Overview
Director of Middle School Ministry
About Southport Pres
Southport Presbyterian Church (EPC) is a midsized church on the Southside of
Indianapolis. We are seeking a Director of Middle School Ministries to join our team of
pastors and ministry staff to lead our 6th
-8
th grade students in their journey of growing
as “ordinary people pursuing God’s extraordinary call.” Southport Pres was founded
in 1833 and has a rich history of evangelism and discipleship in our community. Our
rich heritage, however, has not hindered but strengthened our desire to follow Jesus. At
key moments the church has made courageous decisions regarding our future. For
example, our current building is our sixth location since our founding. We are not
afraid to do what is needed to keep moving forward in our mission. About two years
ago, we engaged in extensive work and crafted a vision plan for the next five years.
This vision includes “every generation rallying together to support families with young
children in our dynamic community.” In order to accomplish this, we need a vibrant
youth ministry.
Our Middle School Ministry
Our current middle school ministry model has three movements designed to help our
students grow as disciples: Engage, Sustain and Build. The biggest event is Engage on
Friday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30pm. This event is designed for students to bring
friends. Engage begins with a series of fun and interactive games followed by a shorter
large group teaching and small group discipleship. On Sunday mornings, we meet for
Bible Study (Sustain) during the church-wide Community Hour at 9:45am. We
currently use the Gospel Project curriculum. On Wednesday evenings, students gather
in small groups to Build community and dig deeper into God’s Word.
A highlight of the summer is Camp Pyoca. We bring dozens of volunteers to help pull
off a week of highly organized games and competitions (think Survivor) along with two
daily gatherings for worship and teaching. Some of our volunteers have been returning
for almost 40 years. We also take the students on a yearly summer mission trip
somewhere within the US and have a variety of fun activities throughout the year, like
snow tubing, hiking, swimming, etc. While our programs are well established, we’re
also excited to bring someone on board with fresh ideas and a willingness to try new
things.
Job Competencies
In order to be successful, the Middle School Director will have a passionate, growing
relationship with Jesus and model the Christian life for middle school students. The
individual will create and maintain vibrant relationships with both students and
parents, which includes regular written communication. A successful candidate will
possess spiritual maturity and the ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with
students and work within the structure of our Youth Protection Policy.
The director either needs to be highly organized or have the ability to delegate
responsibilities to a very capable administrative assistant and team of intergenerational
volunteers. The candidate will possess collaboration skills and work well with our
Director of High School Ministries and our Director of Children’s Ministries, especially
in the handoffs from one ministry to another. The candidate will have a solid
understanding of what drives and motivates the current generation of middle school
students and communicate with them in an effective and relevant manner. For future
growth, there are opportunities to collaborate with other youth ministers in our area as
well as attend an annual conference related to youth ministry.
Requirements
The candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree, preferably in youth ministry or a related
field and agree wholeheartedly with the Essentials of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
The candidate must also be willing to operate within the policies and procedures of the
Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
Compensation
This is a salaried position and pay is commensurate with experience and training. The
benefits include three weeks paid vacation, health insurance, and opportunities to
purchase affordable dental, vision and other insurances.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to Pastor Glen Massey at
gmassey@southportpres.org. You can learn more about us at www.southportpres.org
