Come join our vibrant and diverse community at San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene as our new Director of Ministry to Children, Teens, and their Families! We are a multi-generational, culturally, and economically diverse church with a strong focus on community and compassion. We believe the Christian’s responsibility to the poor is an essential aspect of the life of every believer who seeks a faith that works through love. To that end, our church is actively involved with three local missional partners: West Avenue Compassion, La Vid Verdadera Church, and Emmanuel Korean Church. Our mission outreach includes feeding 500 families per week, operating a clothing pantry, ESL classes, and much more.

Are you passionate about making a meaningful impact and helping to nurture the next generation within a dynamic and caring community? In that case, we invite you to join us in striving to see God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Apply now and become part of something extraordinary!

Director of Ministry to Children, Teens, and their Families

Ministry Description

San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene

Who we are searching for:

Statistics tell us that 85% of people who are followers of Christ report that they became Christians between the ages of 4 and 14. At SAF, we believe the ministry to children and their families is vitally important. We are searching for a ministry director who is called and who demonstrates the gifts and graces to lead a ministry focused on reaching children and their families for Christ and discipling young believers. We are seeking someone capable of growing a program, building a team of volunteers, and equipping parents to lead their families spiritually in this challenging culture. The ministry to children, teens, and their families is unique and specialized. It requires knowledge and a variety of skills. Most importantly, the ministry director to children, teens, and their families must love children, have a deep passion for them to put their trust in God, and grow in their faith. If this is you, keep reading…

About Our Church:

At San Antonio First (SAF), our mission is to make Christlike disciples in San Antonio. We are committed to inviting our community into an authentic relationship with Jesus and seeing families transformed. SAF is located in the North Central San Antonio area. We are a multi-generational, culturally, and economically diverse Church. We have four local missional partners: West Avenue Compassion, Dove Creek Church, La Vid Verdadera Church, and Emmanuel Korean Church. We are also working to build further a missional partnership with Larkspur Elementary, a few blocks away.

Our Lead Pastor is Matt Rice. He has been serving at SAF for 21 years. Dr. Eric Buell serves as Associate Pastor and the Executive Director of West Avenue Compassion.

YOU ARE (QUALIFICATIONS):

• A Christ Follower whose moral character models the Christian lifestyle for children, teens, and their families
• In harmony with the Church of the Nazarene’s core statements of belief
• Knowledgeable about children and teens, including a basic understanding of age-level characteristics, child psychology, and teaching/learning theory. (Training in Christian education is also desirable)
• Able to build a team that centered around the mission of the SAF Children and Youth Ministry.
• Driven and passionate to reach children/youth who do not know Christ inside and outside the Church.
• A strong communicator who can connect effectively and consistently with children/youth, volunteers, staff, and parents
• An advocate for connecting with parents and equipping them to be the leader of their son or daughters spiritual development
• A proven project manager with strong attention to detail and administrative skills
• A team player and team builder who focuses on the values of the entire organization
• The Ministry to Children, Teens, and their Families Director must develop worship experiences and other programs to capture children/youth’s interest as we teach Biblical truths.
• Teachable and sensitive to God’s leadership.

You Will  (Job Description):

• Lead the entire Christian education program for children from pre-k through grade 12.
• Coordinate the various educational programs for children/teens into an integrated Christian education program for each age level. These programs include Sunday morning worship and Sunday School, mid-week programs, Vacation Bible School (VBS), and other summer outreach events, camps, service projects, etc.
• Shepherd children/teens and their families in their relationship with the Lord. This includes connecting with and caring for families outside church programming.
• Develop plans for discovering, recruiting, and training all workers. This includes continuing training for experienced workers, as well as that for new workers.
• Make volunteer schedules for all educational programs and confirm with scheduled volunteers each week.
• Be intentional about connecting new families with children/teens to SAF. Create a presence of SAF Children’s/Youth ministry in the community.
• Work with the NMI leadership to further our missional partnership with Larkspur Elementary School.
• Coordinate an intentional system to welcome, host, and follow up with guest families. This includes, but is not limited to, personal connection, effective communication, and follow-up steps.
• Facilitate training and provide tools to empower parents to lead their sons’ or daughter’s spiritual development.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of all programs under your direction. Suggest needed improvements and develop plans for making these changes.
• Prepare and manage a budget with the SAF Finance Team for the Ministry to Children, Teens, and their Families.
• Work with the SAF Safety Committee to continue implementing the Ministry Safe Child Safety System.
• Take ownership of the Children’s Ministry and Youth Ministry space. Work to continuously improve this space, making it a safe, attractive, creative space where kids are encouraged to connect to Jesus.

Staff Relationships

1. Staff meetings – regular attendance at all staff meetings
2. Accountability directly to the senior pastor
3. Cooperate fully with the entire staff for the total good of the Church
4. Consult senior pastor on plans and policies.

Time Expectations

• The Director of Ministry to Children, Teens, and their Families position is part-time (20 hours per week).
  • 4 hours – Sunday morning
  • 4 hours – Youth Gathering
  • 3 hours – Larkspur Elementary
  • 10 hours – staff meeting, planning, communication, connecting