Overview
Job Description: To develop and lead ministry to students & young adults which will be fun, engaging, and provide spiritual growth and discipleship to both churched and unchurched youth in our community. As part of our family ministry model, our student ministry incorporates large and small group environments at our FUSE Student Ministry on Sunday nights, utilizes the XP3 Orange curriculum, and aims to partner with and support parents and caregivers in their God given calling to be spiritual leaders at home.
o Competencies: Someone truly called to student ministry who is MISSION-MINDED (evangelistic) and PASSIONATE (called specifically) for serving teenagers, young adults, and their families. A person who can help develop structure for our FUSE volunteer teams and for our ministry efforts with this population. An authentic leader who will work to make relational connections throughout our Southern Maine community. This person will ideally strive to continue to educate themselves about youth culture today and will both embrace and enjoy working with diverse populations and perspectives. While this person does not need to currently be ordained, we seek a person with a clear vocational call to student ministry who is actively preparing for and dedicated to completing the course of study.
o Capacities: A TEAM PLAYER who works well with other church staff and church leadership, will be in unity with the mission, vision, and core values of First Light Nazarene, and who will serve as a resource and support for ministry volunteers. We desire for person to help align student ministry with the overall family ministry model of the church. This person should also be committed to the long-term development of community connections in South Portland. A LEADER who shares in the workload with our volunteers (servant leadership), discipling and pouring themselves into their volunteer leaders, our students, and their families. And a leader who is conscious of the challenging developmental transitions from elementary to middle school, middle school to high school, and high school to young adulthood.
o Character: We’re seeking a candidate who is authentically RELATIONAL, as well as energetic and engaging, with an age-appropriate practice of well-being. A leader displaying balance and a sustainably paced lifestyle. It is also vital that they be teachable and open to receiving help from others. This person would be expected to display an appropriate level of spiritual maturity and commitment to personal development, sabbath care, marital and family heath, and discipleship.
A regional cultural fit and/or appreciation for this North Eastern US culture is important. If married, we’re looking for a ministry couple who mutually supports one another in their dual calling. Music abilities and/or technical skills would be a welcomed asset as we are also looking for mentorship and development of a student worship team and additional support in Sunday morning worship with a contemporary worship style (Think Hillsong, Elevation etc). Regarding technology, we primarily use Apple computer hardware and software such as Pro Presenter, for visual display, and planning center for scheduling, worship, and service order. Any candidate must also be open to supporting teens in their various interests (music, sports, band, skateboarding, board games, video gaming, VR, comic books, dungeons and dragons, anime or whatever). No one is expected to like all things, but pastoral candidates should be open to relationally loving students where they are and engaging them in their passions and interests in a redemptive manner.
About First Light South Portland Church of the Nazarene
First Light Church of the Nazarene is a historic congregation in the Nazarene denomination and has been in existence for over 120 years! Founded in 1900, originally as an independent Holiness congregation, it became one of the 1st Nazarene Churches on the Eastern seaboard. First Light Church also has a vibrant day-care ministry, “Lighthouse School”, which recently celebrated its 50thanniversary. During its existence, Lighthouse School has cared for countless children in our community, including family of 2 former US presidents! (Yes, we had secret service in our building for a time!) Now in 2024, our church will be undergoing another season of re-invention, as we are looking for outstanding pastoral candidates, to partner with us, in one of the most beautiful and yet unchurched areas in the entire United States. Join us in our mission. . . “to create experiences that light the way to a growing relationship with Jesus”!
Located in Southern Maine, about 90-minutes north of Boston, South Portland is a coastal community directly on the Atlantic Ocean and minutes south of Portland, the largest city in Maine. Maine is known as “vacationland” for a reason, boasting an abundance of outdoor activities, with many lakes, mountains, forests, and coastal communities. South Portland is a suburban/urban gem, very close to the Portland Airport, route 95, the historic Portland Headlight Lighthouse, as well as numerous beaches. And for the techies out there, we are very close to the Apple Store in the Maine Mall in South Portland. Portland was also recently ranked #4 on the list of 100 Best Places to Live in America and #1 on Food Networks best cities for foodies!
