Westchester Evangelical Free Church – Pastor of Student Ministries

Pastor of Student Ministries

Westchester Evangelical Free Church located in Des Moines, IA

 The cultural winds constantly push our youth in a direction contrary to the will of God. Parents today have a difficult task, raising young men and women after God’s own heart and need support and assistance from the local church to help their children experience and extend God’s love. We are seeking an individual who will work cooperatively with parents, equip a leadership team, and empower students to relationally make disciples who make disciples.   Through solid biblical teaching, leadership training and opportunities to serve in the church and community we seek to offer a space for students to be with each other and the Lord, a space that is unique and set apart from what the world can offer. We rejoice in the work God has done over our history of raising up many through this ministry who have gone on to walk fruitfully with the Lord, several of whom have done so in vocational ministry around the world. We are also across the street from a very diverse Public High School and Middle School. Over the last several years our church has fostered a healthy relationship with these schools, a relationship that has provided us with many open doors and ministry opportunities. One of the challenges/opportunities is striking the appropriate balance of shepherding the students and families of Westchester while also seeking to share the gospel with unbelieving teens who are routinely in and around our building.

1. QUALIFICATIONS

1. A clear and compelling sense of call to the Gospel ministry.
2. A Bachelor’s degree is highly preferred
3. A teachable and humble heart.
4. An established pattern of life and ministry that demonstrates caring for others while helping them follow Jesus.
5. A history of:

• Faithfully walking with the Lord in all aspects of life. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)
• Equipping others to do the work of the ministry, i.e. identifying, recruiting, developing and involving a wide range of lay people in a variety of maturing opportunities. (Ephesians 4:11-12)
• Integrating evangelism and disciple-making together (Luke 24:47, Mt 28:18-20)
• Having a good reputation in and out of the church
• Possessing communication skills and the ability to teach God’s Word (1 Timothy 4:2)

6. A personality that is relational, flexible and positive.
7. Evidence a commitment to the Westchester Statement of Faith, ministry philosophy and purpose.

1. RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Lead the High School and Middle School ministries with the goal of making and building disciples of Jesus who will make disciples of Jesus.
2. Equip and engage youth leaders and parents alike to be disciple-makers.
3. Relationally walk with the students and parents of Westchester helping them experience and extend God’s love.
4. Build on the relationship the church has with the Schools across the street and parachurch ministries in hopes of reaching students in the name of Jesus.
5. Manage your time (45-50 hours a week) well to best equip others and multiply yourself.

1. Participate in other duties assigned by the Lead Pastor.
2. Oversee with integrity the budget for your area of ministry.
3. Occasionally share the preaching responsibility, as coordinated by the Lead Pastor.
4. Work in unity with the pastoral staff to model a cohesive team.

1. RELATIONSHIPS

1. Reports to the Lead Pastor.
2. Equip and work alongside the High School and Ministry Teams.
3. Humbly partner with and work alongside other staff members.
4. Invest in and invite the involvement of the students’ parents and/or guardians.
5. Work cooperatively with other ministry leaders and the people of Westchester.

1 Timothy 3:1-7  “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. ² Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.

⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”

Matthew 28:16-20  “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

Ephesians 4:11-13  “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹² to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Colossians 1:28-29  “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”

1 Timothy 4:2  “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

II Timothy 4:5 “As for you, always be soberminded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Colossians 4:5-6 “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best used of time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.