Job Overview

As a Youth Pastor at Edgewood Community Church, you'll shepherd students from 6th–12th grade through the transformative years of adolescence, equipping them to grow as disciples of Jesus. This role blends relational discipleship, team development, and gospel-centered teaching with a heart for recruiting and empowering caring adult leaders who walk alongside students. If you're passionate about partnering with parents, integrating youth into the full life of the church, and creating an environment where students experience fun, acceptance, and Christ-centered community, we invite you to fill out the interest form and help shape the next generation of disciples at Edgewood.

Job Description

Position Summary

The Youth Pastor will be responsible for all aspects of youth ministry (6th–12th grade) at the Waupun Campus. While championing Edgewood's DNA (Gospel, Community, Mission), and in partnership with parents and the congregation, his primary responsibilities will be to:

1. Recruit, equip, and multiply teams of caring Christian adults to shepherd and disciple our students.
2. Oversee the development and ensure the quality execution of our ministry to youth—integrating them into the full life of the church while ensuring age-specific discipleship and programming is effective.
3. Function as a pastor to the whole church—maintaining a broad congregational perspective and serving where needed—while directing primary focus toward the spiritual formation of our students.

Qualifications

Character

• Evidence the qualifications for spiritual leadership as found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.
• Have an authentic and growing relationship with the Lord, practicing the spiritual habits that we desire to reproduce in our ministry.
• Be teachable, humble, "hungry" for excellent ministry, and a reproducing disciple of Jesus.
• A self-starter who functions well in an environment with minimal oversight, able to creatively and effectively accomplish the work of the ministry.

Education and Experience

• An undergraduate degree with Bible training is preferred. Seminary or special training in youth ministry is a plus, being a lifelong learner is a necessity.
• At least 5 years' experience working in youth ministry is preferred. (If that experience is as a volunteer, there must be a strong recommendation from the pastor of that ministry.)
• Aligned with the EFCA Statement of Faith, credentialed (or willingness to be) by the EFCA.

Practical Skills

• A working knowledge of adolescent spiritual development.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• A proven track record of recruiting and training volunteers.
• Effective teaching skills, preferably when engaging with youth, and/or a willingness to grow in this area.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leading Teams

• Recruit caring Christian adult disciples, help them find their fit within youth ministry leadership teams, empower them to lead, and support them in their ministry roles.
• Equip teams through consistent leadership meetings for purposes of team building, planning, training, and evaluating ministry goals.
• Develop leaders one-on-one through ongoing coaching, praying, and discipling.
• Shape leadership culture by nurturing an environment where leaders are valued, heard, empowered, and appreciated.
• Develop student leadership teams with the purpose of growing student leaders and gathering student input.

Developing Programs, Events, and Biblical Teaching

• 1. In collaboration and alignment with other pastors at Edgewood, maintain a vision for discipled youth and a philosophy of ministry that informs how to encourage students toward spiritual maturity through every program and event.
• Oversee the design of weekly programs that are growing in participation, enthusiasm, and excellence as students are welcomed, shepherded, and nurtured.
• Integrate retreats, events, mission trips, local service projects, and small groups into the ongoing discipleship of students.
• Maintain rhythms of assessment and evaluation of ministry. Shape ministry culture by nurturing an environment of fun, acceptance, care, Christ-centeredness, creativity, and prayer.
• Lead the teaching ministry, teaching regularly while identifying and equipping other voices to teach. These Gospel- centered, Biblical messages should be informed by adolescent development, speak to the variety of spiritual maturity expressed by students, and encourage application.
• Cultivate relational discipleship by training leaders to initiate personal conversations with students and stepping in where pastoral presence is needed.
• Champion integrated church involvement so that the whole local body of Christ at Edgewood Waupun can grow and build itself up by the proper working of each individual part.
• Maintain an evangelistic focus by participating in community and school events—"living the gospel" in our students' world and relationally connecting with the community and unchurched students.
• Partner with parents through informative training, helpful resources, timely communication, and inviting constructive feedback.

Other Pastoral Responsibilities

• This role is fundamentally pastoral. While centered on youth ministry, the Youth Pastor serves first as a shepherd, called and equipped to care for the flock.
• As part of our broader pastoral team, the Youth Pastor will occasionally contribute to campus-wide needs such as counseling, shepherding, discipleship, outreach, and preaching-with room to lean into areas of personal giftedness.
• Partner with the congregation by finding places for youth to serve (especially in children's ministry and nursery) and by championing the integration of youth into the life of the entire church.
• Participate in staff meetings, assist in various pastoral duties (preaching as gifted, membership class, baptisms, etc.), and collaborate on overall ministry to the congregation and surrounding community.
• Provide oversight and support to our Young Adult Ministry, with a focus on helping local college-aged students and 20-somethings stay connected to Edgewood.