Employment

Hope Grimes Student Ministry creates safe spaces, fosters authentic relationships, and reveals who God is and has called us to be through equipping and empowering students to launch forward with a confident faith in Jesus Christ.

The SMTL is responsible for carrying out the student ministry vision for Hope Grimes* under the direction of the Campus Pastor: Worship & Discipleship and in cooperation with the Campus Team Leaders and the Hope Grimes’ Student Ministry Advisory Team.

* Hope Grimes is a campus of Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, aligned with Hope’s Mission, Vision & Values, operated by the Directors Team (Andy Hermanson – Lead Pastor; Murph Hutson – Campus Pastor: Worship & Discipleship; Jill Hartquist – Operations Director) under the authority of the Senior Pastor(Mike Housholder); Lead Minister – Operations (Chris Gunnare); and the Hope Network Lead Minister (Bill Withers).

• Faith Former – The SMTL ensures all activities are grounded in God’s Word and encourage spiritual habits(prayer, Scripture, worship, journaling, reflection) so that students experience a Jesus-centered formation.

• Masterful Mobilizer – The SMTL actively recruits, equips and empowers volunteer teams to execute all plans for student ministry activities.

• Operational Organizer – The SMTL creates an individual plan, including backup plans (e.g. rain plan), for each of the volunteer teams to execute at any student ministry activity.

• Comprehensive Communicator – The SMTL will communicate in clear, concise, relevant (both content and platform), respectful and timely manners to ensure all involved have what they need for success.

• Community Collaborator –The SMTL regularly connects with community partners (e.g. schools, coaches, community leaders/events, etc.) in order to expand the ministry’s reach/impact outside the walls of Hope Grimes.

• Ensure teams are equipped to execute the plan for the week by Monday each week

• Ensure curriculum standards are met in teaching and small group time

• Ensure communication is clear, concise, relevant (content and platform), respectful

and timely (minimum 2 weeks for Production, Worship, Teachers)

• Ensure each student ministry team has the resources needed for success

• Ensure PCO** Plan is accurate and up to date so that all teams know the plan

• Ensure setup/teardown occur on same day to minimize impact on other ministries

(e.g. preschool, Bible studies, etc.)

• Ensure Genesis*** and Communication forms are turned in on time for all related

activities inside/outside the building

• Ensure feedback loops are active and utilized (Staff L10**** – weekly; Advisory Board – monthly; Student/Parent/Volunteer – quarterly)

• Ensure visibility at all weekend worship services, as well as Christmas, Easter, VBS, and other garage door events for connecting with congregants/volunteers whether assigned a specific role or not for the service/event

• Ensure preparation occurs, when addressing any group, at a high-quality level

• Ensure a calendar for entire year is created and distributed

• Ensure students actively engage in weekend worship through coordinating service opportunities (hospitality, food, HopeKids, nursery, Bible Reading, Production)

• Ensure mandatory reporting practices followed and know when to refer student to counselors (pastoral and/or clinical)

• Ensure adherence to the Lutheran Church of Hope Staff Covenant for spiritual, personal and professional relationships and behavior. 

• Ensure maintenance of a vital and growing personal walk with the Lord through committed Bible study, prayer and personal learning. 

• Ensure commitment to reflect in the best light Lutheran Church of Hope, its staff, and the mission, vision, and values of its Constitution, and the LCMC.*****

** Planning Center Online planningcenteronline.com

*** Genesis/Communication Plans are the forms all staff fill out when planning ministry activities both on and offsite. Nothing happens in the building without this form being filled out. It is how we communicate building availability to all staff and congregants.

**** Hope Grimes incorporates a local leadership approach modeled after Traction by Geno Wickman. From Traction: “The Level 10 (L10) Meeting Agenda is designed to keep your leadership team focused on what’s most important on a weekly basis…. [The L10] helps you spot developing problems and then drives you to solve them” (p.190).

***** LCMC is Hope’s Denomination Affiliation. LCMC stands for Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ. lcmc.net

• Spiritually Mature and Biblically Rooted – Leads from a deep personal walk with Jesus, holding a high view of Scripture as sole authority. Theologically-aligned with a Lutheran (biblical) lens on the balance between Law & Gospel and holds firm to the five solas: With Scripture Alone as my sufficient authority, I know that I am saved by Grace Alone, through Faith Alone, in Christ Jesus Alone, and to God Alone Be the Glory. Additionally, must believe in the Priesthood of All Believers, as well as Hope’s Mission, Vision and Values (cf. Section II).

• Relationally Present – Builds authentic relationships with students, parents, volunteers, schools, the community, and with regional Kairos and Revive leaders. Develop strong relationships with parents to maintain a culture of transparency, trust, and equipping of parents to lead spiritually at home. Adaptable and flexible enough to remain available and engaged while also maintaining healthy boundaries. We desire aleader who is the same up front, in the trenches, in the community and at home.

• Emotionally Intelligent and Culturally Aware – Reads the room, manages conflict with grace, and connects with today’s youth culture – physically, digitally, relationally and spiritually.

• Masterfully Mobilizing – Sees the potential in others and seeks to bring the right people together for the sake of mission and ministry. Not a lone ranger. One who constantly and consistently seeks to recruit, equip, empower and send out new leaders in the ministry.

• Equipping Mindset – Develops and disciples adult leaders and student leaders alike, seeing this a s primary role in his/her leadership, not an afterthought.

• Visionary and Strategic – Thinks long-term by building structures, innovating with Hope’s Mission, and meeting students where they are through language and pedagogical approaches that are appropriate to our students’ level of development.

• Completely Committed – Sees Student Ministry as a calling and not a steppingstone to another opportunity. We seek a long-term leader in this role.

• Confidently Called – Owns the room, speaking with authority, while being humble enough to pass the torch where needed for the sake of ministry.

• Attitude of Gratitude – Feels blessed to be leading such an impactful ministry and grateful for the students who are present and the volunteers who have said yes.

• Previous Student Ministry Experience – Not required but strongly preferred as this ministry serves 400+ students and 100+ volunteers.

• Hours: Full-time – 40 hours per week

• Pay and Benefits: Commensurate with Position & Experience, based upon National Wage Survey(s) of Comparative Churches