DeerCreekChurchOverview:
“Achurchforpeoplewhoaren’tperfectanddon’tpretendtobe–
worshipping,connecting,andservingtogether.”
DeerCreekChurchisavibrant,multigenerational,reformed,evangelicalcongregation(400+)
in Littleton, Colorado, a suburb southwest of Denver. A “grace-driven” church with a clear
focusondiscipleshipthroughcorporateworship,transformationalconnection,andmeaningful
service,DeerCreekispassionatelycommittedtothemissionofthegreatcommission.
SHIFTStudentMinistryOverview:
An integral part of the mission of the church is a thriving student ministry that engages
students inside and outside the church, and their families, in this discipleship process. The
student ministry currently has ~70 students regularly involved in its Wednesday night
community(SHIFTStudentMinistries),with45-55inregularattendance,evenlysplitbetween
middle-schoolandhigh-school.Thenewyouthpastorwouldworktodevelopanddeploythe
existingteamof24Wednesdaynightvolunteersandtwoyouthinternsthatcurrentlysupport
theministry.OnSundaymorningsthesestudentsareencouragedtoparticipateintheregular
rhythmofcorporateworshipandservicetogetherinadditiontoparticipatinginlifegroups.
One-SentenceJobDescription:
Tocontinuallydevelopaministryteamthatcreatesasafe,formative,andgrowingstudent
ministrythatmeaningfullyinvolves6th-12thgradestudentsandtheirfamiliesinthediscipleship
rhythmsofworshipping,connecting,andservingtogether.
LeaderQualities:
General:
§ LivesalifeofexemplarydependenceuponChristthathasthemarksofpersonaland
familialtransformationbythegospel(UP);relatestoothersinsuchawaythat
demonstratesthefruitoftheSpiritandencouragestheirChrist-likeness(IN);livesalife
onmissionwiththoseintheChurchandoutsidethechurchinthenameofChrist(OUT).
§ EvidencesacommitmenttogrowinginChrist-likecharacterandChrist-like
competenciesasaleader.
§ AgreeswiththedoctrinalstandardsofthePresbyterianChurchinAmerica(i.e.,
WestminsterConfessionofFaithandCatechisms),aswellasthemissionandcorevalues
ofDCC.
§ Abachelor’sdegreeisrequired.Furtherministryspecificeducationishighlypreferred.
Job-specific:
§ Pastoralleadershipstyle:Arelationalleader,demonstratingapastor’sheartforhis/her
teamthatproactivelyseekstomentor,counsel,andbuildrelationships.
§ YouthKnowledge:Hasdemonstratedtheappropriatecompetenciesandcapacitiesto
effectivelyworkwithmiddleandhigh-schoolagestudents.Acandidateshouldhavea
strongunderstandingofyouthculture,challenges,andsocialconcerns.
§ Calling:Aclearsenseofpastoralcallinganddemonstratesapassionforministry.The
candidateshouldhaveastrongcommitmenttodevelopingvocationallythrough
continuededucationandtraining.
§ TeamLeader:Thecandidateshouldhavedemonstratedtheabilitytoeffectivelyrecruit,
equip,deploy,evaluate,andleadateamofvolunteerswithpassionandcare.
§ Strategic: Must be able to bring a consistent strategic vision and well-developed
organizational skills to the everyday tasks of communicating, scheduling, planning,
interacting, teaching, and innovating. The ideal candidate has both strong relational
skillsandstrongorganizationalskillstoeffectivelymanageagrowingministry.
§ StrongCommunicator:Thepreferredcandidatewouldhaveextensiveteachingand
publicspeakingexperiencewithanabilitytowinsomelyandcompellingcommunicate
theGospelanddiscipleshipprinciplestoadultsandtostudents.
§ HighEnergy:Thepreferredcandidatehastheabilitytoenergeticallyandvocally
participateinthemyriadsocialcontextsofstudentministry.Excitementandenthusiasm
arecrucialforengagingstudentseffectively.
§ Teachable:Thecandidatewouldwelcomementoringandcollaborationwithcoworkers
andlayleadership.Theywouldbringahumble,teachablespirittostaffmeetingsand
interactionswithteammembers
§ Self-Initiating: Although the DCC Student Ministry has had a history of growth and
revitalization in the past four years, there is work to be done to build a stronger,
healthierministry.Thecandidatewoulddemonstrateaself-initiatingleadershipstyleto
create the systems needed for growth toward excellence. They would not wait to be
toldwhattodonext,butwouldanticipatetheweeklyandseasonalneedsforstudents
andtheirfamiliesandplanaccordingly.Theidealcandidatewouldbeabletooperate
independentlytocastvisionandmakeplans,whilestillbeingeagertocollaboratewith
otherswhennewchallengesoropportunitiesarise.
YouthPastorResponsibilities:
§ Developthestudentcommunitytoprovideacomprehensiveprogramofregular
teaching,spiritualdevelopment,anddiscipleshipthathelpsstudentsfollowJesusby
lovingGodandothersasacommunity.Ministryoutcomes,objectives,andstandardsof
evaluationwillbeguidedbythemissionandcorevaluesofthechurch.
§ LeadanddevelopthestudentministrycommunitygatheringonWednesdaynights.
§ LeadanddevelopstudentministryactivitiesonSundaymorningswithaneyefor
meaningfulintegrationwiththewholechurchbody.
§ Recruit,equip,deploy,andappreciatevolunteerleadershipteamfortheministry.
§ Overseesafetyprotocolsthatensurestudents’holisticwell-being.Thesecouldinclude:
studentdatabase,check-in/check-outprocedures,etc.
§ Developandimplementeffectivecommunicationstrategieswithparents,students,and
volunteers.
§ Providepastoralcareforstudentsandtheirfamilies,aswellasministryvolunteers.
§ Schedule,plan,andsupervisespecialeventsandserviceprojectsforstudents.
§ PlanandSupervisewinterretreatsformiddle-schoolstudents(Snowbound)andhighschoolstudents(HighAltitude).
§ Planandleadannualmissionpartnershipswithlocaland/orinternationaltrips.
§ Developeffectivesystemofsupervising,mentoring,anddeployingministryinterns.
§ Developanannualbudgetanddetermineequipmentandprogramneeds.
§ AcquireallnecessarysuppliesforStudentMinistryevents/regularmeetings.
OtherDetails:
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This position is full-time, consisting of 40 hours/week and reports to the Associate
Pastor.
The position may be designated “pastoral” or as a “director” position at the sole
discretionoftheSession.
Maintainregularofficehoursatleast3daysaweek(8:30AM–4:30PM).Adjustments
maybemadetothisscheduleinlightofoff-sitemeetingsandeveningresponsibilities.It
isrecognizedthatministryresponsibilitiesmaydictatecompensatorytimeandschedule
adjustments.
UndergoregularstaffevaluationwiththeAssociatePastorandExecutivePastor.
Attendallstaffmeetingsandstaffretreats.
Adheretoallstaffvaluesandleadershipexpectationsasbefitsamemberandleaderin
DeerCreekChurch.
Threeweeksofvacation(15days)willbeprovidedeachyear.TheAssociateand
ExecutivePastorsshallapproveallleavetime.
SalaryandbenefitswillbesetandreviewedeachyearbySession.