Job Title: Youth Pastor (Children & Youth Ministry)

Location: Leaf River, Illinois (leafriver.church)
Reports To: Lead Pastor
Status: Full-Time (40+ hrs) or Part-Time (20-30 hrs)

Position Summary:

The Youth Pastor will provide spiritual leadership to children, youth, and their families by teaching God’s Word, equipping parents, and developing volunteers to disciple the next generation in a rural setting.

Key Responsibilities (Core Focus):

1. Teach & Disciple the Next Generation

• Teach Scripture to children and youth with clarity and faithfulness—
  (2 Timothy 4:2)
• Encourage young people to grow in personal faith

2. Equip Families

• Support and encourage parents in discipling their children—(Ephesians 6:4)

3. Develop Volunteers

• Recruit and equip volunteers for children’s and youth ministry— (2 Timothy 2:2)

4. Provide Ministry Oversight

• Ensure children’s and youth ministries are organized, safe, and aligned with the church’s mission of “To know Christ, grow in faith, go make him known.”— (1 Corinthians 14:40)

5. Secondary Responsibilities (Develop Over Time):

• Strengthen community outreach to youth and families— (Matthew 28:19–20)
• Introduce tools or systems that improve communication and organization
• Develop additional programs or events as the ministry grows

Qualifications:

Required:

• A clear and growing relationship with Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 4:12)
• Agreement with the church’s statement of faith
• Ability to teach and apply Scripture faithfully (2 Timothy 2:15)
• A heart for discipling children, youth, and families
• A man who exemplifies the qualifications of a Biblical Elder

Preferred (not required):

• Bible training (formal or informal)
• Experience in children’s or youth ministry (formal or informal)
• Experience leading or organizing volunteers

Personal Character:

• Spiritually mature and committed to prayer (Colossians 4:2)
• Humble, teachable, and team-oriented (Philippians 2:3–4)
• Faithful and dependable in ministry (Luke 16:10)

Schedule & Commitment:

• Sunday morning participation required (teaching and/or ministry leadership) (Hebrews 10:25)
• Weekly ministry involvement (including some evenings as needed)
• Participation in regular staff or leadership meetings

Vision & Growth Opportunities:

• Shape and strengthen the church’s ministry to children, youth, and families
• Help develop new ministry initiatives as the church grows
• Create new opportunities in a community that is hungry for ministry where there is none
• Grow personally in ministry skills, leadership, and theological understanding (2 Timothy 1:6–7 — God develops gifts over time)

How to Apply:

• Send cover letter (brief introduction) and resume to staffing@leafriverbaptist.org
  • Cover letter should have a basic testimony and general church history.