Student Minister

About Ridgecrest Baptist Church:

Thank you for considering Ridgecrest Baptist Church. We are a growing, multi-generational Southern Baptist church in Springfield, Missouri, with an average weekly attendance of approximately 1,200 people. Our mission is simple: Making Christ-centered disciples of our neighbors and the nations.

At Ridgecrest, we believe discipleship happens through a clear pathway of helping people Worship Christ, Belong in Community, Serve the Church, and Reach the World. This philosophy shapes everything we do, from preschool ministry to senior adults. We are committed to building ministries that are biblically grounded, relationally engaging, and focused on helping people take their next step with Jesus.

Springfield offers a unique ministry context. As the third-largest city in Missouri, it combines the opportunities of a regional hub with the affordability and community feel of a smaller city. Home to several colleges and universities, strong public and private school systems, and a growing population, Springfield provides significant opportunities to reach students and families with the gospel. The area is known for its low cost of living, family-friendly environment, and proximity to outdoor recreation throughout the Ozarks.

We are seeking a Student Minister who sees student ministry as more than planning events and running programs. We are looking for a leader who is passionate about making disciples, developing leaders, partnering with parents, and helping students discover their place in God's mission. RBC has a healthy and growing student ministry, but we believe there is significant opportunity for growth and kingdom impact in the years ahead.

The person who joins our team will be supported by a healthy church culture, a collaborative staff, committed volunteers, and leadership that values innovation, teamwork, and spiritual formation. If you are excited about building a disciple-making ministry and investing in the next generation, we would love to hear from you.

Position Summary: The Student Minister will work as a part of the NextGen Team to minister to students (7th-12th grade), families, and volunteers in fulfilling the goal of making Christ-centered disciples of our neighbors and nations.

Essential Functions: Worship Christ

• Develop and implement a strategy that helps students grow in their relationship with Christ through biblical teaching, worship, prayer, and spiritual disciplines
• Regularly teach God's Word in a manner that is biblically faithful, engaging, and age appropriate
• Provide spiritual leadership and pastoral care to students and their families

Belong in Community

• Foster a welcoming and relational ministry culture where students are connected to meaningful biblical community
• Develop and strengthen small group environments that encourage spiritual growth and accountability
• Partner with parents in the spiritual formation and discipleship of their students

Serve the Church

• Recruit, train, equip, and shepherd adult volunteers who serve in student ministry
• Identify and develop student leaders, creating opportunities for them to serve within the church
• Encourage a serving attitude and connect students to meaningful service opportunities throughout the life of RBC

Reach the World

• Develop and lead outreach initiatives that engage students who are not connected to the church
• Equip students to share the gospel and live as faithful witnesses in their schools, activities, and communities
• Provide opportunities for students to participate in local and global mission efforts

Leadership & Administration

• Provide vision, leadership, and oversight for all aspects of the student ministry in alignment with RBC's mission, values, and discipleship pathway
• Plan and oversee student ministry gatherings, events, retreats, camps, and mission opportunities
• Manage ministry budgets, calendars, communications, and resources with excellence and accountability
• Collaborate with church staff and ministry leaders to advance the overall mission of RBC

Qualifications: Required

• Demonstrates a consistent and growing walk with Jesus
• Alignment with Baptist Faith & Message 2000
• Alignment with RBC Staff Core Values: Christlike, Passionate, Creative, Capable, and Cooperative
• Meets the biblical qualifications expected of church leadership
• Bachelor's degree in a ministry-related field of study
• Able to create and implement a strategy that aligns with RBC's discipleship model
• Demonstrated ability to disciple students and develop leaders
• Demonstrated ability to partner with parents in the spiritual formation of students.
• Demonstrated ability to teach on a weekly basis
• Demonstrated administrative, relational, and communication skills
• Successfully completes all required background checks and abuse prevention training

Preferred

• 3+ years of experience participating in or serving in student ministry
• Experience using ministry-related technologies used by RBC (Ministry Platform, Planning Center, ProPresenter etc.)
• Experience planning and leading retreats, camps, mission trips, and student events
• Master's Degree in a ministry-related field

Bonus Skills (Not Required)

• Experience leading worship
• Experience with social media content creation and management
• Experience serving in multiple ministry areas (children, college, missions, etc.)
• Experience supervising staff or interns