Youth Pastor for Middle & High School
North Ridge Church of the C&MA
7601 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615 • www.northridgecma.org
About North Ridge Church
North Ridge Church (NRC) is pursuing a passion for Jesus. We are a church not living for ourselves, joyfully loving our city, and bringing hope to the nations. NRC, a part of the Christian & Missionary Alliance
(C&MA), was planted in 1971 in Raleigh, North Carolina. For many years, NRC was a development and
sending hub — training and commissioning lay people and missionaries to serve with the C&MA around the world. God has been working steadily over the past decade to restore and reimagine this church, leading to a growing, multi-generational, multi-ethnic fellowship.
NRC has a long history of investing in its youth, a great many of whom have gone on to serve the Lord faithfully in their families, the marketplace and vocational ministry. The youth ministry aims to teach students how to seek God's face and share His love, wherever they go in today's complex world. While we still believe God intends for family and parents to be the primary disciplers of their teens, the youth ministry comes alongside as partners in their discipleship, to build them up as the body of Christ and equip them for Kingdom impact. We also sense tremendous and urgent opportunity to reach the hurting and lost in a young generation across our city, to bring them to Jesus and help them find their place of belonging in His family. All students are on a spiritual journey, and just as Jesus invested differently in the lives of Peter, James, and John, the Twelve, the Seventy, and the crowds, so a healthy youth ministry meets students where they are: the lost found, the responsive discipled, and the hungry equipped.
Job Description
The Youth Pastor at NRC is called, equipped, and enthusiastic to serve middle and high school students in their unique need and season of life, and to help lead them into manhood and womanhood in Christ. The Youth Pastor leads this ministry in a way that supports parents and families in their responsibility and is an integral part of the whole church body.
We hope to identify a candidate whose primary tools of reaching, discipling, and equipping youth are expressed through their:
- Personal dependence on the Holy Spirit.
- Dedication to teach and demonstrate God’s Word.
- Devotion to honor the Lord in marriage and family, if applicable.
- Attentiveness to people in need of encouragement, connection, and support.
- Cultivation of spiritual health and leadership potential in Christ-centered relationships.
On the foundation of these personal and pastoral priorities, the youth pastor aims to lead an effective student ministry with vision, wisdom, and excellence.
This role is proposed to be a full-time, staff-pastor position, for a man or woman meeting such qualifications as required by the Christian & Missionary Alliance. Expectations of personal conduct and lifestyle shall be consistent with the principles of Scripture, such as those outlined for leaders in 1 Peter 5, Colossians 3, Ephesians 4-5.
Areas of Responsibility
1. Lead & Disciple with a Team
The Youth Pastor recruits, leads, and serves a loving, responsible, well-balanced team of Spirit-filled adult leaders (Shepherds). He or she provides pastoral care, encouragement, and mutual accountability with the Shepherds. The Youth Pastor and the Shepherds are the leadership team for youth ministry at NRC. Together, this team is committed to serve on the front lines of reaching and discipling teens. Student leaders are also to be identified, encouraged, and equipped by the Youth Ministry team under the direction of the Youth Pastor.
2. Teach the Word
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Youth Pastor will faithfully teach and preach the Scripture to students, and when called upon to the church body. He or she will continue to grow and develop as an excellent communicator of God’s Word and allow the Word to dwell more richly in their own life. The Youth Pastor also recruits and oversees others to teach, both for their own development and to ensure an ongoing, well-balanced Bible teaching ministry to youth at NRC.
3. Build Purposeful Relationships
The Youth Pastor builds purposeful relationships with students and their families. We recognize that students are at different places in their spiritual journey. The youth pastor intentionally and creatively engages students where they are on their journey, providing increasing levels of discipleship and equipping experiences as they are ready. As special needs and crises arise in the lives of students and their families, the Youth Pastor is to be attuned to their need for prayer and encouragement.
4. Lead Purposeful Programs & Events
The Youth Pastor and Shepherd team create a strategy to win the lost, disciple and equip the ready, and send students back into their world to serve as a missional witness in their communities. Weekly times of teaching, worship, equipping, fellowship, and periodical events all play a part in an overall discipleship strategy. The Youth Pastor oversees the development of a well-designed calendar of events and opportunities that help students learn to treasure Christ, build community, rest in the Lord, serve others, reach the lost, experience God’s heart for the nations, etc. Discipleship goals such as these are to be in view throughout a student’s middle and high school years.
