Children’s Pastor

Come Help Us Open the Door for the Next Generation

If you love kids, believe parents are a child’s most important spiritual leaders, and want to build a ministry where children are treated as the church today (not just the church of tomorrow), we’d love to hear from you.

The Woods is looking for a Children’s Pastor to lead our children’s ministry (Woods Children’s Ministries, or WCM) as a full-time member of our pastoral team.

Who We Are

Wanamaker Woods Church of the Nazarene gathers in southwest Topeka to help people encounter Jesus, take steps of faith, and find community. We are a diverse group of people from many backgrounds and walks of life, with a hunger to introduce people to the real Jesus, lead the way with compassion, and open the door for the next generation.

• Weekly attendance: 265
• Children in WCM: 30 birth through 5th grade
• Volunteer team: 10-15 regular volunteers
• Services and programs: Sunday morning, midweek, special events
• Lead Pastor: Michael De Haan

Why This Role Matters

We believe children’s ministry is one of the most important tasks in the life of our church. This pastor will shape how kids and families experience Jesus and connect to the church. This pastor will also help parents become the primary spiritual leaders in their homes.

What we hope this person will help us build: We want a safe place where children are excited to be there.  We hope this person will help make learning about Jesus exciting—not just a day care for kids while their parents are in service. We also hope this person will help us build a ministry that includes a wide range of children and their diversities.

What You’ll Do

Reporting to the Lead Pastor, you will:

Lead the ministry

• Cast and carry the vision for WCM with families, volunteers, and the wider community
• Recruit, train, and care for the volunteer teams that make Sunday and every other gathering possible
• Set annual and quarterly goals that align with the overall vision of The Woods, and honestly evaluate how we did
• Manage the WCM budget

Reach and shepherd kids

• Create a safe, relevant, and engaging space where kids who don’t yet know Christ can connect with other kids and caring leaders
• Provide pastoral care to children, families, and volunteers
• Plan and lead major seasonal and outreach events

Equip parents

• Connect with parents each week and give them practical tools to lead their child’s spiritual growth at home

Serve on our team

• Participate in staff meetings and work closely with the Lead Pastor and other staff
• Take on other ministry and operational responsibilities as they arise

What a Typical Week Might Look Like

• Sunday mornings leading WCM kid’s church, Sunday School, Nursery, Bible Quizzing
• Wednesday evenings leading WCM kid’s program
• Weekday time for planning, volunteer follow-up, and parent communication
• Tuesday Staff meetings
• Fridays off

Who We’re Looking For

Heart and character

Most important to us is who you are, and we’re looking for someone who:

• Has a growing, authentic relationship with Jesus, so that ministry flows out of your own daily walk with God
• Practices regular Bible study, prayer, and worship, and is sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading
• Is part of a small group, shares their faith with people outside the church, and welcomes honest feedback and accountability
• Takes initiative and responsibility, pursues excellence, and stays open-handed and humble
• Is a team builder who cares about the good of the whole church
• Lives with healthy rhythms for their spiritual, relational, emotional, financial, and physical wellbeing
• Has a heart for Topeka and for reaching its children and families with the gospel

Skills and experience

• A track record of recruiting, leading, and developing volunteer teams
• Ability to engage and manage a large group of children, and to communicate warmly with families, with a listening ear
• Strong organization, project management, and attention to detail
• Experience in or training for education or classroom management
• Experience or training in welcoming children with special needs or learning differences
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; about three years of children’s or youth ministry experience preferred

Don’t meet every item? Please still reach out. We care most about your heart, character, and ability to build teams, and we’re happy to help you grow in the rest.

Helpful tools (can be learned on the job)

ProPresenter, Planning Center Online, MailChimp, Text-in-Church, Adobe Photoshop or Canva, and Microsoft Office or Mac equivalents

Faith and doctrine

The Woods is a Church of the Nazarene. We ask that you agree with, and are able to teach, the Church of the Nazarene’s Articles of Faith and Covenant of Christian Conduct. Local church membership is a requirement. We will support licensing and help with the Course of Study, pursuit to Ordination—however, ordination is not a requirement for this position.

What We Offer

• Position: Full-time, exempt, pastoral staff
• Compensation: $35,000-$43,000
• Benefits: Retirement and Housing allowance (if applicable), paid time off, holidays
• Growth: Continuing education budget, mentoring, coaching available
• Relocation: Assistance available if needed

A Safe Place for Every Child

Protecting children is central to our ministry. All staff and volunteers working with children complete background checks and follow The Woods’ child safety policies. In addition, all staff and volunteers will be asked to participate in additional training to help relate to kids coming from trauma backgrounds.

How to Apply

Send the following to Pastor Michael at michael@wwnaz.org:

• A résumé
• A brief note about your calling to children’s ministry and why The Woods interests you
• Three references (personal, professional, ministry)