For Water Street Mission to fulfill its mission and purpose, it is critical for all staff to participate in the development and maintenance of a healthy Christian Community. By living out our faith with one another and creating a space where our guests are invited to experience that community with us, we participate in lives being restored. Even as some positions have minimal direct contact with guests, each staff member has an essential role in forming and maintaining Christian community. The love of Christ, evidenced in our Water Street community, is the real impetus for change with our guests.
Job Summary: Responsible for developing, managing and growing Teen Haven youth programs as a part of WSM’s Next Gen Ministries.
FLSA: Non-exempt; Full-time
All Water Street Mission Staff must be:
Willing to sign the Water Street Ministries’ Statement of Faith.
A current and active member and/or regular attendee of a local church.
Able to fully support the Water Street Mission core values and ministry philosophy.
Essential Functions:
Culture and Values
• Share the Good News of Jesus Christ in words and actions with people we serve, communicating hope and dignity.
• Walk alongside fellow WSM staff in Christian community as we journey toward maturity.
• Encourage restoration in the lives of guests, recognizing we are each restored by God to become restorers.
• Work in full coordination with other WSM staff, at all times to identify, report and respond appropriately to any potential threats to the safety and wellbeing of guests.
• Embody, encourage and communicate a team and ministry culture which fully reflects WSM’s purpose, mission and values.
Role Specific Responsibilities:
• Partner with Director and other program managers to develop and execute a year-round program for middle school and high school-aged youth in the City of Lancaster, with a focus on building foundations for faith, trust, personal wholeness and lifelong learning.
• Minister directly children and teens sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, engaging them in healthy community and spiritual formation, equipping them in various life skills, socio-emotional skills and leadership skills; including, but not limited to planning, leading and teaching lessons and activities which help students build these foundations and will include activities which are gender-specific, age-specific, and some mixed
• Develop healthy on-going relationships with youth, guided by Christian faith.
• Participate in the development and management of the Teen Haven programs, as a whole, sharing skill and expertise across the staff team to benefit all youth programs so that how we serve is a true expression of our purpose, mission and values.
• Uphold the culture of Teen Haven’s by creating a safe, fun, and loving environment for students to succeed physically, emotionally, socially, collectively, and independently.
• Develop trusting partnerships with parents to further the wellbeing of students and families.
• Work alongside Next Gen teams to develop strong coordination and relational bridges for students and families across Wonder Academy, Teen Haven, and Compass.
• Develop and engage in existing and new youth outreach and recruitment strategies including but not limited to SDOL schools, clubs, athletics, youth centers, etc.
• Recruit, train and supervise volunteers, as requested by Director.
• Develop and engage in community partnerships to service youth of Lancaster City.
• Assist in representing Teen Haven among donors and community partners.
• Maintain and update Teen Haven’s social media platforms, as assigned by Director.
• Oversee daily operations and maintain facility and vehicles, as assigned by Director.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Teen Haven.
Education/Experience: High School Diploma/GED. Postsecondary coursework in relevant skill sets preferred. A minimum of two years’ experience in human services, ministry, preferably an urban youth ministry, valid driver’s license. Ability to operate a 15-passenger van. Competent in Microsoft Office.
Reports To: Teen Haven Director
Key Internal Relationships: Teen Haven teammates and other Next Gen Ministries teammates
Physical Demands: Occasionally = 1%-33%; Frequently = 34%-66%; Continuously = 67%-100%
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.
Stand, walk, or sit - continuously
Use hands to finger, handle, or feel - continuously
Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds - occasionally
Weekend and evening availability -continuously
Christian Life:
Water Street Mission is a privately funded 501(c)3 non-profit, evangelical Christian ministry. Our designated purpose is religious, and we are a Christ-centered ministry that is dedicated to sharing the Gospel and helping the homeless and impoverished. We consider every position to be essential in the fulfillment of our ministry and purpose statement. As such, each employee must have a relationship with Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. All employees must:
Be able and willing to share the Gospel and participate in the ministry activities of Water Street Mission.
Subscribe to the Water Street Mission Statement of Faith and Qualifications of Employment upon hire and continuously while employed.
Adhere to the Water Street Mission Employee Handbook.