Kids' Pastor

Job Description

JOIN OUR TEAM

Bethel Christian Church is seeking a passionate and visionary Kids' Pastor who loves Jesus, loves kids, and is called to equip the next generation of disciples. This is an exciting opportunity to join a healthy, growing church with a strong commitment to kids and families. If you are energized by building teams, partnering with parents, and creating environments where kids encounter God, we'd love to hear from you. We believe one of the greatest investments a church can make is in the next generation. We are looking for a leader who shares that conviction and is excited to help kids know Jesus, experience the Holy Spirit, and become lifelong disciples.

OVERVIEW

The Kids' Pastor provides visionary leadership and pastoral care for the kids' ministry (birth through 5th grade) of Bethel Christian Church. This individual will lead a Christ-centered ministry that partners with parents, develops volunteers, creates engaging environments, and helps kids become lifelong followers of Jesus. The Kids' Pastor serves as a member of the pastoral staff and works collaboratively with the church leadership team to fulfill the mission of Bethel Christian Church.

Bethel Kids currently serves kids from birth through fifth grade during Sunday morning and Wednesday evening ministries. Our ministry is supported by a committed volunteer team and continues to grow as our church reaches new families. We are looking for a leader who can build on this strong foundation and help us take the next step.

The Kids' Pastor is responsible for leading every aspect of Bethel Kids Ministry. This includes creating excellent weekend experiences, equipping parents, recruiting and developing volunteers, providing pastoral leadership to kids and families, and building a ministry where every child can know Jesus and grow in their faith.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• Kids growing in their relationship with Jesus.
• Parents feeling equipped to disciple their kids.
• Volunteers who are recruited, trained, and thriving.
• Safe, excellent, and welcoming ministry environments.
• New families connecting into the life of Bethel.
• A healthy and growing culture of discipleship within Bethel Kids.
• Foster a culture of excellence in every kids' ministry space.

CHURCH INFORMATION

Bethel Christian Church is an Assemblies of God congregation located in the Cleveland, Ohio area with a growing and vibrant multi-generational and multicultural ministry. We are passionate about helping people encounter Jesus, grow in biblical discipleship, and impact our community with the hope of the Gospel.

Bethel Christian Church has a healthy staff culture. We enjoy serving together, encourage one another, and believe ministry is healthiest when done as a team. The Kids' Pastor will work closely with the Lead Pastor as a valued member of a collaborative pastoral team committed to reaching our community and making disciples.

Bethel Christian Church averages approximately 250 people in weekly worship and is experiencing healthy growth as God continues to bring new families to our church. We believe the next generation is not merely the future of the Church—they are an important part of the Church today. One of our Guiding Values is that We Are Invested in the Next Generation! We are a church that values the next generation, mentoring them to become fully developed disciples and affirming them as they step into their calling.

Bethel Christian Church is also home to Bethel Christian Academy, a thriving Christian school serving approximately 200 students from three-year-old preschool through eighth grade. While the Kids' Pastor's primary responsibility is the church's kids' ministry, the academy provides unique opportunities to build relationships with students and families, participate in chapel services, partner with faculty and staff, and minister to kids and families throughout the week. This close partnership between the church and academy creates daily ministry opportunities that extend far beyond Sunday mornings.

Mission

• Following Jesus. Loving Others. Making Him Known.

Vision

• Spirit-driven disciples sharing hope in our community.

Guiding Values

• Empowered by the Spirit
• Grounded in the Word
• Invested in the Next Generation
• Unified in Relationships
• Committed to Outreach

Located just minutes from downtown Cleveland, Parma is one of the largest suburbs in Northeast Ohio. Our community offers excellent neighborhoods, affordable housing, outstanding parks, and convenient access to professional sports, museums, Lake Erie, the Cleveland Metroparks, and a vibrant food scene. More than 700,000 people live within ten miles of our campus, providing tremendous opportunity for ministry.

KIDS’ MINISTRY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Provide vision, direction, and oversight for the entire kids' ministry.
• Develop ministry strategies that align with the church's mission and vision.
• Build, develop, and shepherd a thriving volunteer culture.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and encourage ministry volunteers.
• Lead regular volunteer meetings and training opportunities.
• Champion a culture of safety by ensuring all child protection policies are followed and regularly evaluated.

Weekend Ministry

• Plan and oversee all Sunday morning kids' ministry environments.
• Ensure lessons are biblically sound, engaging, and age-appropriate.
• Maintain safe, welcoming, and excellent ministry environments.
• Oversee classroom setup, supplies, curriculum, and technology.

Midweek Ministry

• Lead and develop Wednesday evening kids' ministry.
• Develop an engaging ministry where kids experience worship, biblical teaching, discipleship, prayer, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Family Ministry

• Equip parents to become the primary spiritual leaders of their kids.
• Maintain regular communication with families.
• Provide pastoral care to kids and parents during times of celebration or crisis.
• Support child dedications, baptisms, and family milestones.

Volunteer Development

• Recruit and onboard new volunteers.
• Conduct volunteer orientation and ongoing training.
• Provide coaching, encouragement, and appreciation.
• Ensure all volunteers complete required background checks and safety training.

Administration

• Manage ministry budget.
• Maintain attendance records and volunteer schedules.
• Oversee curriculum selection and purchasing.
• Ensure compliance with church child safety policies.

Outreach

• Lead outreach events designed to reach kids and families.
• Current outreach events include: Good Friday Camp and Back to School Blast
• Develop strategies to connect new families to church life.

CHURCH-WIDE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participate in weekly staff meetings.
• Attend worship services and church-wide events.
• Support the overall mission and ministry of Bethel Christian Church.
• Collaborate with other ministry departments.
• Assist with special events as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Lead Pastor.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• A bachelor's degree in ministry, biblical studies, education, or a related field is preferred.
• Assemblies of God ministerial credentials (or willingness to pursue credentials).

Experience

• Three or more years of experience leading kids' ministry or a comparable ministry leadership role is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit and develop volunteer teams.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills.
• Effective communicator with kids, parents, and volunteers.
• Ability to plan, organize, and execute ministry events.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and common ministry software (Planning Center, ProPresenter, church management systems, and digital communication tools), or the ability to learn them quickly.

Personal & Spiritual Qualifications

• Demonstrate a growing, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Fully support the doctrine and values of the Assemblies of God and Bethel Christian Church.
• Exhibit spiritual maturity, humility, integrity, and teachability.
• Be called to kids’ ministry and passionate about reaching the next generation.
• Model biblical leadership in personal and family life.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through vision rather than simply managing programs.
• Work well within a collaborative staff culture.
• Display strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Be dependable, flexible, and self-motivated.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS & SCHEDULE

Reports Directly To: Lead Pastor

Supervises: Kids' Ministry volunteers and interns

Status: Full-time

Typical Schedule:

• Sunday morning worship services
• Wednesday evening ministry
• Weekly office hours (Generally Monday through Thursday)
• Monday morning staff meetings
• Special events and seasonal ministry activities

We believe the next generation matters because every child matters to God. If God is calling you to invest in the next generation and you are excited to help kids and families discover the hope found in Jesus, we would love to hear from you. To apply, please submit your resume and a brief cover letter to: Pastor James Galbraith pastorjames@mybcfamily.com