Proactively cultivates relationships with the Kids, Parents, Volunteers, and the Summit team.
- Excellent at communication and conflict resolution
High Capacity Leader Equipper and Developer
Enjoy recruiting, training, and coaching to lead a safe and inviting environment for children of all ages. History of developing organizational health through reproducible systems, team clarity, leadership development, including systems and processes that facilitate and track spiritual growth.
- Attend all regular-schedule staff prayer, leadership development, clarity (and any similar) meetings.
- Maintain parent involvement and trust.
- Work and communicate well with Summit Ridge staff.
Problem Solver
When working with children, parents and in ministry as a whole, problems arise, the ideal candidate must be able to proactively solve whatever problems come their way. We are looking for a leader that doesn’t put off, blame others, or avoid problems. Someone who is solutions oriented.
- No excuses only solutions attitude
- Loves to tinker and takes calculated risks
- Encourages others to solutions side style of leading
Committed Follower of Jesus
Fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples of Jesus through servant leadership at Summit Church, specifically in the Kids Ministry through recruiting, discipling, equipping and empowering volunteers, kids, students and parents.
- Live a healthy, balanced lifestyle that honors God, family, and others.
- Potential opportunities to teach/preach in adult services depending on Kids Ministry Director/Pastor giftings and interest.
- Attend worship services every week unless you are out of town. (with your spouse and children if applicable)
*The above summary represents the major characteristics as they would relate to the roles, tasks and duties. However, this is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all characteristics and responsibilities.
Extra Credit
It would be great if any (or all) of the following are true!
- You are a 9 Square Aficionado
- You are a gifted dodgeball player
- You can master Nintendo Switch
- You are fun loving/outgoing (and it shows)
- You are a fan of Del Taco
- You are fluent in Textish & Emojish
Personal Characteristics
- Have a relationship with Jesus Christ and desire to grow in that relationship.
- Demonstrate commitment to spiritual growth by spending regular time with the Lord.
- Set appropriate boundaries to protect character and integrity.
- Love and concern for children and their families.
- Willingness and desire to grow professionally.
- Ability to work cooperatively and respectfully with other staff, children, students and parents.
- Conduct yourself on and off the job in such a way as to honor Jesus, demonstrative of spiritual leadership and a positive representative of Summit Church.
- Strive for Summit’s Team Values of Health, Focus, Generosity, and Achievable Excellence.
- Agree to the Summit Employee Handbook and Policies, without stipulation or contingency because of behavior.
- Demonstrates commitment to spiritual growth by spending regular time with the Lord.
- Support Summit’s vision to live generously by giving at least 10% to Summit Christian Church.
Interested?
The Aaron Hur Group has partnered with Summit Church to find a talented leader who feels called to serve in this next season. To become a candidate, please APPLY HERE.
To Apply: megan@aaronhurgroup.com