Snapshot

Denomination: Evangelical Free Church of America Reformed

Weekly Attendance:  120

Location: Jacksonville, FL

The Role: Director of Youth

Meet Eastside Community Church:

Welcome to Eastside Community Church. We are an oasis on Beach Boulevard for all people. We are inviting all to know Christ and to make Him known. 

We are here because of the good news of Jesus Christ. We are sinners who have been rescued from sin by Jesus Christ. Though we have different backgrounds, ethnicities, opinions, and personalities, we find commonality in the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We gather each week to worship the one true God revealed in the Bible. We're grateful for the privilege He has given us to worship, live, and serve in our local community. We rely on God's grace to give us true unity to function together as one body in Jesus Christ, submitted to the Word of God and committed to living that Word out in our daily lives.

About the Director of Youth:

The Director of Youth Ministry will be responsible for overseeing, developing, and growing the Youth Ministry of Eastside Community Church. He will also serve to assist the pastoral staff in general duties as needed. We are looking for a qualified male candidate who can serve in an Evangelical, Reformed, Complementarian, Credobaptistic, Congregational church. We are a church in good standing in the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA).

The Director of Youth's Responsibilities Include: 

• Oversee the vision and direction of the ministry to middle school and high school students.

• Oversee the teaching and discipleship of the youth.

• Communicate with parents on a regular basis regarding details of upcoming events.

• Seek to positively influence parents of youth and encourage them to attend Eastside Community Church.

• Recognize, equip, and empower adults to serve and lead in the youth ministry.

• Oversee the planning and execution of all youth events including but not limited to weekly classes, service projects, retreats, and mission trips.

• Plan and lead fun and safe events for youth.

• Be available to meet with students as needed for counseling and encouragement.

• Seek to involve youth and adults in the creative use of video, music, art, and other tools to enhance the ministry to youth.

• Develop ongoing relationships with parents of the students.

• Advise the elders and the pastor regarding issues related to youth ministry.

• Be willing to receive leadership development from pastoral staff.

• Be willing to assist pastoral staff with various administrative duties.

What You Bring: 

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Director of Youth:

Education & Experience

• Must have an undergraduate or graduate degree in ministry, including formal training in Bible, Theology, or have related life and ministry skills

• 3-5 yrs. of related experience, preferred

Personal Characteristics & Qualifications

• Must exhibit a vibrant personal walk with Jesus Christ through personal devotion and active service in Christ’s Kingdom and the local church.

• Must fulfill the qualifications for the Deacon listed in Scripture (1 Tim. 3:8-13), although not a deacon.

• Must have tremendous personal character and impeccable integrity.

• Must actively participate in either Community Groups or Christian Education and serve on Sunday mornings.

• Must be a faithful member in good standing in his current local church and must become a member of Eastside Community Church upon being hired as Director of Youth Ministry.

• Must exhibit a growing relationship of loving leadership with his wife and children, including a willingness to schedule quality time with his family.

• Must be in agreement with Eastside Community Church’s Doctrinal Statement, by-laws, mission, philosophy of ministry, vision, and core values.

• Must have a passion to see youth won to Christ and grow in Christ.

• Must exhibit a desire to maintain unity within the leadership team concerning the essentials.

• Must exhibit a teachable heart and the ability to receive instruction and admonition in both his Christian walk and job performance.

• Must be willing to pursue further formal or informal training in ministry skills as needed.

• Must be a highly energetic self-starter who takes initiative but is simultaneously submissive to Lead Pastor’s leadership.

What it's Like to Live in Jacksonville, FL: 

Welcome to Jacksonville, FL, a city that averages 270 days of sunshine per year. With a strong local economy, gorgeous weather, and booming housing market, more people are relocating to Jacksonville than ever before, including many young adults and families, providing many opportunities for fruitful ministry. As the 12th most populous city in the United States, Jacksonville is also Florida’s youngest city with an average age of 36, six years younger than the Florida average age of 42. 

As a city, but more importantly as a church, we love and support our military community. The military employs over 30,000 active-duty personnel and nearly 20,000 civilians throughout the area and serves as the largest employer in Duval County.

Jacksonville is paradise for anyone who enjoys the beach, with 20 miles of wide and uncrowded beaches, close to 40 miles of the tranquil Intracoastal Waterway canal, and the longest stretch of the beautiful St. Johns River. Jacksonville residents are also able to enjoy the largest urban park system in the nation with over 80,000 acres of parks.

On the cultural scene, Jacksonville hosts many major festivals like the popular Jacksonville Jazz Festival, but also smaller attractions such as art walks, markets, and museums spread across town. Sports fans can catch a game for the Jaguars (NFL), Jumbo Shrimp (Minor League Baseball), and the Icemen (ECHL).

Aside from everything our city has to offer, Jacksonville is also just a short drive from other popular destinations such as Orlando, Savannah, Hilton Head, Charleston, and Atlanta.

Think you're a great fit for this role? Become a candidate below.