Middle School (Jr High) Pastor

Creative Church•Maple Grove, MN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Middle School Pastor will pastor, disciple, connect, and develop the 6th–8th grade students of Creative Church, creating a strong bridge between Creative Kids and Youth Ministry during some of the most formative years of a student's life. The role involves helping students become deeply rooted in Jesus, Scripture, prayer, worship, relationships, serving, and the local church, while also serving as a trusted resource and ministry partner for their parents. This position works alongside the Youth Pastor and in partnership with both Creative Kids and Youth Ministry to ensure middle school students are personally known, spiritually growing, relationally connected, and excited to be at church. The ideal candidate genuinely loves middle schoolers, understands their culture and challenges, and possesses the spiritual maturity to disciple them effectively.

Requirements

Have a clear testimony of faith in Jesus Christ and a growing relationship with Him.
Be deeply rooted in Scripture and committed to sound biblical doctrine.
Maintain a consistent personal prayer life and put prayer first in ministry.
Demonstrate a genuine love for worship and the presence of God.
Be committed to personal holiness, integrity, and biblical Christian living.
Have a personal desire to continue growing through discipleship, Scripture, prayer, and accountability.
Be committed to the mission, vision, doctrine, culture, and leadership of Creative Church.
Be relational, personable, energetic, and approachable.
Be relevant and able to genuinely connect with today's middle school generation.
Be fun without sacrificing spiritual depth.
Be patient and a strong listener.
Be emotionally mature and trustworthy.
Be organized and dependable.
Be comfortable communicating with both students and adults.
Be able to teach Scripture clearly and engagingly.
Be able to lead both small groups and larger gatherings.
Be a strong team player who works well under the leadership of the Youth Pastor.

Nice To Haves

This position may be structured as part-time or full-time depending on the candidate, responsibilities, and ministry needs.

Responsibilities

Develop meaningful relationships with 6th–8th grade students.
Personally know and connect with students.
Meet appropriately with students for discipleship and spiritual development within church safeguarding policies.
Pray with students.
Teach them how to read and understand Scripture.
Encourage Bible memorization.
Develop their prayer lives.
Help them grow in worship.
Challenge them to serve in the house of God.
Help students discover gifts and leadership potential.
Follow up with students who are new, inconsistent, struggling, or disconnected.
Create an environment where middle schoolers genuinely look forward to coming to Creative Church every week.
Work with the Youth Pastor and ministry teams to create strong Sunday and Wednesday-night experiences, small groups, games, activities, relational moments, spiritual experiences, age-appropriate teaching, and opportunities to worship, pray, serve, and lead.
Prepare for each week's ministry.
Be present and engaged before, during, and after services.
Personally connect with students.
Identify and welcome new students.
Teach or facilitate as assigned.
Lead prayer and spiritual moments.
Develop and oversee middle school leaders.
Follow up with students after significant ministry moments.
Work alongside Youth and Kids leadership to create continuity between ministries.
Create regular opportunities for middle school students to build relationships outside normal services.
Build strong relationships with parents of middle school students.
Care for students through difficult seasons.
Build a Middle School Team.
Prepare 5th graders to transition into middle school ministry.
Help 6th graders establish relationships quickly.
Help 8th graders transition successfully into high school ministry.
Prevent students from disappearing during ministry transitions.
Share appropriate information between ministry teams.
Build relationships with families before transition points occur.
Track and regularly report weekly middle school attendance, first-time students, second and third visits, students participating in groups, students serving, students engaged in Bible memorization, salvations and baptisms, students personally discipled, students receiving pastoral follow-up, parent connections, connection-event attendance, new leaders recruited, leaders developed, students transitioning successfully between Kids and Youth, and testimonies of spiritual growth and life change.