Youth Director – St. Johns Methodist Church of Aiken Position Available In Aiken, South Carolina

Youth Director – St. John’s Methodist Church of Aiken
Vanderbloemen Search Group
Aiken, South Carolina, United States

Date Posted:

05/23/2025

Categories:

Youth Pastor

Denominations:

Church Size:

Not Applicable

Job Type:

Full-Time

Employee Workplace:

On-site Job Description:

Here
Youth Director – St. John’s Methodist Church
Aiken, SC Independent Methodist

WEEKLY ATTENDANCE

600 Meet St. John’s Methodist Church St. John’s Methodist Church is known for honoring the past while being poised for the future. We were founded in 1856 as a mission church to a newmunity and that attitude of weing change is still with us. When the Department of Energy chose Aiken as the location of the Savannah River National Laboratory back during the Cold War, St. John’s decided to tear down its historic sanctuary and build a bigger one to house the influx of thousands of neers. That says a lot! We have been adding on ever since. We have three Sunday morning services, with two that are traditional, and we have a state-of-the-art building for a large contemporary service with an excellent praise band. St. John’s has adapted to the needs of themunity and congregation with vision and enthusiasm throughout its history. Our facilities are excellent and debt-free which frees up abundant resources for ministry! The church occupies a whole city block in downtown Aiken, South Carolina, a city that has been voted by Southern Living magazine as one of “The Top Ten Small Towns in the South.” The public has voted St. John’s, three out of the last 4 years, as “Aiken’s Best Place to Worship.” With 2,300 members, we’re known as “The Smallest Big Church in America” through the warmth and friendliness of the congregation. We are the place thatmunity groups use for their many programs. We wee people through our Recovery Programs, multiple indoor pickleball courts, use of our gym for AAU Basketball, practices for the annual Aiken Heart Board Show which have been held for 40 years running, and two Lions Clubs plus two D.A.R. chapters meet . We host Red Cross Drives, and the Community July Fourth Extravaganza at which we offer a picnic for the city! We are the go-to place for All-County Chorus presentations as well as high school andmunity concerts featuring the Julliard School, The University of South Carolina Chorus and Symphony, and our Chancel Choir has just received an auditioned invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall in January 2026 in tribute to Sir Karl Jenkins and his Stabat Mater. St. John’s is a vibrant church. We are a creedal orthodox Arminian church that believes that the “method” in Methodism is a personal relationship with Jesus that works itself out in mutual love and accountability. Our proclamation and teaching reflect a practical application of the Wesleyan emphasis on sanctifying grace as our most distinctive doctrine; i.e., “We don’t believe God d us through Jesus to leave us the way He found us but to transform us and the world.” We live into this orthodox faith as an independent Methodist congregation. St. John’s voted in 2024 to separate from the UMC by a vote of 88% to 12% and have been thriving. We are hugely missional. St. John’s has many mission-partners around the world and dozens locally. Between our Methodist Men and their wheelchair-ramp ministry and the Methodist Women’s Apple Fest plus our Mission Impact Celebration we give close to $500,000 above and beyond our budget to missions! We also host Grace Kitchen every Saturday to minister to our homeless population. We also host and manage a large teen summer program for rehabbing homes that draws people state-wide. We are like a church mall with a few anchor stores and numerous boutiques. Anchors would be Worship, Missions, Music and Discipleship Ministries. Ancillary boutiques would be Sunday School, Discipleship Groups (D-Groups), Children, Youth, Young Adults, Senior Adults, Stephen Ministry, Shepherd of Love visitation ministry, Methodist Women, Methodist Men, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Kairos Prison Ministry, Joseph’s Coat Ministry, Guy’s Night Out, Grief, Dementia Support, Youth Band, Handbells, Youth and Children’s Choirs, Sunday Morning Bus Ministry, as well as numerous Bible Studies. Between anchor store and boutique is a superb pre-school that ministers to 138 students, six weeks to Kindergarten. We want you to help us grow and expand all our ministries! About the Youth Director The Youth Director is responsible for the Christian development of St. John’s Youth by coordinating programs, buildingmunity relationships,anizing events, managing tasks, and promoting spiritual growth. The Youth Director will implement weekly, monthly and yearly events through recruiting and shepherding youth and families. They will also manage the Youth Advisory Council and volunteers for all events. The Youth Director’s responsibilities include: Shepherding Foster relationships between the congregation and youth ministry.
Connect with youth and families on a weekly basis.
Encourage spiritual growth in youth, leaders, and parents.
Maintain pastoral discretion with youth and families.
Ensure parents are confident with the nurturing of their youth. Volunteers Recruit, train, and coordinate volunteers for all youth ministries: Sunday and Wednesday Night Youth Fellowship, monthly events, retreats.
Provide resources to volunteers for spiritual growth.
Follow Safe Sanctuary Policies and report necessary information to clergy. Programing Follow the direction of the Senior Director of Discipleship Ministries by coordinating with the Youth Advisory Council and volunteers to implement programs involving youth and their families (weekly youth programing, retreats, missions, and camps).
Under the direction of Senior Director of Discipleship Ministries and Church Council coordinate with the Youth Advisory Council to implement annual goals, budget, and ministries for youth.
Coordinate andanize Youth Fellowship meetings on Sunday and Wednesday evenings.
Create a weing atmosp for all youth events.
Coordinate all youth activities, including worship participation.
Meet participation targets for youth events.
Coordinate, lead, andanize youth Sunday School and Bible studies.
Managemunication with youth and parents, newsletters, and social media. Community and Relationship Building Connect with local high and middle schools.
Go to Middle School and High School events- such as sporting events and fundraisers.
Find ways to meet with new students in themunity while upholding Safe Sanctuary. Additional Responsibilities Nurture personal spirituality through prayer, Bible study, and worship.
Participate in continuing education for the Youth Ministry.
Attend weekly staff meetings (unless absence is approved by your supervisor).
Maintain a positive culture and team spirit among the St. John’s staff by modeling the core values of the church and supporting the Senior Minister’s vision for the church.
Other duties as assigned by the Senior Director of Discipleship Ministries. What you bring The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the

Youth Director:

Education and experience
Undergrad required. A Bachelors in Christian Education / Education preferred
1+ Years Ministry Experience
Knowledge, skills, and abilities
Proven leadership abilities
Passion for working with children and families
Stronganizational skills
Proficient in planning and coordination
Experience in event planning (preferred)
Ability to coordinate and manage volunteers
Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills
What it’s like to live in Aiken, SC Living in Aiken, SC, offers a warm and weingmunity, particularly for those who value faith and church life. With a number of historic churches, both large and small, Aiken provides a variety of opportunities for worship, fellowship, and service. The local churches play a central role in themunity, hosting regular services, seasonal events, and outreach programs that bring people together. The peaceful, small-town atmosp, paired with a strong sense of tradition and spirituality, makes Aiken a nurturing environment for families seeking a faith-centered lifestyle.