About the opportunity
The Youth Director will lead a congregation-supported, intergenerational, family integrated, neighborhood-loving ministry with students in grades 5-12. The Youth Director cultivates spiritual and holistic formation for youth by leading a volunteer youth ministry team in implementing discipleship programs, practices, and relationships that nurture the identity, belonging, and purpose of diverse young people towards Christian life and faith. The Youth Director will be invited and expected to participate in the congregational body life of Mountainside Communion, including regular Sunday morning worship participation.
Hours/Week: 20, Part-time, variable schedule
Salary: $20 per hour
About us:
Mountainside Communion was founded in 2005 when a small group of people gathered to start a local church with the vision of following Christ in doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God. For the last 17 years Mountainside has lived into this vision by participating in the rhythm of weekly Eucharistic worship, cultivating the formation of children, youth, and adults, and befriending neighbors towards congregational vocation in justice issues like immigration advocacy, community gardening, and housing sustainability. In 2015 Mountainside moved to its current church home which has become a space where Mountainside continues to be gathered in formative worship and where neighborhood partnerships have grown into ministries that are a sign of God’s justice and hospitality in the world.
Facts and figures
Founded: 2005
Located: 303 W. Colorado Blvd. Monrovia, CA 91016
Church Directory: 230 people (85 kids & youth)
Worship Attendance: 125 people (40 kids & youth) on average
Youth Ministry Programming: 15-20 middle schoolers & 8-12 high schoolers Neighborhood Ministries: Immigration Resource Center of San Gabriel Valley, Monrovia Housing Displacement Response Program, & Monrovia Community Garden
Our Vision & Values
Mountainside Communion is a community of people following Christ in doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.
Communion – Intentionally gathered in Christ to share in the ministry of reconciliation with God, one another, and all of creation
Hospitality – Thoughtfully creating space for belonging in our relationships, practices, and language
Justice – Living out, both publicly and privately, God’s inclusive love for anyone, everyone, and all of creation.
What it’s like to work with us
Employees of Mountainside Communion work with a powerful team of staff and highly participatory volunteers who are passionate, humble, creative, collaborative, and who live out our shared values of communion, hospitality, and justice. The Youth Director will work with the pastoral team and will also have the opportunity to work alongside colleagues of other ministries within this innovative community-based church model which hosts two vibrant faith communities, the Immigration Resource Center of San Gabriel Valley, the Monrovia Community Garden and the Monrovia Housing Displacement Response Program.
You’ll work with
Pastoral Team: 2 full time, 1 part time, and 1 volunteer
Youth Ministry Volunteer Team: 12-15 adults
Mentor: Pastor of Youth and Families- monthly meetings
Report to: Lead Pastor – biweekly supervisory meetings
How you will make an impact
Spiritual Formation (3-5 hours/week)
Regularly participate in Sunday morning worship.
Coordinate and lead regular youth ministry discipleship programming to support the development of Jesus-centered identity, belonging, and purpose.
Support students and parents through the developmental stages of adolescence and how to navigate faithful discipleship in a complex world.
Alongside the pastoral team, tend to the theological imagination and practice of Mountainside Communion towards intergenerational and family-integrated ministry.
Student Relationship Support (3-6 hours/week)
Cultivate a ministry in which everyone belongs and no one is excluded. Create and hold spaces in which young people feel safe to be themselves and to be accepted by adults and other students, giving special attention to cultural/racial dynamics and students with potentially-marginalized status.
Build personal relationships with students and with their families. Provide pastoral care and support as needed.
Engage students regularly and appropriately via technology (text, social media, email, video call/conferencing, and phone).
Visit students where they live most of their lives—at their homes, schools, sports, arts events, and in the community. Initiate contact with visitors to welcome and invite connection.
Equip and support students to lead in various ways in the youth ministry, broader church, neighborhood engagement, and in their everyday lives.
Actively invite volunteers and adults at Mountainside into these practices of relational support.
Volunteer Recruitment and Training (1-2 hours/week)
Actively recruit and engage Mountainside members in ministry with young people.
Provide ongoing support and supervision, including periodic volunteer meetings and occasional training coordinated with the Pastor of Youth and Families.
Cultivates parent volunteer participation in all aspects of youth ministry.
Administrative and Organizational Management (3-6 hours/week)
Facilitate parent and volunteer communication and event and retreat planning, utilizing volunteers and parents as much as possible to distribute tasks.
Participate in pastoral meetings twice per month.
Provide general ministry support, including event planning, communication, coordinating meetings, maintaining a database of participants, and tracking ministry budget.
Neighborhood Engagement (1-3 hours/week)
Ensure volunteer organization and leadership of monthly service opportunities for middle school students during Sunday morning worship.
Work with volunteers and parents to plan occasional service projects in the community and participate as appropriate with students and families in justice-seeking demonstrations, marches, and vigils as public witness to the liberating Spirit of God.
About the right person
Has a passion and commitment to nurturing the identity, belonging, and purpose of diverse young people towards Christian life and faith.
Has ability and experience in working with youth and families in a ministry context.
Has ability and experience in forming and leading a volunteer ministry team towards ministry vision and mission.
Intercultural competency and experience required; bilingual Spanish/English fluency a plus.
Has ability to work independently, as well as coordinate and communicate openly as a member of a team.
What makes you qualified
Profess and demonstrate a commitment to the Christian faith and the embodiment of these commitments in practice and relationships.
A passion for and an enthusiasm to contribute to the mission and vision of Mountainside Communion.
Completion or pursuant of a Bachelor’s Degree or higher
Willingness to grow in theological education and leadership
Proven interpersonal, written, and oral communications skills
Proficiency using various technology platforms, including MS Office, Google Apps, and social media
Valid driver’s license and automobile insurance coverage preferred Completion of a background check, live scan, and training in sexual abuse prevention
Note: Mountainside Communion is a congregation affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, a historic Wesleyan tradition rooted in holiness through love of God and neighbor and close proximity to the poor and marginalized. In our affiliation, we seek to draw from, work with, and carry forward the roots of our tradition while also living as prophetic witnesses to God’s newness and the Spirit’s movement today.
Applications can be sent to Josh Smith at joshsmith@mtside.org. Please include a cover letter & resume.