Youth Pastor
The Youth Pastor provides spiritual leadership and direction for Gateway's ministry to students in grades 6–12, creating an environment where students follow Jesus together, grow in Christ, build meaningful relationships, discover their gifts, and become lifelong disciples.
Position Summary
The Youth Pastor provides spiritual leadership and direction for Gateway's ministry to students in grades 6–12, creating an environment where students follow Jesus together, grow in Christ, build meaningful relationships, discover their gifts, and become lifelong disciples. The ministry is biblically grounded, relationally strong, and culturally relevant, aligned with Gateway's mission and discipleship strategy.
The ideal candidate is a spiritually mature, relationally strong leader whom students want to be around and parents trust.
The Youth Pastor helps students to:
Know Jesus personally and grow in relationship with Him
Understand and apply biblical truth to everyday life
Experience authentic biblical community and develop spiritual disciplines
Discover and use their spiritual gifts in serving
Share the message of Jesus with non-Christian friends
We Are Looking for Someone Who Is:
A follower of Jesus Christ with a growing relationship with Him, spiritual maturity, and biblical character.
Strongly committed to the authority of Scripture.
In full alignment with Gateway's and the Christian and Missionary Alliance's doctrine, mission, and values.
Consistent in personal practices of prayer, Bible study, worship, and growth.
Holding (or working toward) a Bachelor's degree in Bible, theology, ministry, education, or a related field — equivalent ministry experience and leadership ability may substitute.
Experienced in youth/student ministry, recruiting and developing volunteers, and leading teams.
Strong in teaching, communication, and organizational skills.
Digital and social media experience is an asset.
Relational, approachable, emotionally healthy, and passionate about students.
A collaborative team player who is teachable and accountable.
A dependable communicator with a strong work ethic.
Organized, a creative problem solver, and a strategic thinker.
Willing to become a Licensed Worker with the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, and to affirm the C&MA's Statement of Faith, Statement on Human Sexuality, and doctrinal distinctives.
Core Competencies
Vision and Leadership – Sets and communicates strategy for youth ministry aligned with Gateway's mission and evaluates and improves ministry health.
Discipleship – Builds a grade 6–12 discipleship pathway and provides age-appropriate teaching and spiritual formation.
Pastoral Care – Builds meaningful relationships with students and provides spiritual guidance within healthy boundaries.
Volunteer Leadership – Recruits, screens, trains, and leads adult and student volunteers, and develops emerging leaders.
Family Partnership – Builds trusting relationships with parents and communicates with families regularly.
Outreach and Evangelism – Develops strategies to reach unchurched students and equips students to share their faith.
Communication and Administration – Communicates effectively with students, parents, volunteers, and staff, and manages the ministry calendar, budget, and metrics.
Collaboration – Engages actively in staff team life and partners across ministries.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Vision and Leadership
Set and communicate strategy for youth ministry aligned with Gateway's mission.
Set measurable goals and evaluate ministry health, taking steps to improve it.
Reach students outside any church ministry and keep the environment welcoming and safe.
Student Discipleship
Build a grade 6–12 Discipleship Pathway that builds on Gateway Kids.
Provide age-appropriate teaching and spiritual formation.
Foster prayer, Bible study, worship, service, and evangelism.
Develop emerging student leaders and support transitions into and out of youth ministry.
Student Relationships and Pastoral Care
Build meaningful relationships with students.
Be present at gatherings, retreats, and trips.
Provide pastoral care and spiritual guidance.
Maintain healthy boundaries per Plan to Protect.
Volunteer Leadership
Recruit, screen, train, and lead adult and student volunteers.
Set clear roles and expectations, and coach and encourage the team regularly.
Identify and develop emerging leaders.
Family Partnership
Build trusting relationships with parents as the primary spiritual influence in students' lives.
Equip and communicate with families regularly.
Respond pastorally to concerns and support families through transitions.
Programming
Lead weekly gatherings, small groups, retreats, mission trips, outreach events, and leadership development, always in service of helping students follow Jesus together, not just keeping them busy.
Outreach and Evangelism
Develop strategies and events to reach unchurched students.
Build relationships with schools and community organizations.
Equip students to invite friends and share their faith.
Ministry Culture
Cultivate a culture of biblical truth, grace, authentic relationships, prayer, worship, fun, and appropriate accountability, modeling Christ-centered character.
Safety and Risk Management
Ensure compliance with Gateway policies, including volunteer screening and Plan to Protect (transportation, communication, emergencies).
Maintain volunteer records; file incident reports and inform parents when required.
Communication and Administration
Communicate effectively with students, parents, volunteers, and staff.
Coordinate with the Communications Director on branding.
Prepare the annual calendar and budget; track attendance and ministry metrics; report to leadership.
Staff Team Participation
Engage actively in MST meetings and staff life.
Collaborate across ministries rather than operating as a silo.
Serve generously and contribute to a healthy staff culture.
Reports to: Executive Pastor Oversees: Youth Ministry Administrator; ministry interns as assigned Leads: Youth ministry volunteers and student leaders
This is a full-time ministry role requiring flexibility for evenings and weekends. The Youth Pastor is expected to maintain a healthy balance between ministry, personal spiritual growth, family, and rest.
Contact Information
If you would like a copy of the complete job description, please send a request to Executive Pastor Dave Ralph at dave.ralph@gw.church.
If you are sensing you might be interested in this role, you may confidentially submit your resume/CV to dave.ralph@gw.church.