Overview
The Director of Youth Ministries & Missions serves full-time to assist the church in accomplishing its mission to reflect the grace of God in how we welcome, love, and serve the world and one another. The position ensures that Grace’s programs for youth and their parents, young adults and ministries of community engagement and mission are sustainably structured, aligned with our mission and vision, and executed with excellence.

Qualifications and Characteristics:
● College degree in Christian Ministry, Education, Psychology, Social Work or a related field; specific training and experience in youth ministry is preferred.
● Passion for ministry with youth, young adults, and missions that spurs engagement and growth.
● Skill in developing, implementing, and leading discipleship programs for youth and their parents.
● Experience in developing, implementing and leading church-wide mission initiatives.
● Highly organized and effective leadership, administration and communication skills.
● Experience in designing and/or maintaining volunteer systems, databases, calendars, etc.
● Authenticity and integrity that reflect Christian values and the Fruits of the Spirit.

Responsibilities:
The Director of Youth Ministries & Missions will ensure a high quality and innovative faith formation program for youth (grades 6-12) and young adults and engage these groups into the total ministry of the church. This person will also oversee and serve as staff liaison for Grace mission initiatives.

● Develop the Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the church to ensure effectiveness in promoting the mission and vision of Grace UMC and to build authentic Christian faith.
○ Oversee and evaluate current programs and develop new opportunities as needs arise to meet the spiritual formation needs of young people at the church.
○ Work with the Youth Ministry Team to develop a comprehensive discipleship program through worship, friendship, study, service, and fun that:
■ Engage youth in worship leadership that promotes faith development
■ Provide opportunities to serve in the church and community
■ Build authentic relationships through fun and fellowship
○ Select curriculum and oversee the development and execution of all youth ministry opportunities to include an annual confirmation class.
○ Establish and/or maintain annual budgets, gameplans, preventative maintenance calendar, program calendar, major event notebooks, and a database to track engagement.
○ Work with communications staff to maintain an updated website and communicate effectively with youth and their families.

● Serve as a spiritual leader for young people at Grace and build relationships with them.
○ Offer counsel to youth and young adults in personal or spiritual crises. Work with families to address difficult situations with support from the pastors.
○ As possible, demonstrate care by visiting youth or by attending various important life events – e.g., sporting events, plays, scouting ceremonies, graduations, etc.
○ Equip volunteers to build these relationships with youth and young adults.

● Recruit, train and supervise youth ministry and mission volunteers.
○ Meet regularly with the Youth Ministry Team and communicate regularly with adult volunteers and student leaders to support their engagement with the ministry.
○ Work with the Director of Children & Family Ministries to regularly update and ensure implementation of the Children, Youth and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policies.

● Coordinate mission engagement.
○ Lead the Mission Coordination Team in their efforts to support mission efforts at Grace to include working in conjunction with the Financial Manager on missions budget process.
○ Coordinate seasonal mission collections to engage Grace in serving the local community.
○ Work collaboratively to lead (or secure leadership for) youth and young adult service opportunities in both intergenerational and age-specific missions throughout the year.
○ Coordinate and oversee local mission/mission trip opportunities for people of all ages.
○ Serve as staff support and liaison for the ESL (English as a Second Language) Ministry, Transition Ministry, and other local partnerships, such as GTS (Georgetown South).

● Oversee outreach to college students and oversee young adult ministry.
○ Communicate regularly with college students through social media and mailings to connect them with the church and support them in their studies.
○ Connect students with each other and the congregation during breaks from school.
○ Oversee young adult ministry and engagement at Grace by resourcing lay leadership.
○ Over time, equip volunteers to build and maintain these relationships with youth and young adults in college/after graduation.

● Advocate for Youth, Young Adults & Missions in the whole ministry of the church.
○ Work collegially with staff to collaborate in these ministry areas.
○ Provide reports to the leadership board to keep these leaders up to date on these areas.
○ Participate in quarterly supervisory check-ins and an annual review.
○ Work to ensure youth and young adult participation on the Grace Leadership Board and in worship leadership (through Youth Sunday as well as regular worship).
○ Work in collaboration with the Director of Children & Family Ministries to bridge rising 6th graders into youth ministry and provide mission opportunities for children/families.
○ Provide leadership and consultation for churchwide/seasonal events.
○ Collaborate with the Director of Senior Adult Ministries and Director of Children and Families on all intergenerational ministry opportunities.

● Coordinate outreach efforts to invite and welcome new youth and young adults.
○ Create and maintain an environment of acceptance and inclusion so that youth and young adults of all backgrounds and abilities experience the love and grace of God.
○ Develop evangelistic opportunities to welcome and invite young people in the church’s surrounding region to engage with Grace.

To apply, please submit a resume with a cover letter to Rev. Jessica Lunsford by email.