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Youth and Children’s Pastor

Central Park Christian Church Profile

Central Park Christian Church is a non-denominational evangelical church located in Topeka, KS.  

Our average attendance on a Sunday morning worship service is 160 and is a healthy balance of ages.  Our style of worship is contemporary.  We are blessed to be positioned in the center of Topeka, and we are passionate about being salt and light to our immediate neighborhood.

With roots extending back to 1896, Central Park Christian Church went through a “rebirth” in 2004.  It was a dying church, and their leadership contacted Northland Christian Church (Topeka) for help.  After much prayer, the decision was made to plant a sister church in central Topeka.  For the past 18 years, we have seen God do amazing things as we have sought His leading.

Our mission as a church is “Mobilizing and partnering with disciples to fulfill God’s passion to save and transform lives.” and our vision is “Discipling in the heart of the city for freedom in Christ.”.  

We emphasize intentionally living out our faith in practical ways, and work with other churches and like-minded ministries to fulfill our calling.

In addition to the senior pastor, we have a full-time connections pastor on staff who leads in both mobilizing the church, helping people find their place to serve, discipleship, and connecting congregation to our community and community to our congregation. We also have a full-time Accountant and Office Administrator. 

We have vibrant outreach ministries to the children and youth of our community, ranging from a full busy elementary age program, plus a growing middle school group and high school group.  

What makes Central Park Christian Church Unique?

  1. The Blend of our Church Family – our church family has young and old, financially secure and those who struggle week to week, homeschooled/Christian schooled/public schooled, racially blended…the list is extensive!  We have some who have been believers for multiple years, and almost weekly have those attending that are for the first time checking out “church”.
  2. The Goodwill of our Body – we don’t pretend to be a “perfect” church, and we constantly are reminded that God works in the midst of the “mess.”  That being said, our church family extends mercy, grace, and a genuine invitation to “come as you are,” and you will be loved!  

In John 1: 14, it says that Jesus was full of “grace and truth,” and we seek to follow his lead!  We will show grace, but at the same time speak the truth of scripture regarding sin, repentance, and living a life that pleases our Savior.

  • Our Commitment to our Primary Mission – we determined when we began that we would be committed to making an impact in our neighborhood.  We are surrounded by homes, a middle school, a community center – the fields are full and looking for workers!  While supporting worldwide missions, our primary call is to minister to the lost who are nearest us.
  • The Longevity of our Staff – 
  • Our former senior pastor had been here since our “rebirth” in 2004 and since retired in 2020.
  • The current senior pastor is currently in his third year on staff.
  • Our Connections Pastor has been with us since 2005, 
  • Our Accountant/Office Administrator is full time and had been attending here since 2005 and came on staff summer of 2021.
  • Our Worship Leader (part time) has served with us since 2012
  • Media Specialist (part time)has been with us since 2014.

There is a strong bond of comradery among our staff, plus a commitment to doing whatever it takes to help one another out in any given situation. 

  • The Leadership of our Elders – we have seven elders, and many of them have served from the beginning of our rebirth.  They have a deep commitment to the Lord, the church family, prayer, leading (but not lording over) the church.  They meet Bi-weekly for prayer, planning, and learning how to be good shepherds.
  • Small Groups – While many churches have moved away from the Sunday School model and replaced it with small groups, CPCC does both.  Besides children’s classes, we enjoy:
    • Adult Sunday School – Five classes from College age on up
  • Fellowship Tables – meets once a quarter to share a meal together and spend time enjoying one another’s company
  • Fellowship Groups – we have 6 groups that meet monthly in homes for a meal and a devotional time together
  • Life Groups – this is a new ministry in 2019.  5 groups meet in homes twice a month for fellowship, study, and prayer
  • Weekly Small Groups – there are also men’s and women’s Bible studies that meet weekly at homes and at the church
  • Tuesday Night Teaching – Led by our Outreach/Evangelism pastor and assisted by other pastors that are like minded, this group encourages those struggling with addictions and other life issues

What Unique Challenges Do We Embrace?

