Qualifications: someone who loves the Lord and enjoys working with junior high and/or high school age kids. Strong organizational skills needed as the person will need to plan events and then contact folks (kids and parents) through email, phone, etc.
Two guiding principles: 1) Availability. The youth pastor needs to be the youth's pastor. These kids need to know someone is there to listen to them and help them with things they are going through. That's why we are looking for a young person to step into this role, because the kids will be able to identify with him or her. This doesn't mean having all the answers or being the perfect Christian. But it does mean being a person of integrity, who respects the kids and has an open heart. The ability to listen is more important than "having all the answers." 2) Creativity. Have fun; try new things. The youth pastor will be given a lot of freedom in developing programs and events, and the pastor will support them. There are many in congregation who want this to succeed, who will assist in many ways.
Right now, we do not have any kind of program. We do have Confirmation and a Junior High Sunday School class. Thus, at first, the youth pastor needs to make contact and create fun events to try and get some interest and participation. These things do not have to be at the church; in fact might be better if in Brenham or even College Station.
Time commitment: We have a vision that our youth pastor would come out once a week (not necessarily during worship time; probably some evening) to lead some activity. In addition to the drive time, the event might last 1-3 hours. About 20 hours per month. But longer events might be needed every once in a while like lock-ins. The other part is being available by phone and email, which will grow as more kids get involved.
We will pay a stipend (if doing an event every week, likely $300 per month) as well as mileage for travel (IRS rate, currently $0.585 per mile). This is negotiable and we will be open to modifying things based on how things progress.
For more information you can call or email Pastor Ron Trimmer at 936-878-2155 or pastor@friedenschurch.com
You can send your letter of introduction and resume to the email address above
or mail it to:
Friedens Church of Washington, UCC
P.O. Box 306
Washington, TX 77880