The Middle School Pastoris a compassionate shepherd who prioritizes authentic relationships and genuine connection over simply running a program. At the heart of this role is a passion for the “Jesus > everything” discipleship model, which comes to life by actively knowing and caring for 6th through 8th-grade students so they truly feel seen and loved. Rather than just hosting events, this pastor serves as a leader of leaders, pouring energy into equipping dedicate students,
Application Requirements:
What you bring
The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Middle School Pastor:
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
3 or more years of relevant experience in a church setting.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Volunteer Development: Ability to recruit, onboard, and train adult volunteer teams to effectively disciple students.
Event Management: Skill in creating, planning, executing, and evaluating successful ministry events, retreats, and camps.
Curriculum Selection & Teaching: Knowledge and ability to appropriately select, prepare, and teach curriculum tailored for middle school students.
Strategic Alignment: Ability to align the student ministry’s vision, small groups, and overall programming with overarching church strategies and values.
Administrative Ability: Strong administrative skills, including the ability to plan the ministry budget and responsibly monitor financial spending.
Pastoral Care: Ability to provide pastoral care and direct appropriate resources to students and families navigating times of crisis.
Public Speaking & Communication: Skill in communicating relationally to both large and small groups, and the ability to cast ministry vision with clarity and conviction.
Technical Proficiency: Good technical skills for operating computers, sound boards, and lighting equipment.
Safety & Compliance Knowledge: Understanding of safety protocols, including managing volunteer background checks, ensuring student liability release forms are completed, and avoiding dangerous activities.
Small Group Oversight & Discipleship Planning: Ability to organize small groups and implement targeted discipleship paths, such as creating a specific 8th-grade plan to prepare students for high school.
Cross-Ministry Collaboration: Collaborative skills to work seamlessly with other church staff to ensure smooth student transitions and church-wide serving opportunities.
Guest Integration: Ability to implement effective follow-up systems to intentionally welcome newcomers and swiftly connect them with peers and leaders.
Personal Characteristics
Highly Relational and Magnetic: The individual must be a “people magnet” who naturally draws in and easily connects with both students and their parents.
Energetic and Dynamic: They must bring a high energy level that resonates with and remains relevant to today’s middle school student culture.
Compassionate and Empathetic: The role requires a deep sense of care and empathy, ensuring that middle schoolers feel genuinely seen, nurtured, and valued.
Self-Starter: They should be a driven “go-getter” and “doer” who takes initiative to execute ideas, preferring to act rather than needing their hand held.
Humble, Hungry, and Smart: This individual must display a healthy balance of personal humility alongside an ambitious drive to build God’s kingdom.
Humorous and Thick-Skinned: The pastor needs a fun-loving attitude, the ability to embrace middle school silliness, and the capacity to take jokes or constructive critique without taking offense.
Unflappable: They must remain calm, steady, and composed even when students unexpectedly bring difficult or sensitive personal struggles to them.
Galvanizing Visionary: They need to be a passionate vision-caster who can effectively call people forward, exciting and rallying others around the student ministry.
Uncomfortable with the Unconnected: The candidate must possess an internal drive and restless desire to reach out to unconnected kids, intentionally pursuing students who are not yet plugged in.
Shepherd’s Heart: They must genuinely love the students, maintaining a deep, nurturing care for people rather than viewing the role as merely managing a program.
Team Player: They should work collaboratively, supportively, and seamlessly with the overall church staff, easily sharing successes across different ministries.
Spiritually Grounded: Their motivation must be rooted in an overflowing, natural passion for Jesus, demonstrating deep personal spiritual maturity.
Strategic Thinker: They must possess a clear internal compass of where the ministry is going and the focus to organize leaders effectively to achieve that vision.
View Job Description on Church / Organization Website: https://www.vanderbloemen.com/job/middle-school-pastor-real-life-christian-church/
Category: Ministry Opportunity Network
Type: Full Time
christian church (restoration movement) WEEKLY ATTENDANCE: 850 Meet Real Life Christian Church Real Life Christian Church is an authentic, energetic faith community located in Chesapeake, Virginia, situated just a short drive from the coast. Built on a vision to see each person loved and transformed by the Gospel, the church is deeply committed to helping people live out a “Jesus > everything” lifestyle. Whether you are a lifelong resident or a relocating military family, Real Life offers a warm, inviting environment full of broken, imperfect people, ensuring that pretension is left at the door and there is always a seat saved for you. At the center of everything they do is an unyielding commitment to biblical depth and truth. Their weekend services are characterized by tremendous, excellent worship and authentic teaching, mixing a relaxed, modern atmosphere with meaningful liturgical elements like weekly communion and corporate prayer. They have no interest in “playing church.” Instead, they unashamedly preach the fullness of Scripture to invite a genuine connection with Christ. The heart of Real Life is seen in its incredibly caring, resilient congregation that truly rallies around one another. Through Community Groups, which serve as the engine for weekly discipleship, and a massive priority placed on nurturing the next generation of kids and students, they are passionate about developing lifelong followers of Christ. The church focuses on five key callings—to be a worshiper, witness, steward, servant, and connector—ensuring that everyone is invited to build deep relationships, serve the community, and participate in the work of the Kingdom.
Number of Employees: 1 to 10
Average Weekly Attendance (if applicable): 850
Location: Chesapeake, VA, United States
Contact Name: Gabby Bensard
Contact Email: [email protected]
Contact Phone: N/A
Contact Mailing Address: 3737 Buffalo Speedway Suite 500, Houston, TX 77098, Houston, TX, 77098