  • Limited Facility – our church building is not very large considering the amount of ministry that takes place inside of it, and that spills out into our neighborhood.  We only have 6 “legit” classrooms…22 parking spaces.  How do we handle ministry?  God has placed us immediately across the street from a community center that has a huge parking lot and plenty of rooms to rent for classes!  Robinson Middle School is one block to the north, and we utilize their space when needed.  
  • A Neighborhood that has a higher crime rate than most of Topeka – we embrace central Topeka for a reason; we do ministry in a transient neighborhood intentionally! 
  • We have a large number of kids who attend without their parents – We are truly a
    “neighborhood church,” placed by God in an area with a lot of kids (and adults) who need Jesus!  Many of the kids who attend our weekly children and youth groups walk here without adult supervision.  God has trusted us to do a great work among people he loves!
  • “Ministry that is Messy” takes place here every day of the week!  Everyone is “broken,” but some folks are dealing with heartbreaking issues – homelessness, addictions, abuse and poverty just to name a few.  God loves to work in “the mess” and does His best work there!  We have embraced this reality, and see God at work among us time after time.

Youth & Children’s Pastor Job Description

Principal Function 

The Youth and Children’s Pastor will minister to the needs of children and youth, leading them to spiritual commitments and disciplines that will result in spiritual maturity; partner with parents and guardians to introduce their children to Christ; to disciple them in spiritual growth; to train them in serving Christ with their life. The Youth and Children’s Pastor must support the Vision, Mission, and Core Values and agree with the Statement of Faith of Central Park Christian Church. 

Vision 

Discipling in the heart of the city for freedom in Christ

Mission 

Mobilizing disciples to fulfill God’s passion to save and transform lives 

Core Values 

Because the Bible is our final authority: 

  1. We are dedicated to prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit 
  2. We pursue unity with integrity 
  3. We seek the lost with love and respect 
  4. We invest relationally in individuals, families, and the next generation 
  5. We teach and equip disciples for service 
  6. We intentionally pursue inter-generational community 
  7. We are faithful stewards of God’s resources 

Statement of faith 

  1. We believe the original writings of the Old and New Testament Scriptures to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. 
  2. We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 
  3. We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, true God and true man.
  4. We believe in Jesus’ sinless life;, His miracles;, that He died for our sins according to the Scriptures,; in His bodily resurrection,; in his ascension to the right hand of the Father to be our mediator; and in his personal return, bodily and visibly, to establish his kingdom. 
  5. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the eternal blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting separation from God of the unsaved. 
  6. We believe that salvation is indeed a gift from God. We are saved through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ – it is not through any human efforts but by God’s grace. 
  7. We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling and regenerating power the believer is enabled to live a Godly life. 
  8. We believe that each believer, all who are saved, should demonstrate their faith in Jesus Christ by obediently following Him in the act of baptism, thereby signifying Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. 
  9. We believe that the Christian is not to be conformed to this present world but is transformed in such a way that Christ lives through the believer and that life will be pre-eminently characterized by a life of faith, truth, purity, and love. 
  10. We believe the Church, ordained by God, is commissioned by Him to evangelize the world by every believer being a witness to the unsaved, proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and by living as His servants among all men. 

Qualifications 

  1. A heart for children from infancy through high school and their spiritual lives 
  2. Ability and willingness to work with children and youth from both urban and rural backgrounds 
  3. Have a commitment to the whole family able to develop relationship with parents and/or guardians 
  4. Ability to communicate well with children & youth and able to teach in a manner to which the children & youth can relate 
  5. Ability to relate and communicate well with all members of the church 
  6. A commitment to teamwork with the staff and elders
  7. Must be a self-starter, exercising initiative and judgment 
  8. Must be able to work independently, and with direct supervision. 
  9. Must have a strong degree of organizational and administrative abilities 
  10. A good sense of humor is helpful, and desirable. 
  11. Must be able to pass a background check
  12. Training or practical experience in youth and/or children’s ministry and a desire for continued training and growth 
  13. Bachelor’s degree from a four-year Bible college is desired; or two years or more experience and/or ministry training 
  14. Experience as a youth and/or children’s minister is preferred, but not required. 
  15. Strong knowledge of the Bible
  16. Ability to articulate the gospel, with a biblical foundation, clearly to children and youth.

Working Relationships 

  1. The incumbent will report to the Senior Pastor and ultimately accountable to the elders 
  2. This position will work with the other pastors, staff, elders, church leaders, volunteers, parents, and children 
  3. Work with and be a liaison between the church and other community organizations, schools, people, and resources that relate to children and children’s ministries, children’s workers from other churches, para-church organizations, and secular youth organizations

Spiritual Requirements 

  1. Has a personal, active, and growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
  2. Agree with the Statement of Faith, Mission, Vision, and Core Values of Central Park Christian Church.
  3. Must be full of the Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6:3).
  4. Should have a measure of all of the fruits of the Spirit (Galations 5:22-23).
  5. Should possess the characteristics of an overseer (1 Timothy 3:2-7).
  6. A call to pastoral ministry from God.
  7. Spiritual gifts relevant to the position:
    • Pastor/Shepherd
    • Teaching
    • Administration. 