5. Communicate Effectively & Promptly
Nearly every aspect of youth ministry requires timely and informative communication to a variety of audiences, including students, parents, team-members, church leadership, the church body, visitors, and the community. The Youth Pastor will strive to communicate proactively whenever possible, to offer follow-up and feedback as appropriate, and to provide helpful details when needed. Use of online and social media tools, group texts, mailings, etc. are encouraged.
6. Plan & Administrate Responsibly
Youth ministry requires a high level of organization, planning, and stewardship to serve students and families well. It also requires a sensitivity to contemporary cultural currents, as well as the students physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. This includes recruiting and mobilizing volunteers as needed. The Youth Pastor is also expected to manage the youth ministry budget, expenditures, and incoming funds with great care and wisdom.
7. Maintain Personal & Relational Integrity
The Youth Pastor’s effectiveness flows directly from the health of their personal walk with the Lord. A life of genuine devotion, faithfulness in marriage and family (as applicable), and purity in all relationships is the foundation from which everything else is built. Wise, transparent, and accountable conduct in all circumstances is essential. The Youth Pastor embraces the covering and accountability of the Elders and pastoral staff not as a constraint but as a gift — a God-provided structure for protection, growth, and mutual flourishing.
8. Partner in Leadership
The Youth Pastor is a full member of the pastoral staff and governing board and a partner in the mission and leadership of North Ridge Church. This means maintaining honest, loyal, and loving relationships with the Lead Pastor and Elders, serving within the authority and covering they provide while contributing fully to the team’s shared responsibility for prayer, vision, care, and the spiritual culture of the church. The Youth Pastor’s perspective and insight are welcomed and expected. Proactive communication on strategies, updates, emergent situations, etc., serves the church and the team best. While the Youth Pastor’s ministry is focused on middle and high school students, it is important to be attentive and available to the needs of the whole Body.
Professional Qualifications & Competencies
- Bachelor’s degree, preferably in ministry and/or biblical studies
- 3-4 years of experience leading a youth ministry, preferably as full-time church ministry
- Licensed or willing to pursuing licensing/ordination with The Christian & Missionary Alliance
- Seeks to spend 5-years or more as Youth Pastor at NRC, or is preparing for candidacy as International Worker
- Strong understanding of adolescent development and cultural issues
- Ability to connect with and disciple middle and high school students
- Proven experience and ability to lead/teach group Bible study
- Strong communication and public speaking skills
- Effective interpersonal relational and communication ability
- Proficient in the use of technology and media
- Proven administrative ability, and/or experience organizing events, camps, or retreats
- Demonstrated ability to lead a team and to work collaboratively with a team
- Submits to a thorough background check.
- Affirms and supports the mission, vision, and Statement of Faith of North Ridge Church and the Christian & Missionary Alliance.
Employment Details
Full-time salary package commensurate with experience. Note: We are open to develop and deploy the position differently, for a well-suited candidate seeking a bi-vocational arrangement.
Full-time benefits include personal/family health insurance (or medical cost-sharing program), dental/vision coverage, supplemental incident/accident coverage, health reimbursement account, and life insurance. Matching retirement contribution program available based on total years of full-time service at NRC.
The leadership team at NRC is committed to a healthy work environment and schedule for all staff members. This includes regular office hours during the work week with generous allowance for out-of- office flex-hours, and flexibility for sick and personal days. Full time staff will arrange a regular, weekly day- off (in addition to Saturday and partial-Sunday), and minimum vacation allotment of 2-weeks, (not counting holidays, closed-office days, etc), as approved by the Lead-Pastor. We expect the Youth Pastor to live in the Triangle Area.
Application Instructions
For consideration, please include all of the following documentation with your application to [email protected]:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Personal Background & Brief Testimony of Faith
- Educational Background
- Employment History & Ministry Experience
- Relevant Competencies, Certifications, and Achievements
- Contact Info & Links to Social Media Profiles
- At least Three (3) Personal References
- Include at least one (1) ministry colleague and one (1) supervisor
- Focus on references that can specifically comment on your character, career, or commitment.
- Short document (no more than one (1) page) detailing your philosophy of ministry.
- Video samples of preaching/teaching. If none exist, audio or transcripts may be accepted.
To be considered for this position, please complete the application to include your testimony, resume and other background information related to the position.
If the district office has reviewed your application and they think you may be a potential match for the position, that the hiring manager will reach out to you for next steps.
This position may require licensing with The Christian & Missionary Alliance. To learn more about The Alliance and requirements for licensing, please visit our website
Please do not contact the church directly.
