Northwest Bible Church is a non-denominational, Bible-centered, evangelical church located in Hilliard, Ohio, a growing suburb on the northwest side of Columbus. The church is led by Lead Pastor Anthony Fusco, who came to Northwest just over two years ago, and is now leading the church through a season of cultural clarity, renewed expectations, and new vision. Northwest meets weekly on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. and currently sees around 1,000 in attendance.

The church operates within a complementarian framework and holds a high view of Scripture, emphasizing discipleship, family leadership, and the role of the local church in spiritual formation. Northwest places significant value on partnering with parents and equipping families to lead spiritually in the home, with student ministry serving as a key extension of that mission rather than a standalone environment.

The church is seeking the right candidate to take over as the new Student Pastor to oversee their entire student ministry at the church. The right candidate for this role will have a deep personal life in Christ and the character and capacity that align with the church’s overall mission and vision. Below are the qualifications and responsibilities Froot Group and the church have identified for this role:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Sunday Nights

• Prepare and deliver engaging, Bible-based messages weekly for middle and high school students.
• Lead engaging, safe, and structured weekly environments that include teaching, worship, small groups, and fellowship.
• Create an atmosphere where both churched and unchurched students feel welcomed, known, and able to process real life through a biblical lens.
• Build on the existing foundation while introducing improvements that move the ministry toward deeper discipleship and engagement.

Volunteer Leadership and Development

• Recruit, train, equip, and retain adult volunteers and student leaders.
• Provide ongoing spiritual leadership and discipleship to volunteers, helping them grow as leaders first.
• Lead regular volunteer meetings and annual vision casting to create alignment and momentum.
• Foster a team-oriented culture marked by ownership, clarity, and relational investment.

Student Discipleship and Pastoral Care

• Build meaningful relationships with students through consistent presence, mentorship, and pastoral leadership.
• Encourage spiritual growth, evangelism, and biblical maturity among students.
• Partner with parents as the primary disciplers, equipping and supporting them in that role.
• Provide pastoral care as needed, including prayer, crisis response, and family support.

Programming and Event Execution

• Plan and execute events such as camps, retreats, mission trips, service projects, and outreach opportunities.
• Manage event logistics including budgeting, communication, promotion, and execution.
• Ensure all environments are clear, engaging, and aligned with the overall ministry strategy.

Collaboration and Communication

• Work closely with pastoral staff to align student ministry with the broader mission and vision of the church.
• Communicate consistently and clearly with parents to build trust and engagement.
• Participate in staff meetings, prayer rhythms, and broader church initiatives.
• Contribute to the overall life of the church beyond student ministry as needed.

Strategy and Systems

• Develop and maintain systems for scheduling, communication, and follow-up.
• Track attendance, engagement, and ministry effectiveness to drive decisions.
• Balance time effectively between student ministry responsibilities and broader church involvement.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrates a mature and growing relationship with Jesus Christ, modeling spiritual leadership, consistency, and integrity in both personal life and ministry.
• Fully aligns with Northwest’s theology, leadership philosophy, and complementarian framework, and can clearly teach within those convictions.
• Proven experience leading student ministry environments, including preparing and preaching messages, building programming, and executing weekly ministry rhythms.
• Strong, engaging communicator with the ability to clearly teach Scripture and connect with students in a meaningful and applicable way.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and lead volunteer teams, creating ownership and multiplying leaders over time.
• Relationally strong with high emotional intelligence, able to build trust with students, parents, and volunteers while navigating challenges wisely.
• Self-starter who takes initiative, owns the ministry, and moves things forward without needing constant direction.
• Creative, forward-thinking leader who can design engaging environments and bring fresh vision while staying aligned with the church’s mission.
• Proven ability to lead through change, not just maintain existing systems, with the wisdom to communicate clearly and bring people along.
• Strong organizational instincts with the ability to create clarity, follow through, and maintain consistent ministry rhythms.
• Team-oriented leader who collaborates well with staff, contributes to church-wide initiatives, and addresses issues directly and constructively.
• Education
  • Bachelor’s degree in ministry, biblical studies, or a related field preferred but not required.
• Experience
  • Any experience in leading a student ministry is ideal; strong internship or residency experience at least is preferred.

Reports to: Executive Pastor