Director for Student & Young Adult Ministry

About the work: Generation Grace – Gen G is a paid discipleship and leadership program involving approximately twenty-five 10th-12th graders. Primary active ministry is Sunday mornings from 8:00-12:30, with significant administration & planning during the week.

• Build open, trusting relationships with high school students and their families.
• Support meaningful, healthy relationship-building between Gen G leaders, and between the program and the wider congregation.
• Design, plan, and lead weekly faith formation conversations, including biblical reflection series, faith-story sharing with adults in the congregation, and opportunities to reflect on vocation and calling through a Lutheran theological lens.
• Design, plan, and lead a fall leadership retreat, with specific focus on building healthy relationships among the group, training for specific ministry roles, and worship/prayer.
• Coordinate shifts, work schedules, ministry assignments, and payroll software.
• Average at least 1 intentional relational meeting per week with a teen, the parent/adult of a teen, and/or a Grace member who is invested in ministries with youth.

The Grove, a weeknight space for relationship-building, faith reflection, service projects, and worship, is Grace’s primary programming for 6th-8th graders.

• Plan, schedule, and lead weekly gatherings that help kids strengthen their ability to know and follow Jesus, and to build meaningful friendships among one another.
• In collaboration with the Director for Operations & Outreach, develop and lead service project opportunities for youth.
• Recruit, equip, train and develop personal supportive relationships with adult and HS small group leaders.
• Schedule, plan, and lead a Winter Middle School Retreat.
• Provide for a Middle School Summer Camp opportunity through Lutherdale or LOMC.

High School Ministry includes all teens in grades 9-12, who may or may not be otherwise involved in Gen G and/or in Affirmation (Confirmation ministry).

• Plan and lead monthly gatherings for 9-12 graders that cultivate a sense of belonging through service projects, fun outings, and casual gatherings.
• Coordinate, plan, and lead an annual summer High School Service-Learning Trip. The Service-Learning trip is typically a week long and out of state.
• Support the Pastor for Faith Formation as needed in our Affirmation program, which leads 9th graders into the Rite of Confirmation.

Young Adult Ministry includes college-aged students and young people as well as Grace members and friends who are roughly ages 19-35.

• Set a vision, create & implement a plan for supporting Grace’s high school graduates in staying connected to their faith.Connect college-bound students to their local campus ministry and/or to appropriate congregations in their college/university towns.
• Plan a series of meaningful care packages to which the entire congregation might contribute, including items to support faith reflection.
• Plan and lead college-aged gatherings during winter and spring breaks and regularly during the summer
• Build intentional relationships with young adult visitors to worship and their friends.
• Serve as staff liaison to Grace’s GATHER young adult ministry group.

Staff Leadership & Cross-Ministry Collaboration

• Participate actively in weekly staff meetings and other staff gatherings.
• Lead and/or contribute to ministries that support the whole church, such as VBS, Pride month celebrations, affinity small groups, etc.
• Provide for at least one annual Safe Church Policy training opportunity for staff and volunteers working with our teens. Ensure that all volunteers have completed background checks.
• Provide for a quarterly parent workshop focusing on an identified topic of need – i.e. technology and children’s development, healthy communication with teens, etc.
• Other duties as necessary or assigned to support the wider ministry of Grace.