The Opportunity
Bowersville Church of Christ is seeking a full-time Youth and Associate Minister to lead and develop ministry to children, teenagers, young adults, and families while also serving the broader needs of the congregation.
We are a small, close-knit congregation rooted in Scripture and the principles of the Restoration Movement, with average Sunday morning worship attendance of approximately 50. We value faithful biblical teaching, personal relationships, compassionate ministry, congregational participation, and practical service within the church and community.
The person selected will serve alongside an experienced part-time Senior Minister who will provide primary preaching and pastoral leadership during this season. The Youth and Associate Minister will receive intentional mentoring in sermon preparation, teaching, pastoral care, administration, volunteer coordination, and congregational leadership.
This is not simply a youth-program position. The successful candidate will help lead youth and family ministry while becoming actively involved in the full life of the congregation.
The church hopes this arrangement will develop a capable ministry leader who may be considered for broader preaching and pastoral responsibilities in the future. Future appointment as Senior or Preaching Minister is not guaranteed and would depend upon the minister’s development, the congregation’s needs, and mutual agreement among the minister, Senior Minister, church leadership, and congregation.
Primary Responsibilities
Youth and Family Ministry
- Build meaningful, appropriate relationships with children, teenagers, young adults, parents, and families.
- Teach or coordinate age-appropriate Sunday school classes, Bible studies, youth meetings, and discipleship opportunities.
- Plan youth activities that combine biblical instruction, fellowship, service, outreach, and spiritual growth.
- Encourage participation in worship, Christian service projects, camps, retreats, conferences, and other approved activities.
- Communicate regularly with parents and seek their partnership in the spiritual development of their children.
- Recruit, equip, schedule, and encourage qualified adult volunteers.
- Help create a welcoming environment for visiting children, teenagers, young adults, and families.
- Maintain appropriate boundaries and follow all church policies and safeguards for ministry involving minors.
- Adapt ministry plans to serve both a small regular group and larger groups during Vacation Bible School, seasonal programs, camps, and special events.
Preaching, Teaching, and Ministry Development
- Meet regularly with the Senior Minister for planning, prayer, feedback, mentoring, and ministry development.
- Preach periodically during Sunday worship according to an agreed schedule.
- Prepare biblically grounded sermons, devotionals, lessons, and teaching materials.
- Teach adult classes or lead congregational studies when appropriate. Develop practical ability in biblical interpretation, sermon preparation, public speaking, pastoral care, administration, volunteer development, and church leadership.
- Participate in sermon review and constructive feedback with the Senior Minister and designated church leaders.
- Gradually assume additional preaching, teaching, pastoral, and leadership responsibilities as readiness and congregational needs warrant.
- Demonstrate teachability, humility, reliability, and a desire for continued spiritual and professional growth.
Pastoral Care and Congregational Ministry
- Participate in hospital, nursing home, homebound, crisis, bereavement, and general member visitation.
- Provide prayer, encouragement, and appropriate spiritual support while maintaining confidentiality and healthy ministry boundaries.
- Assist with baptisms, funerals, weddings, and other services as authorized and as experience permits.
- Build relationships with members of all ages rather than limiting involvement to youth activities.
- Welcome visitors and assist new attendees in becoming connected with the congregation.
- Attend regular worship services, relevant leadership meetings, and major congregational activities.
- Support congregational unity and work cooperatively with the Senior Minister, elders, board members, parents, teachers, and volunteers.
Ministry Leadership and Church Operations
- Help plan and coordinate outreach efforts, fellowship activities, seasonal programs, service projects, and congregational events.
- Recruit and equip members for ministry rather than personally performing every task.
- Help coordinate ministry calendars, announcements, volunteer schedules, facility use, supplies, and event readiness.
- Maintain appropriate ministry, calendar, attendance, expense, and activity records.
- Provide reasonable reports to authorized church leadership without unnecessarily disclosing private pastoral information.
- Represent the congregation positively within the community and identify practical ways to connect local families with the church.
- Carry out approved responsibilities within the church’s budget, policies, governing documents, and leadership structure.
- Obtain authorization before committing church funds, entering agreements, changing established programs, or issuing official public statements.
Desired Qualifications
- Demonstrate a sincere commitment to Jesus Christ and mature Christian character.
- Regard the Bible as the inspired and authoritative Word of God.
- Believe and teach in harmony with Scripture and the principles of the Restoration Movement.
- Support New Testament practices that include believer’s baptism by immersion, regular observance of the Lord’s Supper, congregational life, and biblical church leadership.
- Demonstrate a genuine calling to youth and family ministry along with an interest in preaching and broader congregational ministry.
- Relate appropriately and effectively with children, teenagers, parents, volunteers, older adults, and people from varied backgrounds.
- Demonstrate the ability or potential to prepare and deliver clear, thoughtful, biblically sound sermons and lessons.
- Be willing to receive mentoring, correction, feedback, and progressively greater responsibility.
- Be dependable, approachable, organized, and able to communicate clearly.
- Exercise sound judgment, confidentiality, and appropriate personal and ministry boundaries.
- Work collaboratively and recruit, encourage, and equip volunteers.
- Possess ministry education, training, or Education from a college or ministry program associated with the Restoration Movement is preferred. Current ministry students and candidates with equivalent education or practical ministry experience are encouraged to apply.
Screening and Practical Requirements
- Satisfactory ministry and personal references.
- Successful background screening appropriate for ministry involving minors.
- Verification of relevant education, ordination, commissioning, ministry experience, and employment history.
- A valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record if church-related transportation is assigned.
- Agreement with the church’s doctrinal and ministry expectations.
Employment, Compensation, and Housing
Employment status: Full-time ministerial position.
Expected start date: Negotiable.
Compensation: A competitive salary appropriate for a congregation of our size.
Housing: Use of a church-owned parsonage may be available as part of the compensation arrangement.
Benefits: Vacation and other benefits to be discussed during the interview process.
Reporting relationship: The Youth and Associate Minister will coordinate regularly with the Senior Minister and remain accountable to the church’s authorized leadership for doctrine, conduct, compensation, and overall ministry responsibilities.
Review process: Formal ministry reviews are anticipated at approximately 90 days, six months, and annually, with expectations and development goals documented in writing.
How to Apply
- Interested candidates should submit:
- A current résumé describing ministry, education, employment, and volunteer experience.
- A brief statement of faith and understanding of the Restoration Movement.
- A short explanation of the candidate’s interest in youth and family ministry, associate ministry, and future preaching development.
- Links to or recordings of recent sermons, lessons, or devotionals, if available.
- Three references, including at least one minister, elder, professor, or other church leader.
- Information regarding availability, relocation needs, and anticipated start date.
SEND APPLICATION MATERIALS TO:
Roger Howard
Email: [email protected]
OR
Bowersville Church of Christ
3138 Maysville Street, PO Box 337, Bowersville, Ohio 45307
Telephone: (937) 367-0494
Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Selected candidates will be contacted for additional conversations, interviews, reference review, and opportunities to preach or teach.