Job Requirements

  1. Able to share the Gospel of Jesus in an understandable way to children and their families.
  2. Ensure that the Child And Youth Abuse Prevention Program For Central Park Christian Church is observed in all children’s ministry settings. 
  3. In cooperation with the staff and Elders, develop a long-range plan for:
    • Newborn and Infant care 
    • Children’s Ministries
    • Middle and High School Student Ministries 
  4. Direct and oversee the entire youth and children’s ministry programming from nursery through high school. 
  5. Be an advocate for children and youth and educate the congregation about the hopes, concerns, and needs of children in the local church and community. 
  6. Foster good communication regarding the children’s, middle school, and high school ministry within the congregation and parents through newsletter articles, letters, texts, etc. 
  7. Recruit and train a team (known hereafter as “the team”) of teachers, sponsors, mentors to work with children/youth/students.
  8. Recognize that the team are volunteers and may have schedule changes and conflicts with little or no advance notice, and flexible to deal with these situations.   
  9. Organize and administer a program of active outreach to the children and youth of the neighborhood near CPCC.
  10. Able to develop relationships with children and parents (or caretakers) in such a way as to identify needs in children and make appropriate referrals to the caretaker for additional assistance.
  11. Ensure that the youth and children’s ministry is functioning in an effective, focused manner. 
  12. Able to guide and direct the work of summer interns, when applicable

Expectations of the position 

  1. Position is a full-time, exempt, contract position.
  2. A normal work week is 40 – 60 hours. 
  3. Hours are turned in weekly at staff meeting. 
  4. Adhere to the policies of CPCC and the direction of the Elders and Senior Pastor.
  5. Participate during Sunday morning services, assisting with leadership, and periodic teaching. 
  6. Ensure effective communications among, between, and to parents, congregation, and local schools.
  7. Develop and oversee budget and expenditures for the children’s and youth ministries’ department.
  8. Create an annual calendar of activities (including but not limited to: weekly programs, camps, VBS, etc.).
  9. Provide a monthly report to the Elders the status and plans for the children’s ministry. 
  10. Attend weekly staff meetings for prayer, planning, and sharpening leadership skills.
  11. Attend weekly prayer with staff and Elders
  12. Semi-annual performance review.

Duties of the position 

  1. With the assistance of the team (teachers, sponsors, mentors to work with children/youth/students), review, analyze and select or provide curriculum, organize, oversee, and lead: 
  2. Weekly nursery, children, and youth Sunday Christian Education classes
    • K-Motion (during Worship hour)
    • Weekly children’s meetings
    • Middle and High School youth group meetings 
  3. Facilitate and maintain age-appropriate discipleship 
  4. Meet quarterly with the team to pray and to discuss upcoming events, challenges, solutions, and praises 
  5. Provide training as needed.  
  6. Plan one major training/teambuilding workshop a year
  7. Oversee and execute the long-range plan for:
    • Newborn and Infant care 
    • Children’s Ministries
    • Middle and High School Student Ministries 
  8. Network with local schools and set up congregation volunteer involvement.
  9. Develop and participate in contacting/follow up ministry to children, middle school, and high school students who have visited the church 
  10. Ensure supplies are stocked in the nursery and all children and youth ministry areas.
  11. Make yourself available to children in a variety of ways (i.e. lunch at school, attendance at extracurricular activities, visitation, times of crisis, etc.) 
  12. Organize and implement special activities, such as retreats, mission trips, camps, etc., for appropriate age groups 
  13. Mentor upper-elementary, middle, and high school students in developing their leadership skills 
  14. Make hospital calls as needed, especially if children, middle school, and high school students are hospitalized 
  15. Organize fundraisers for student activities and events to make events more affordable to student families. 
  16. Facilitate quarterly fellowship gatherings with children and families.
  17. Provide (or refer) counseling and spiritual direction to children on an individual basis. 
  18. Other duties as assigned by the Senior Minister, elders, or the Personnel Committee.

Youth and Children’s Job Application

Physical Address:
Central Park Christian Church
1535 SW Clay St
Topeka, KS 66604

Contact:
Derek Slack
derek@centralparkcc.org

Website:
http://www.centralparkcc.org

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