Snapshot

Denomination: Presbyterian 

Weekly Attendance:  550

Location: Albuquerque, NM

The Role: Youth Director

Meet Sandia Presbyterian Church:

Sandia Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a relatively young church. The church was chartered (making it official) on October 28, 1990.  Rev. Dewey Johnson was the organizing pastor and remained with Sandia Presbyterian Church until October 2009.  Groundbreaking for the existing sanctuary took place on May 31, 1992. The next year, 296 people left Dennis Chavez Elementary School (the temporary home of SPC) and began worshiping in the current building.  Sandia grew quickly and was at one time the fastest-growing church in the Presbyterian Church denomination.  To accommodate our growing congregation, we have made significant additions to our facility. In April 2012, Rev. Dr. Doug Hucke became the Senior Pastor.  Sandia Presbyterian Church continues to thrive as God does amazing things.

At Sandia Presbyterian, we worship and serve the one eternal, holy, triune God, who revealed himself in three distinct persons, The Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We believe that Jesus gave himself for our salvation and it is only through him we are saved. We submit to the Bible as the infallible written Word of God that teaches and guides us in our faith. We function as a community that proclaims the gospel, makes disciples, and promotes peace, justice, and reconciliation through Jesus into our families, neighborhoods, schools, work, and civic life.

About the Youth Director:

The Sandia Presbyterian Church Director of Youth Ministries position exists to make and equip fully committed followers of Jesus Christ among our students in grades 6-12 and to develop our youth’s faith in God through spiritual growth by relating Jesus Christ and the Christian life to students in a relevant, relational, and meaningful way.

The Youth Director's Responsibilities Include: 

• Work well with the Youth Ministry Team to establish, cultivate and communicate the youth ministry's vision to ensure the program's implementation and success.
  
  
• Work with Youth Ministry Elder and Associate Pastor to ensure success in implementing ministry goals and objectives. 
  
  
• Develop and direct all aspects of middle school and senior high school programming, including fellowship, worship, mission/outreach, and discipleship. 
  
  
• Ensure all events are organized and implemented in a quality and timely manner. 
  
  
• Develop student leadership programs; provide mentoring and learning opportunities. 
  
  
• Minister and give spiritual nurture to youth and their families through one-on-one contact work. 
  
  
• Guide and facilitate mission trip planning committees (mid-high and high school) either through chairing or membership on these committees.
  
  
• Develop a program to help graduating seniors mature and transition their faith into the next phase of their lives. 
  
  
• Teach regularly in various areas of the Youth Program, including Sunday School, small groups, youth groups, Confirmation, and other programs implemented. 
  
  
• Coordinate and facilitate team leadership for youth retreats, mission trips, and service projects and follow up on demonstrated experiences to achieve goals and objectives.
  
  
• Coordinate with volunteers for logistical arrangements of events for day trips, mission trips, fellowship events, and regular programming. 
  
  
• Build, train, nurture, and mentor a team of adult volunteers. 
  
  
• Guide adult volunteers in selecting curriculum and developing Christian Education programs, training teachers/mentors, and delivering quality youth Christian Education. 
  
  
• Maintain the Youth Ministry budget, including check processing, deposits, and budget report preparation.
  
  
• Oversee communications and publications having to do with youth programs.
  
  
• Communicate with youth and their families through cards, emails, phone calls, visits, bulletins, newsletters, websites, and social media.
  
  
• Provide guidance and direction to Youth Ministry staff. 
  
  
• Attend and participate in weekly staff meetings, worship services, and special events as necessary. 
  
  
• Serve as staff liaison to Leadership Team meetings. 
  
  
• All other duties as may be assigned. 

What You Bring: 

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree required. (Any field)

• Master’s Degree in Christian Education, Theological Studies, or related field preferred. 

• 3+ years of experience working with youth, preferably in a youth ministry environment. 

• 2+ years of experience in the same location. 

• Experience working in a large/multi-staff church and/or with a youth group of 50 or more students is preferred but not required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to effectively relate and model the Christian faith with mid-high and senior high students. To help with developing and cultivating a Christ-centered community of young people. 
  
  
• Ability and energy to inspire teenagers, young adults, and parents.
  
  
• Willingness and ability to cross over and work well with other ministries within the church by being a team player. 
  
  
• Knowledge and/or experience providing Biblical and faith guidance to adult volunteers preferred.

• Ability to creatively share Christian faith with mid-high and senior-high students. 

• Excellent leadership and organizational skills. 

• Team player with the ability to interact positively with youth, families, staff, and volunteers. 

• Strong communication and people skills. 

• Ability to multi-task and work independently. 
  
  
•  Experience in setting and achieving goals and objectives. 

• Experience in recruiting and training adult volunteers.

Personal Characteristics & Qualifications

• Passion for seeing students grow in their relationship with Christ. 

• Strong sense of call to youth ministry and giftedness for this ministry.

• A strong relational approach to ministry. 

• Strong personal faith. 

• Enthusiastic, creative, imaginative, and fun. 

What it's Like to Live in Albuquerque, NM: 

Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city, sits in the high desert. Its modern Downtown core contrasts with Old Town Albuquerque, dating to the city’s 1706 founding as a Spanish colony. Old Town is filled with historic adobe buildings, such as San Felipe de Neri Church, 5 museums, and shops selling Native American handicrafts. Nearby, The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center traces the area’s tribal history.

No matter your interests, the city has countless opportunities to explore. Sample traditional New Mexican cuisine that takes minutes to make and hundreds of years to prepare, experience world-class museums, stroll along Central Avenue under the vintage neon glow of Route 66, or soar high above the city in the hot air ballooning capital of the world.

Immerse yourself in painted skies, abundant space, and more than 310 days of sunshine, which make it possible to ski the slopes of the Sandia Mountains and play a round at award-winning golf courses year-round. Albuquerque is an oasis in the high desert, full of rich history and inspiring ideas.

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