Student Pastor Job Description

Ascent Church

Ascent Church exists to help people know Jesus, grow in their faith, and bless their community. We are a relational, welcoming, and serving church passionate about creating environments where people can encounter God authentically, build meaningful community, and take practical next steps in their faith journey. We exist to be for the good of our community, partnering with our city to bless others. We value biblical teaching, spiritual growth, servant leadership, and reaching people who may not typically feel comfortable in church environments.

The ideal candidate for this role will not only be a gifted leader, but someone who genuinely loves students, aligns with the mission and values of Ascent Church, and desires to help the next generation develop an authentic and lasting faith in Jesus.

Overview

The Student Pastor at Ascent Church is a dynamic and passionate leader responsible for creating and overseeing a thriving, unified ministry for Middle School (grades 6-8) and High School (grades 9-12) students. This role is essential for helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith, build community, discover their gifts, and learn to influence their world. The pastor will accomplish this through a balanced focus on relational ministry, volunteer leadership development, engaging weekly programs, and impactful events.

Key Responsibilities

1. Vision, Program & Discipleship

• Develop and implement a comprehensive vision and strategy for student ministry that aligns with Ascent Church’s mission.

• Design and lead engaging, fun, and spiritually formative weekly environments for both middle school and high school groups, including relevant teaching and worship elements.

• Build authentic relationships with students through regular presence and mentoring, providing spiritual and emotional support.

• Establish and oversee a robust small group ministry to foster deeper connection and spiritual growth after large-group programming.

2. Volunteer & Parental Partnership

• Recruit, onboard, train, and inspire two distinct, dedicated teams of volunteer leaders/mentors—one for middle school and one for high school students.

• Provide ongoing support, encouragement, and development for all volunteer leaders, equipping them to facilitate small groups and mentor students effectively.

• Build strong, collaborative relationships with parents, serving as a trusted resource and partner in the spiritual development of their children and maintaining clear, consistent communication.

3. Events & Experiential Ministry

• Plan and execute a year-round ministry calendar, including high-impact events (e.g., retreats, conferences, outreach) that build community and deepen faith.

• Organize and lead a summer mission trip or significant service-learning experience, providing opportunities for students to serve others and live out their faith.

4. Teaching & Staff Collaboration

• Regularly deliver engaging, relevant, and biblically sound messages to both student groups.

• Collaborate effectively with other church staff to ensure seamless transitions for students and to integrate student ministry into the broader church vision.

• Manage the student ministry budget responsibly.

Qualifications

Experience

• Minimum of 3-5 years of ministry experience leading or significantly contributing to a student ministry program (both middle and high school).

• Proven experience in recruiting, training, and inspiring volunteer leaders.

• Demonstrated ability to create engaging environments and deliver relevant teaching to teenagers.

• Experience planning and executing large events and mission trips.

Skills & Attributes

• Exceptional leadership, organizational, and communication skills.

• Dynamic and engaging public speaking ability.

• Strong ability to connect with and relate to both middle school and high school students.

• A vibrant and mature personal faith with a deep love for students and a passion for their spiritual formation.

• Energetic, enthusiastic, and a committed team player.