The Local Church is looking for a dynamic Student Ministry Pastor to connect middle and high school students, as well as their families, to Jesus and one another. In this pivotal role, you will serve as the primary communicator, leading the effort in transforming students into deeply rooted disciples. You will move beyond the church walls by partnering with parents, schools, and coaches to build a community-engaged ministry that bridges the gap between home and youth group. Ultimately, we are looking for a next-level leader to establish strong foundational systems, develop volunteer teams, and cultivate a ministry that serves as the perfect place for imperfect people to experience the presence of God.
Key Responsibilities:
- You will develop and lead engaging weekly large group worship experiences and Connect Groups that guide middle and high school students into deeper discipleship.
- You will actively recruit, equip, and train a dedicated team of adult Serve Team Members to help reach students for Jesus and build a culture of student leadership.
- You will build foundational structures, systems, and processes to support the ministry and bridge the operational gap caused by our church’s recent rapid growth.
- You will build strategic partnerships with parents, equipping and supporting them as they lead their students’ spiritual development at home.
- You will develop meaningful connections within local schools, partnering with coaches and administration to reach students on their own campuses with the Good News of Jesus.
- You will plan, schedule, and coordinate dynamic events, including mission trips, summer camps, and regular social retreats.
- You will create and maintain an inclusive, inviting environment that specifically welcomes and engages students with special needs.
- You will collaborate closely with other church departments, such as the creative team, to ensure the student ministry shares resources and thrives as part of our highly familial and collaborative staff.
Requirements
- A leader who is sold out for student ministry and is looking to plant deep long-term roots rather than utilizing the position as a resume builder or a stepping stone.
- A proven discipler who possesses a clear track record of multiplying their ministry impact and investing deeply in students, parents, and adult volunteer leaders.
- A strategic developer of leaders with demonstrated success in actively recruiting, training, equipping, and retaining high-trust adult volunteer teams.
- An engaging and dynamic communicator who can confidently connect the truth of the Gospel to a large room of diverse middle and high school students.
- Someone who comfortably aligns with the church’s broad, non-denominational evangelical convictions, including an apolitical pulpit and an ordered, biblical approach to the gifts of the Spirit.
Why We Love This Opportunity
This is a rare opportunity to step into a student ministry that possesses an incredibly passionate student core, an active student-led worship culture, and a distinct presence within local high schools. You will be fully supported by a non-siloed, lead team that values your leadership, provides consistent feedback, and actively protects your personal family time. Furthermore, the church’s ongoing building campaign will eliminate current space constraints by providing dedicated weekend environments tailored specifically for youth development and future Sunday options. It is a thrilling landscape for an organized builder to implement foundational systems and scale a relational ministry in a rapidly growing church.
About The Local Church
The Local Church is a non-denominational evangelical congregation in the heart of South Florida that first planted in 2012, then merged in 2016 before officially becoming The Local Church in 2019. The merger brought together an established, older congregation in West Broward County, FL and a thriving church plant that was meeting in an elementary school. Under the leadership of Pastor Eric, our original church planter, we blended these two families into a unified community defined by our shared mission: to be the perfect place for imperfect people to experience the presence of God.
God has been incredibly gracious to us, and we have experienced explosive growth, even being named one of Outreach’s fastest-growing churches twice. Today, we welcome roughly 1,600 attendees across five weekend services. Because our facilities have become a limitation, we are currently a year into a building campaign to expand our property to make room for the people God is continuing to bring.
Culturally, our church has recently shifted from a primary focus on outreach to a deep commitment to discipleship. We operate on the core belief that every single member of our church is meant to be a “pastor, priest, missionary, minister”. Our staff of 18 operates as a highly collaborative, familial team where ministries do not exist on isolated islands, and we are excited to welcome a new leader who shares our heart for this community.
About Davie
The Local Church serves the diverse and vibrant communities of West Broward County, Florida, drawing families from prominent local hubs like Weston, Davie, and Hollywood. The area provides a phenomenal, high-energy setting to raise a family, offering a rich cultural melting pot heavily influenced by Latin American, South American, African American, and islander populations. Families are drawn to the region’s top-tier local schools, active community sports leagues, and excellent standard of living.
