Job Profile

Director of Children’s Ministries

The Director of Children’s Ministries is responsible for developing and implementing a plan that ministers the good news of Jesus Christ to the children of ForestView and the broader community. The objective is to provide innovative ministry that nurtures love for God, deeper faith and resolve to serve and live for Him. This role should focus on children ages 0-11 (Grade 5) and provide leadership for Sunday morning, mid-week and summer ministry programs.

The Director of Children’s Ministries should be friendly, enthusiastic, outgoing and possess the gift of inspiring others to leadership.

The Director of Children’s Ministries will promote and maintain overall vision for the ministry, consistent with ForestView’s broader vision and goals.

Personal Description & Qualifications

  • Deep, personal faith and relationship with Jesus Christ, an earnest devotional life and solid commitment to the authority of Scripture
  • Dedication to communicating to our children that they are valued; providing them with instruction from God’s word; nurturing them in love; modeling our faith; and encouraging their participation and integration into the life of the church
  • Strong leadership and communication skills
  • Warm, encouraging personality that connects well with children
  • Ability to teach others using both traditional and non-traditional methods
  • Ability to mobilize, lead, manage and coach people
  • Familiarity with current theories of child development and the importance of providing differentiated programming based on developmental stages as they relate to ministry
  • Related post-secondary education and ministryexperience, preferably
  • Good organizational and time management skills

Vision & Strategic Development

  • Develop a compelling vision for children’s ministry that is consistent with Scripture and ForestView’s core values and broader sense of mission
  • Effectively communicate vision to Leadership Team, staff, teachers/assistants, parents and children
  • Devise a plan of action to realize the vision
  • Align vision and plan with Youth Pastor to ensure seamless transition from Children’s Ministries into Youth Ministries

Mobilization

  • Identify and recruit people who love children and are gifted to serve them
  • Inspire, encourage, coach and develop those who serve
  • Provide the needed resources and support for teachers/assistants to minister effectively
  • Schedule teachers/assistantsand assign responsibilities so the ministry is adequately resourced
  • Cultivate a spirit of oneness and common purpose among those serving

Program

  • Develop fun, innovative, interactive and attractive programmingthat seeks to introduce children to Jesus and grow their faith
  • Findand develop curriculum that effectively communicates Biblical truth and disciples children
  • Create a structure where every child has a consistent person who connects regularly and pursues relationship with them
  • Ensure that worship is a meaningful part of the program, both in practice and through intentional teaching of principles and forms of worship
  • Create meaningful opportunities for children to engage with the broader ForestView community
  • Develop programming that provides opportunities for children to serve others
  • Develop programming that includes and extends the love of God to the children of our local community
  • Devise and implement creative midweek and summer program opportunities that draw and engage children from both ForestView and broader community
  • Produce a Christmas program to be presented on a Sunday morning during Advent that involves children from both Upstreet and Quest programs

Pastoral Care

  • Pray for the personal needs of children, families and teachers/assistants
  • Intentionally reach out to and nurture relationships with children, families and teachers/assistants
  • Plan to meet individually with each volunteer on an annual basis, bi-annually for those in key positions
  • Connect personally with each family on an annual basis
  • Disciple teachers/assistants and children
  • Provide a compassionate and listening ear to children, teachers/assistants and families
  • Offer spiritual direction and counsel to those in distress, and refer to others when appropriate

Safety and Security

  • Ensure that all volunteer security clearances are complete and up to date in accordance with our Plan to Protect policy
  • Employ effective group management practices and strategies to ensure a safe and comfortable learning environment for children in all program and activities
  • Develop efficient sign in and sign out procedures to ensure the safety of our children

Accountability

  • The Director of Children’s Ministries reports directly to the Lead Pastor, and will meet with the Lead Pastor on a regular basis to review and discuss ministry plans, initiatives, targets and status
  • All staff including the Director of Children’s Ministries are accountable to the Leadership Team (Board of Elders), and will meet with the Leadership Team on a periodic basis for planning and review
  • Arrange bi-monthly meetings with a support team (possibly comprised of a few parents and key ministry volunteers) to ensure that the vision is being realized, share information and encourage one another.

Time Commitment

  • This is a Full-time position currently requiring a commitment of 40 hours per week
  • An office will be provided at the church building and it is expected that regular responsibilities will be carried out at this location

Probationary Period

At the end of 6 months, performance and progress will be reviewed before confirming commitment to ongoing employment. The assessment will be mutual.

Note:

This profile will serve as a basis for initial conversation with candidates expressing interest in filling the position of Director of Children’s Ministries at ForestViewChurch. However further discussion may lead to revisions before this document becomes the official job description. Changes will be mutually agreed to.

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