The Director of Kid's Ministry at Lovers Lane UMC is responsible for overseeing all ministries and programs involving families and children from birth through 6th grade within our faith community. As a key member of the Family Ministries Team, the Director will collaborate closely with the church’s leadership, including the Director of Family Ministries and other Kids Ministry leaders, to develop and implement strategies that engage children and families in meaningful weekly programs, ministries, and events. Working in partnership with the pastoral staff and other ministry leaders, the Director will create a comprehensive calendar of activities designed to nurture the spiritual growth of families in our diverse congregation. Additionally, the Director will be tasked with building and leading a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, all committed to discipling and guiding children and their families toward our mission of love ALL into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

About Lovers Lane United Methodist Church:
Lovers Lane United Methodist Church (LLUMC) has two locations and hosts eight services a week, as well as numerous ministries and a variety of global missions, all serving the diverse communities of the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the world. The LLUMC main campus is in vibrant North Dallas at the intersection of Northwest Highway and Inwood Road. Walnut Hill Church (Walnut Hill), a ministry of LLUMC, located a few miles away in North Dallas, is a part of the greater LLUMC family. The church also houses Wesley Prep, a school with hundreds of children six months through sixth grade, supports the nation's largest 12-Step ministry, and is a local and global ministry leader. LLUMC also houses several 501(c) entities and a Foundation that are critical to the church's growth and mission.

Position Type: Full-time, salaried

Benefits: 403(b) matching; health, dental, vision and life insurance; paid time off

Direct Supervisor: Director of Family Ministries

Teams: Leads the Kids Ministry Team; Works closely with the Family Ministries Team

Campus: Lovers Lane UMC

Anticipated Schedule: Monday-Thursday 8:30 – 5:00 pm; Sundays 7:30 – 12:30 pm. During certain times of the year, additional hours may be necessary to meet the position’s demands. All church staff will be asked to support and serve for religious holidays and worship services, including Christmas Eve and Easter.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

We require a committed Christian who is called to Kid’s Ministry, comfortable working in a United Methodist Church, and:

• Understands the church’s mission, vision, and values and upholds the staff covenant.
• Is flexible, dedicated, dependable, and a self-starter.
• Is capable of effective, relevant communication with students, parents, volunteers, and staff.
• Is creative, fresh thinking, and quickly spots the needs for change and influences stakeholders to adapt and maximize.
• Is effective at coaching, encouraging, and resourcing individuals and teams to discover their calling and meet career and church goals.
• Is capable of developing highly effective teams, whether supervised or informal, where individuals with diverse skills achieve complex goals.
• Has an understanding and appreciation of Wesleyan Doctrine.
• Has a love for people, especially children, and a willingness to connect with them and create environments that facilitate spiritual growth.

Primary Responsibilities
The Director of Kids Ministry is responsible for casting vision for the program, delivering large group messages, supervising the Kid’s team, expanding the size and quality of the ministry, partnering/equipping parents, and representing LLUMC KIDS to the LLUMC Leadership Team and the wider congregation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Leadership: Provide direction for the Kids Ministry by continually assessing and evaluating programs. Ensure ministries meet key metrics and benchmarks to achieve growth in engagement and participation.
• Program Development: Develop or modify ministries and programs to meet the needs, fulfill the potential, and accomplish the vision of LLUMC for our children and families.
• Discipleship: Develop and implement a unified and cohesive vision for discipleship, including overall curriculum and activities. This includes tools and resources for families to shepherd and disciple their child(ren) at home.
• Parents: Plan and oversee the execution of parent seminars, family events, and activities.
• Serving: Develop and implement children and family serving opportunities.
• Communication: Develops and delivers clear communications (verbal and written) with parents to increase confidence and awareness of programming,
• Administrative: Manage all administrative aspects of the Kids Ministry, such as budgets, records, communications, etc.
• Mentorship: Offer spiritual guidance and mentorship to staff, volunteers, and families. Create opportunities for discipleship and encourage others to deepen their relationship with Christ through one-on-one conversations and invitations to faith-based activities.
• Staff & Volunteer Management: Lead, mentor, and provide direction to staff, including goal setting, performance evaluation, and conflict resolution. Recruit, manage, motivate, and equip volunteers, building effective teams by identifying and empowering high-capacity leaders.
• Collaboration: Work closely with other ministry areas to design and implement cohesive programming that aligns with the broader church mission. Ensure coordination across different ministry events and initiatives.
• Event Oversight: Oversee the planning and execution of special events, such as Vacation Bible School (VBS), Summer Camps, and other significant church events.
• Teaching: Prepare and deliver messages and teachings in class, group, conference, and the Children's Moment in worship settings.
• Counseling: Provide spiritual counseling to families and children and refer them to pastoral care when necessary.
• Community Engagement: Maintain an active and visible presence within the community, representing the church and its ministries effectively.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Desired Skills:
• Undergrad Degree
• Master’s degree preferred
• 3+ years in Ministry
• Leadership and management experience
• Teaching/preaching experience
• Strong knowledge of United Methodism theology

Preferred Software Experience:
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Google Suite

Physical Demands:
• ☒ Sitting ☒ Standing ☒ Walking ☒ Seeing ☒ Hearing
• ☒ Speaking ☒ Lifting/carrying up to 10 pounds ☒ Fine Motor Skills

How to Apply:
Email a cover letter and resume to Elliott Gonzalez at
Contact email: elliottg@llumc.org
Contact Phone: 816.876.9488

Employment Opportunities