Key Responsibilities:
- Cast vision and provide leadership for all Next Gen ministries, including RiverKids (birth–5th grade) and River Students (6th–12th grade)
- Design and implement a clear, scalable discipleship pathway from nursery through high school graduation
- Oversee Sunday morning environments for children, ensuring safe, engaging, and spiritually rich experiences
- Assess and develop a sustainable student ministry model that integrates teens into the broader life of the church
- Recruit, train, and develop volunteers across all Next Gen ministries, building a healthy leadership pipeline
- Partner with parents through resources, events, and communication strategies that strengthen family discipleship at home
- Supervise existing ministry leaders, including the Nursery Coordinator, and collaborate closely with church staff and elders
- Plan and execute ministry events that foster connection and spiritual growth among families and students
Requirements
- A leader who has done kids or students well in one lane and is ready to own the entire birth-through-graduation arc for the first time.
- A player-coach, not just a strategist. This person will build the systems and also be in the room. Able to conduct the band while playing in it.
- Relationally gifted more than platform-gifted. Teaching ability is welcome, but asking students good questions and knowing their parents’ names matters more here than a dynamic upfront presence.
- The River is a place where people process failure together rather than fake wholeness, and this person should be open about their own healing journey and at home alongside others in the middle of theirs.
Why We Love This Opportunity
Authenticity isn’t just a stated value, it’s how the staff actually operate with each other which extends to a church that genuinely wants to love and serve people from every ethnic and economic background. There’s real freedom here to try things, learn honestly, and build something new without the pressure of simply hitting attendance numbers. For a kids or student ministry leader who’s ready to take a broader seat and create a complete discipleship pathway, this is a great opportunity
About The River
The River is a church in the River’s Edge district of downtown Kalamazoo with a passion to reach the least, the lost, and the lonely with the transformational gospel of Jesus. The River seeks to be a place where people can sit under the waterfall of grace. You don’t have to have everything figured out; in fact, we believe no one does. Instead we seek together to Belong, Believe, and Become. Belong to a community of imperfect people focused on loving one another with authentic relationships. Believe in the life-saving power of grace thru Jesus. Become more like Jesus by training to live life in a way that honors and brings Him glory.
About Kalamazoo
“Kalamazoo is truly a place for everyone with the best of beautiful west Michigan outdoor living, historic creative industry (birthplace of Gibson Guitars, Checker Cabs, Bell’s Brewery, and more!), and innovative thinking from leaders in fields like education (WMU), medicine (Bronson, Beacon), design, and hospitality. Anyone can feel “at home” in this perfectly sized city.”
Nate Scott – Worship & Connections Pastor
