SPARKS LEAD
CHILDREN’S DISCIPLESHIP AND CONNECTION
STATUS: Part time
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
The mission of CHILDRENS DISCIPLESHIP AND CONNECTION Coordinator of Epworth United Methodist is to expand the reach of the ministry with children and their parents to include EUMC, EPK, and EAABF. SPARKS aims to create a nurturing, fun and transformative environment for all children and their parents connected to Epworth, to build a Christian foundation among children who connect to EUMC such that they love the Lord with heart, soul, and mind, and whenever possible and appropriate support children and parents deepening in their relationship and walk with Christ.
HOURS: Salary role (estimated 25 hours a week)
COMPENSATION: $25,000 to 35,000 a year depending on experience
REPORTING TO: Epworth Lead Pastor or Designee
THE VISION OF EUMC: To be a church of the community that invites, connects, disciples, and sends out people for Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit transforms hearts, lives, and communities.
To lead the overall children’s ministry at Epworth through:
SPARKS
- Dedicate specific attention to advancing the vision, strategy, and reach of the SPARKS children ministry as part of larger FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP.
-Sunday School (Embers through 5 th grade)
-Coordinate servant teaching teams
-Provide curriculum
-Build relationships with children
-Communicate with parents
-Coordinate with pastoral team around special worship needs/events
EPK
- Work with the Lead Pastor to fold the ministry of Epworth Preschool and Kindergarten (EPK) into larger Family Discipleship Ministry
-Chapel – supporting the Pastoral Team and leading, at times
-Parent Association
-Oversight of Pumpkin Fest (as event designed to connect EPK and SPARKS)
-Dinner Church and Discipleship meetings with parents and pastors
EAABF Children’s programs (FUEL Youth and Children Events: Academic Enrichment, Bridges Childcare for adult Classes, Soccer Clinic, ROOTS Food distribution, Christmas support, and others)
- Serve as Epworth connection for the EAABF Academic Enrichment
- Support EAABF soccer clinic
- Support EAABF Roots work with families
CONNECTIONS
- Develop connections between all entities and to the next age levels in discipleship funnel
- Communicate with all entities (sometimes uniquely)
- Build Community between all through Family fun events, life groups and study groups for parents, and shared ministry and work.
- Provide Support for large EUMC invite events (Easter Egg Hunt, Back to School)
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
1. Sunday School
- Choose, plan, coordinate, curriculum for each Sunday for all three services
- Supervise Embers Infant childcare staff (if we have them), resourcing them with needed curriculum.
2. Coordination With Other Ministry Areas
- FUEL Youth Ministry
- Planning with EPK director and Parent Association
- EAABF: Academic Enrichment, Soccer Clinic, Back to School, Food Distribution
- Publicizing other’s events
3. Communication
- Provide connection and Communication to parents, families and children. This includes:
-Ongoing weekly communication regarding upcoming events (Eventually make provision
for bilingual)
-Effective communication of large, shared events (bible Sunday, promotion Sunday,
children /youth Sunday, VBS etc.)
- Identify families and youth who are not integrating from the local church. Bring these
names to the SPARKS team for action
- Recruit, Coordinate, train, lead teams for:
-9am Sunday School
-10:30 Sunday School
-12:30 Sunday School
-Children’s church during special services as needed
-VBS
-Family Fun events
- Bring areas of need, concerns, localized knowledge and awareness to youth pastor, steering committee, and Lead pastors.
4. Relationship Building With Parents And Children
- Build relationships with all children and parents, encouraging them to become connected in to larger ministry
- Aide pastoral team, youth coordinator, Disciple leads in knowing gifts and skills of individual children
- Aid in transition from SPARKS to FUEL
- Refer families in need to pastor for counseling
5. Special Events
- Bible Sunday
- VBS week – 2nd week after youth out of school in Summer
- Disciple Event – Pumpkin Fest
- INVITE children/family events - Easter Egg Hunt,
- EAABF events: Back to School, Soccer Clinic 6-8pm one week in summer Basketball Clinic 6-8pm one week in summer (currently not happening), Food Distribution during special events that serve children
- Training events as planned
6. Meetings
- Weekly or Biweekly meeting with Supervisor
- Monthly
-Lead EUMC SPARKS Meetings
-Attend EUMC Disciple meetings
- Four time a year
- Attend Parent and Youth Disciple Meetings
-Attend UMC Staff Meetings
- Special Yearly Event Meetings
- VBS
- Sunday School
- INVITE events: Easter Egg Hunt
- EAABF events: Back to School and Soccer Clinic
7. Onsite presence required for:
- Sunday morning services
- Special worship services with children’s element (in service or during service)
- Academic Enrichment
- Family Fun Events
- Above listed Special Events
- Parent Association joint events
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Experience in ministry leadership, preferably with children.
- Experience working with volunteers and discipling adults
- Bilingual English Spanish is a definite attribute.
- Safe Sanctuary Training and Acknowledgement
- Confidentiality Agreement
- Background check
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Theological and Leadership training welcome.
Pay: $25,000.00 - $35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
Work Location: In person
