Student Pastor

Job Description

Job Description

Ridge Christian (Coweta Campus)

NextGen Minister

Coweta, Oklahoma

Ridge Christian–Coweta is a close-knit, community-centered church seeking a Next Gen Minister to lead and grow its student ministry (6th–12th grade) while providing oversight and support to volunteer leaders in children’s ministry. This role offers a unique opportunity to step into a healthy, relational ministry with strong volunteer engagement and meaningful influence among both churched and unchurched students. The next leader will build on an established foundation while bringing clarity, discipleship depth, and vision for the future. This is an ownership role with room to grow, shape culture, and make a long-term impact.

Why I Love This Opportunity

Ridge Christian–Coweta has that increasingly rare combination of  health, humility, and hunger . There’s genuine trust between staff, volunteers, parents, and students — and a shared desire to grow without blowing everything up. I love that this is a  remodel (metaphorically) , not a rebuild. The ministry is already welcoming, outward-facing, and relational, but it’s craving clearer vision, stronger discipleship pathways, and a leader who can bring structure without losing heart.

This is also a place where a leader can  take real ownership . They’re not looking for a program manager or a hype communicator — they’re looking for someone who wants to build, disciple, and stay. For the right leader, this could be both a deeply meaningful role  and a place to grow into broader leadership over time. - Brian Aaby (Senior Associate // Slingshot Group)

A great match for this position would be:

• Teacher:  Able to communicate God’s truth clearly and relationally to both churched and unchurched students, helping them understand Scripture and apply it to real life.
• Biblical & Theological Shaper:  Grounds the ministry in Scripture and sound theology, moving students beyond events toward lifelong discipleship.
• Self Starter:  Takes initiative, creates momentum, and moves ministry forward without needing heavy oversight or fully built systems.
• Visionary:  Provides clarity and direction, helping the church articulate where student ministry is headed and why it matters.
• Delegator:  Builds sustainable ministry by recruiting, training, and empowering volunteers rather than carrying everything alone.

About This Organization

Ridge Christian–Coweta began as a satellite campus of a larger suburban church but has grown into a thriving, locally rooted congregation with a strong sense of identity. For more than seven years, Coweta has functioned as a live-preaching campus, steadily growing at a healthy pace while keeping ministry simple and relational. The church averages around 225 in weekend attendance, with approximately 50 students involved across Next Gen ministries.

Ridge Christian is deeply committed to children and students, believing that growth is best celebrated when young families engage through Ridge Kids and Ridge Students. The church is known for its welcoming culture, strong volunteer involvement, and outward focus in the community — particularly in outreach and benevolence toward kids. Life in Coweta moves at a slower pace, offering a safe, family-friendly environment while remaining within easy reach of Tulsa.

The church is elder-led and staff-managed, with a small but collaborative staff team that values trust, autonomy, and shared ownership. Ministry silos are discouraged, and leaders are encouraged to work together while still having freedom to lead within their areas.

Location

“Great for a slow-paced lifestyle… and for kids growing up in a small, loving community.”

Ryan Fankhauser – Campus Pastor

Challenges and Opportunity

• Clarifying Discipleship Pathways:  Ridge Students currently has a strong and welcoming Wednesday-night gathering that attracts both churched and unchurched students, but discipleship beyond that environment is still forming. There is a clear opportunity to define what spiritual growth looks like before and after Wednesday nights, helping students take meaningful next steps toward maturity. The next leader will help shape a more holistic discipleship pathway without losing the relational and invitational heart of the ministry.
• Leader Development and Expansion:  Ridge Christian is rich in willing volunteers who care deeply about students, but many have received little formal training or development. This creates a strong opportunity to establish simple systems for leader coaching, communication, and spiritual growth. A leader who enjoys empowering others will find fertile ground to build a healthy, multiplying volunteer culture.
• Strong Student Leadership to Build On:  The student ministry currently has a particularly strong group of sophomores and juniors, along with solid middle school participation. This provides a rare opportunity for a leader to grow  with a cohort of students over the next several years, investing deeply and watching leadership emerge. With intentional discipleship, this group could become a catalytic force for the future of Ridge Students.
• Vision, Direction, and Creative Momentum:  Students and leaders alike are hungry for clearer vision and direction, paired with creativity and fun. While the foundation is healthy, there is room to bring greater intentionality, energy, and polish to gatherings, events, and communication. The right leader will balance structure and creativity—casting vision while keeping student ministry joyful, engaging, and relational.

Leadership

• The Next Gen Minister reports to the  Coweta Campus Preaching Minister (Ryan Fankhauser)and works closely with elders and lay leadership. Ryan has a background in youth ministry and will not be a micromanager, but values collaboration and would love to be a sounding board for the new leaders. 
• Leadership at Ridge Christian values trust, initiative, and collaboration. The Campus Pastor brings energy, ideas, and deep community knowledge and is eager to empower a leader who can take ownership of Next Gen ministry while remaining aligned with the broader vision of the church.

Key Qualifications

• A vibrant, growing relationship with Jesus Christ
• Alignment with Ridge Christian’s theology and mission
• Ability to teach Scripture clearly and practically
• Relational leadership style with strong emotional intelligence
• Comfort leading in a small-staff, high-ownership environment
• Experience working with students, volunteers, and families
• Willingness to grow, learn, and lead with humility and confidence