Director of Student Ministries

Job Details

Grace Fellowship Church is a non-denominational church in East Tennessee (Kingsport) set in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. Our current Director of Student Ministries is planting a church in partnership with our fellowship in another part of our city. He is leaving an established ministry that is ready to take the next step in growing and reaching teenagers with the gospel. Our Student Ministry currently consists of approximately 40 students and a solid team of volunteers. As we desire to continue to reach the next generation with the gospel, we are looking for someone who is committed to making disciples, embracing the mission of our church and enhancing the culture of our teams. We are a church of approximately 350-400 people and desire to be used by God to reach our community with the gospel of Jesus as we engage in intentional, relational discipleship following the methods of Jesus. This is a full time role that oversees 6-12th grade students.

Kingsport is a growing community that boasts incredible outdoors opportunities to explore, great school systems, a downtown that is being revitalized and adding new retail and restaurants, while offering easy connectivity to North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. Kingsport is a great place to raise a family, or retire! We are part of the Tri-Cities, Kingsport, Bristol and Johnson City, each being about 20-30 miles apart. Kingsport has the most to offer for great community events, recreation and relational connections in our humble opinion!

Grace Fellowship is a 21 year old church that is excited about the future! If you are looking for a great church and team to be part of, we invite you to apply to join us! We are excited to hire someone who will relationally engage with students, equip adult leaders and make disciples using the methods and teachings of Jesus. Being able to teach God's Word with passion and conviction while helping students connect with Jesus in a life-changing way should be a priority. We utilize events and activities to engage students and reach people for the purpose of evangelism and discipleship.

The Job Description is posted below. Please contact us if you are interested in applying for this position! To see more of who we are, please visit gracekingsport.org.

Purpose of Position

Lead and develop Grace Fellowship’s ministry to students (grades 6–12) and their families, cultivating relationships and environments where students encounter Jesus, grow as followers of Jesus, and engage in the mission of making disciples who make disciples. This includes leadership development, parent partnership, event coordination, and alignment with the overall mission, vision, and values of Grace Fellowship Church- Kingsport.

Accountability & Relationships

Reports To: Lead Pastor
Works Closely With: Elders, Staff Team, Student Ministry Leaders, Parents, and Students
Expected Workload: Full-Time – 40 Hours/Week

GFC Mission and Vision

Mission: Go and make disciples
Vision: Be a community of people being transformed by the gospel who love and serve where we live, work and play.

Key Responsibilities

• Ministry Leadership & Oversight
  
  • Provide spiritual and organizational leadership for the Student Ministry (6th–12th grades).
    
  • Plan and lead mid-week student gatherings, small groups, mission trips, service events, and camps.
    
  • Develop and implement a discipleship strategy consistent with GFC’s disciple-making model and our 7 Essentials of Disciple Making (described in interview process).
    
  • Identify, recruit, equip, and empower adult and student leaders to serve in the ministry.
    
  • Create a relational environment where students are known, loved, and challenged to grow in faith.
    
  • Strategically assess spiritual formation benchmarks for students annually.
    
  • Oversee Student Ministry budget, resources, and communication channels.
    
• Parent & Family Partnership
  
  • Partner with parents in the discipleship of their teenagers.
    
  • Communicate consistently and effectively through digital updates, in-person meetings, and events.
    
  • Host regular Parent Ministry Meetings (currently bi-annual) to inform, equip, and encourage families.
    
  • Collaborate with the Children’s Ministry Director for a unified Family Ministry strategy (birth through graduation).
• Leadership Development
  
  • Identify and train volunteer leaders and student leaders for ministry and life impact.
    
  • Develop clear leadership pathways and growth opportunities within the Student Ministry.
    
  • Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and encouragement to all volunteers.
    
  • Host regular leader training and appreciation events.
    
• Church & Team Collaboration
  
  • Actively participate in weekly Staff Team meetings and contribute to church-wide initiatives.
    
  • Attend weekly one-on-one meetings with the Lead Pastor for personal check-ins, coaching and support.
    
  • Support church-wide events and functions, serving as a team player to advance the overall mission of Grace Fellowship.
    
  • Provide input on broader family ministry direction and transitions between children, student, and adult ministries.
    
• Personal Ministry & Spiritual Life
  
  • Abide in Christ daily, modeling a vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus.
    
  • Maintain a personal rhythm of spiritual disciplines, rest, and family health.
    
  • Participate regularly in Sunday worship and a small group.
    
  • Shepherd students and families through pastoral care, mentoring, and prayer as needed.
    
  • Continue personal development through reading, podcasts, conferences, and ministry training.

Qualifications & Competencies

• Demonstrated experience leading Student Ministry (volunteer or staff).
  
• Proven ability to recruit, equip, and lead ministry teams.
  
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
  
• Self-starter with organizational and time-management strengths.
  
• Theological alignment with Grace Fellowship’s Mission, Vision, and Values.
  
• (Preferred) Bachelor’s degree or seminary training in ministry or related field.
  
• Core Competencies
  •  Vision Casting: Communicates a compelling vision for the overall ministry and for disciple-making among students and families.
    
  • Coaching & Development: Invests intentionally in others for spiritual and leadership growth.
    
  • Respect & Collaboration: Models humility and unity across teams and ministries.
    
  • Problem Solving: Addresses challenges with wisdom, creativity, and biblical insight.
    
  • Recruiting: Actively identifies and invites others into ministry roles.

Physical and Practical Expectations

• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs and participate in offsite ministry events.
  
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as ministry requires.
  
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel for camps, retreats, and mission trips.

Mission & Alignment

The Student Pastor will:

• Model Christlike character and servant leadership.
  
• Champion the mission, vision, and core values of Grace Fellowship Church.
  
• Build and sustain a healthy ministry culture centered on intentional, relational discipleship and relational connection.
  
• Ensure every aspect of Student Ministry contributes to the larger mission: making disciples of Jesus who make disciples.

Annual Focus Areas (To Be Reviewed Annually)

• The spiritual health and overall well-being of the Director of Student Ministries
  
• Spiritual health and leadership development of students and volunteers.
  
• Parent and family engagement in discipleship.
  
• Consistent communication and ministry alignment with staff and elders.
  
• Development and mentoring of emerging student leaders.
  
• Execution of key ministry events and annual calendar.

Salary: $50,000-$60,000

Application Link: Send your resume and cover letter describing yourself and your philosophy of ministry to joel@gracekingsport.org