Next Gen Pastor
DEPARTMENT: Family Ministries
REPORTS TO: Executive Pastor
SCHEDULE: Sunday-Thursday, including Weekend Services and Wednesday evenings
CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time Exempt
Prairie Heights Overview
Prairie Heights exists to connect those apart from God with Christ and a church family. We believe the next generation is not just the future of the church, they are the church right now. From the moment a baby is dedicated to the day a senior walks across the stage, Prairie Heights is committed to creating environments where kids and students can have fun, be safe, and know Jesus. The Next Gen Pastor ensures that every family who walks through our doors knows their kids matter and that the local church is the best place for them to grow.
what prairie heights is looking for
Prairie Heights is looking for a leader who desires to build and grow a team of people who lead, mentor and empower others from birth to 18 years old. A strong communicator who can relate well to kids, students, parents, and the leaders who serve them. This person possesses a pastoral heart, strong leadership with adults, and the ability to equip both parents and volunteer teams to be the primary influencers in the spiritual formation of the next generation.
The Next Gen Pastor will be responsible for overseeing the full scope of Prairie Heights' Next Generation ministries: Prairie Heights Kids (birth through 5th grade) and Oxygen Student Ministries (6th through 12th grade). This role has two significant priorities. First, to support, lead, encourage, and care well for Next Gen staff, recognizing and modeling the culture and care we desire for people at Prairie Heights. Second, to directly lead Prairie Heights Kids ministries, including vision casting, volunteer team leadership, and curriculum oversight. This position is part of the Leadership Team.
what will you do
Next Gen Vision & Strategy
Provide and communicate vision, strategy, staff planning and direction for all Next Gen ministries at Prairie Heights (Prairie Heights Kids and Oxygen)
Lead the Next Gen team through annual strategy planning, objectives, budgets, and standards
Create a seamless ministry experience from birth through 18, ensuring smooth transitions between age-level environments (particularly 5th graders moving into Oxygen)
Coordinate parent engagement strategies across Prairie Heights Kids and Oxygen to equip families as the primary place of emotionally healthy spiritual growth
Typical work week: Sunday through Thursday, including all weekend services and Wednesday evenings
Next Gen Staff Leadership
Direct, support, and develop all Next Gen staff, including Kids Leaders, Kids Coordinator, and Youth Pastor in their daily work, emotionally healthy spiritual growth, and professional development.
Conduct regular one-on-one check-ins with staff focused on spiritual maturity, whole health, leadership growth, and core values alignment
Recruit, train, and empower volunteer leaders and volunteers as part of the Next Gen teams
Identify and develop volunteer leaders as vision carriers who own the mission and bring others along
Lead volunteers through the growth process: Volunteer-Apprentice-Leader-Coach
Prairie Heights Kids (Birth through 5th Grade)
Directly lead Prairie Heights Kids ministries, creating the vision and overseeing execution
Ensure excellent parent and child experiences in rooms and large group settings
Be the go-to person on Sundays and event days for parents and volunteers
Work collaboratively to equip parents beyond the Sunday Experience Connect with parents and kids so they feel valued and cared for
Execute spiritual growth processes for kids such as Yes! to Christ Sundays
Oversee curriculum strategy and implementation
Lead all aspects of the Prairie Heights Kids volunteer team, including scheduling, communication, training, and vision casting for birth through 5th grade
Oxygen/Student Ministries (6th through 12th Grade)
Support and mentor the Oxygen ministry team in building a vibrant middle and high school youth ministry
Bridge collaboration between Oxygen and Prairie Heights Kids to create seamless family ministry experiences
Partner with the Youth Pastor on vision, programming, events, and parent engagement
Provide oversight and accountability for student ministry environments, safety, and volunteer development
Pastoral Care
Participate in pastoral duties including weddings, funerals, hospital visits, and after-hours care, with a focus on families and individuals connected through Prairie Heights Kids or Oxygen
Expectations
We believe who you are matters more than what you do. Every staff member at Prairie Heights is expected to:
Be growing in their relationship with Jesus and let that show in how they live, not just how they lead
Stay committed to their own development and be willing to invest in others along the way
Own the mission personally, not just professionally, and look for ways to connect people to Christ and a church family
Show up for the team with humility, accountability, and a genuine desire to make each other better
Be someone who carries Prairie Heights' staff commitments into every room they walk into: Carry the Vision, Follow First, Build Trust Daily, Grow Consistently, Celebrate Often, and Love Our Community
Lead from Prairie Heights' core values, not just when it's easy but when it counts: Pursue Jesus, Choose Community, Serve People, and Give Generously
Required Qualifications
Committed follower of Jesus
Ordained pastor or in a pastoral track
5 years of next generation pastoral experience including care, teaching, spiritual direction, and mentorship
Successful history of building, leading, motivating, and growing effective teams
Demonstrated experience developing a vision, creating goals, and measuring growth
2 years of communication experience, specifically to kids or student audiences
Excellent communication skills: interpersonal, written, and verbal
Self-directed with ability to manage multiple projects successfully
Ability to develop short and long-range strategies to achieve departmental objectives and identify opportunities for future growth including staff planning
Commitment to the process of emotional health and self-care in all areas of life
Preferred Qualifications
History of leading in a large church or large organization (1,000+)
Educational background that includes human development, behavioral and/or classroom management Bachelor's degree in Ministry, Education, or related field
Background in recruiting, training, and leading large volunteer teams
Experience with children's ministry curriculum (such as Orange Curriculum)