Position Description

Snapshot

Denomination: Presbyterian
Weekly Attendance: 385
Location: Leaskdale, Ontario Canada
The Role: Next Gen Director

Meet St. Paul's Leaskdale Church: 

St. Paul’s Leaskdale started in 1862 as a rural congregation that served the local farming population. After WW2, the church declined for several decades as young families left family farms to work elsewhere. A small pocket of senior saints faithfully prayed, asking God to stir their hearts and the community's.

Over 30 years ago, God began to answer those prayers. The congregation grew as not only the local community but the surrounding communities heard, received, and experienced the good news about Jesus. A new 20,000 sq ft facility was built in 2006 and continues to house a growing congregation and serve as a gathering place for sporting and community events. 

St. Paul’s Leaskdale is known for its welcoming community and offers a variety of programs and services, including Sunday worship services, Bible studies, youth and children’s ministries, and community outreach initiatives.

Jesus is central to our church, and we long to understand and experience him together. We continue to stand amazed by his love, the cross, and the fantastic hope of the resurrection. 

About the Next Gen Director: 

The Next Gen Director at St. Paul’s Leaskdale Church will lead SPL Church’s efforts to help children and students become disciple-making disciples of Jesus. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated skills in leadership, working with staff and volunteers, planning and executing weekend ministries, and a good grasp on student discipleship.

The Next Gen Director Responsibilities Include: 

• Leadership 
• Work with the Senior Leadership Team to clarify vision and advance strategy.
• Lead all next-generation ministries of SPL Church, including KidZone, Junior High, and Youth
• Recruit, equip, and empower volunteers to grow and sustain the Next Gen ministry
• Lead out of a growing personal relationship with Jesus, modeling healthy family and friend relationships, practicing personal spiritual disciplines, participating in a small group, serving regularly, giving faithfully, and developing one-to-one evangelism relationships
• Mobilizing Staff and Volunteers —The Next Gen Director is responsible for creating an environment that attracts, develops, and empowers NextGen volunteer & staff leaders by:
• Championing the vision of NextGen ministry 
•  Implementing systems to recruit and develop a diverse team of NextGen volunteer leaders
• Regularly communicating ministry wins for staff and volunteer teams
• Providing centralized efforts for training leaders (retreats, tools, etc.), including providing staff and volunteers with current NextGen ministry best practices
• Providing regular evaluations and feedback to team members
• Overseeing safety and security systems for children and students (e.g. background checks, safety and security procedures, etc.)
• Creating and continuously improving follow-up methods to ensure that new kids, students, and their families are plugged into SPL Church
• Managing budget forecasts and expenses for team leaders
• Oversight and Execution of Weekend Environments—Responsible for creating programs that provide engaging experiences and life-changing environments for children and students from birth through high school by:
• Providing insight and direction for big-picture programming and creative planning processes
• Leading the selection of relevant curriculum, props, and games for weekend experiences
• Ensuring that check-in areas, ministry spaces, and signage are clear, current, and focused on new kids and their families
• Producing any videos, weekly lessons, printed promotions, verbal announcements, social media, web page information, marketing, etc. about the kids’ and students’ ministries at St. Paul’s Leaskdale Church
• Creating and maintaining a safe environment for kids and students, including special needs at St. Paul’s Leaskdale Church
• Oversight and Execution of Student Discipleship—Responsible for designing practical onramps and systems to help kids and students move from visiting to belonging and growing by:
• Developing effective ways to integrate kids’ and students’ small groups into weekend environments
• Overseeing information and tracking of small group participants and leaders
• Offering small group leaders curriculum, coaching materials, and creative approaches to small group ministry
• Execute NextGen outreach efforts at St. Paul’s Leaskdale Church
• Overseeing discipleship intensives (i.e. Global Teen Discipleship)
• Oversight and Execution of Family and NextGen Events—Responsible for designing and implementing events intended to strengthen marriages, families, and next-generation discipleship by:
• Implementing a strategy to equip parents to help their kids take their next steps toward Christ, focused on what happens outside of church walls
• Designing a strategy to support the needs of young married couples, providing opportunities for couples to enrich their marriage and engaged couples to prepare for marriage
• Providing opportunities for parents to increase parenting skills and effectiveness

What You Bring: 

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Next Gen DIrector:

Education & Experience

• 2+ years of next-generation ministry experience
• An undergraduate degree in a related field is preferred.

Personal Characteristics & Qualifications

• Demonstrate a mature and growing discipleship to Jesus, a passion for the local church, and wholehearted alignment with SPL Church’s mission, vision, and values
• Demonstrated capacity to lead and mobilize teams
• Exceptional at relating with others, especially students

What it's Like to Live in Leaskdale, ON: 

The community in Leaskdale, Ontario, today reflects a blend of historical significance, and modern living in Leaskdale offers a peaceful and tranquil lifestyle. You can enjoy the quiet beauty of the surrounding countryside, with rolling hills, lush forests, and picturesque farmland.

There's a strong sense of community in Leaskdale, with many opportunities to get involved in local events and activities. This picturesque setting continues to attract visitors and residents alike, who appreciate the village's quaint charm and peaceful atmosphere. The village retains much of its historical architecture, which adds to its unique character and sense of nostalgia.

In summary, Leaskdale today is a vibrant community that balances its rich historical roots with contemporary living while fostering a strong sense of identity and providing a supportive environment for its residents.