Student Ministries Pastor (Youth Pastor)

Job Overview

Neighborhood Church (Anderson, CA) is seeking a full-time Student Ministries Pastor to lead our High School Ministry, while providing supportive oversight to Junior High and Children's Ministry leaders.

Job Description

Our Church

Neighborhood Church of Anderson/Cottonwood is a healthy, growing, non-denominational, Gospel‑centered, elder‑led, theologically Reformed congregation of over 400 people located in Anderson, California (south of Redding). Our mission is to grow a community that knows, loves, and shares Jesus—both here at home and around the world.

We're eager to invest in a vibrant student ministry within a church community that cares deeply about the next generation and is committed to making disciples and reaching the lost. At Neighborhood Church, you'll join our team of pastors and ministry leaders who value collaboration, offer encouragement and prayer, and want to see you thrive both personally and in ministry. We're committed to coming alongside you with the mentorship, resources, and support you need to develop as a pastor, build meaningful relationships, and lead a fruitful ministry.

Our Location

Nestled in far Northern California, the Anderson/Cottonwood area offers the best of friendly, small-town life, with a relatively affordable cost of living compared to much of the state. You'll enjoy all the practical conveniences of nearby Redding, while keeping the great outdoors close at hand. The Sacramento River, Whiskeytown Lake, Shasta Lake, and nearby mountains, forests, and trails offer abundant opportunities for fishing, boating, hiking, camping, and hunting. Whether you thrive on outdoor adventure or simply appreciate a family-friendly culture, this is a wonderful place to live, serve, and call home.

Your Ministry Role

The Student Ministries Pastor is a full‑time pastoral role centered on leading our High School Ministry, while also providing supportive oversight to our Junior High and Children's Ministry leaders.

Leadership of High School Ministry (Approx. 75% of Time):

Leadership & Vision

• Spread and implement a vision for student ministry that aligns with our church's mission
• Recruit, train, and shepherd volunteer youth leaders
• Cultivate student leaders, equipping them to serve and build up the body of Christ

Discipleship & Teaching

• Lead weekly High School Youth Group (midweek) and High School Sunday School
• Teach biblical truth faithfully, clearly, and in ways that engage teens
• Invest in 1‑on‑1 discipleship relationships with male students
• Provide pastoral care for students, while partnering with parents in guiding their teens

Community & Outreach

• Enlarge relationship opportunities through a presence at local school and community events
• Engage unchurched youth through outreach opportunities
• Encourage students to participate in the broader life of the church

Ministry Coordination

• Coordinate a calendar of events (outreach, service projects, retreats, mission trips)
• Ensure clear communication with students and parents regarding opportunities and events
• Use social media and technology to support ministry goals

Oversight of Jr. High & Children's Ministries (Approx. 25% of Time):

• Serve as the pastoral point‑person for our Junior High and Children's Ministries, supporting and encouraging the volunteer leaders who run these ministries
• Foster unity, communication, and shared vision across all student ministries
• Assist leaders by checking in regularly, troubleshooting challenges, securing needed resources, collaborating in volunteer recruitment, and strategizing for healthy ministry growth

Attributes and Qualifications We'd Expect

• Mature and Godly Character: Meets the biblical qualifications for pastoral leadership, exhibiting humility, spiritual maturity, and a life above reproach.
• Biblical Competence and Teaching Ability: Holds to sound hermeneutics, teaches expository, Gospel-centered lessons tailored to teens, and aligns with our Statement of Faith.
• Heart for Reaching and Discipling Teens: Builds natural rapport with a diverse cross-section of students, with an active commitment to 1-on-1 discipleship and local and global evangelism.
• Creative and Visionary Leadership: Leads with initiative, optimistic faith, and creative problem-solving, pursuing both spiritual depth and numerical growth.
• Joyful and Collaborative Spirit: Serves joyfully under the leadership of the Elder Team, while actively empowering volunteers and partnering with parents.

Our Expectation of All Pastors

• Set a godly example both inside and outside church activities
• Pursue ongoing personal spiritual growth and vocational development
• Engage fully in congregational life (attending Sunday services, joining an adult small group, and participating in church-wide events)
• Invest an average of 45 hours per week in ministry and church-related events
• Serve collaboratively with others to support broader church ministry needs as they arise

Our Compensation Package

• Salary: For 2027, our pastoral salary scale ranges from $58,600 (first year of full-time ministry experience) to $97,800 (25+ years of full-time ministry experience).
• Benefits: Our church provides additional stipends for medical insurance and retirement contributions.
• Time Off: 10–20 vacation days annually, depending on experience. Eight paid calendar holidays. Up to 10 paid sick days per year.