Baptist - SBC

WEEKLY ATTENDANCE: 1,750

Meet Heartland Church

Heartland Church is a welcoming, multigenerational church with a simple mission: Love Jesus, Love Each Other, and Love Our World. Heartland is passionate about helping people take meaningful steps in their faith through biblical teaching, authentic community, discipleship, worship, service, and outreach. The church places a particular emphasis on investing in the next generation, creating safe and engaging spaces where children and students can be known, mentored, and led toward Jesus. With children’s programming offered during each Sunday service and a strong emphasis on families, Heartland seeks to be more than a church people attend on Sundays; it strives to be a community where people can belong, grow together, and live out their faith throughout the week.

About the Children's Pastor

We’re looking for someone who’s passionate about helping kids meet Jesus, grow in their faith and have a whole lot of fun along the way! If you love high fives, silly games, meaningful Bible moments, and partnering with parents, you might be the perfect fit to lead our growing and exciting Children’s Ministry at Heartland.

As Children’s Pastor, your job would be to help make church a place where kids feel loved, safe, and excited to learn about Jesus. You would be expected to lead the children’s ministry with creativity and care, planning age-appropriate teaching, engaging activities, and special events. You would train and encourage volunteers and partner with parents to nurture each child’s spiritual journey and strive to create a fun and faith-filled environment that kids can’t wait to come back to each week.

The Children Pastor's responsibilities include:

• Leading our Children’s Ministry (birth through 5th grade) with creativity, joy, and purpose.
•  Creating safe, fun, and faith-filled environments where kids can learn about Jesus in age-appropriate ways.
• Recruiting, training, and encouraging a team of awesome volunteers who make Sundays, Wednesday Awana nights (and beyond) happen.
• Choosing or developing an engaging curriculum that helps kids grow in their understanding of God’s Word.
• Partnering with parents to help them be the primary spiritual leaders in their kids’ lives.
• Planning events for kids (and parents!) love – Epic Summer (VBS), family fun nights, outreach events, etc.
• Making sure our environments are safe, clean, organized, and welcoming for new and returning families.
• Collaborating with other staff and ministries to keep kids connected to the life of the whole church.

What you bring

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Children's Pastor:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3-5 years of ministry experience  
• Experience leading in large and active children’s & Awana ministries.

Personal Characteristics and Qualifications

• Someone with a strong and growing relationship with Jesus, and a big heart for kids and families.
• A fun, energetic personality - someone who can be fun with kids, but serious about their spiritual growth.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, especially with volunteers and parents.
• Creative thinker who knows how to make Bible truths come alive in hands-on, kid-friendly ways.
• Organized and dependable - you can juggle details while keeping things joyful and Jesus- focused.
• Alignment and agreement with our church’s mission, beliefs, and core values, and with the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message, as provided by the Southern Baptist Convention.
• Availability for Sundays, Wednesdays, weekly meetings, gatherings, camp, trips, and other children’s related events.
• Commitment to safety and excellence in every aspect of children’s ministry.
• A team player with a teachable spirit, flexible mindset, and a good sense of humor (helpful when the glitter spills or snack time goes sideways).

What it's like to live in Winter Haven, Florida

Winter Haven, Florida, is a relaxed Central Florida community known for its warm weather, numerous lakes, and easygoing suburban atmosphere. The city offers a quieter pace of life while still being within a reasonable drive of larger destinations like Orlando and Tampa, making it appealing for families and those who want access to city amenities without living in a major metro area. Residents can enjoy outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, parks, and walking trails, while the downtown area provides local restaurants, shops, and community events. Overall, Winter Haven has a friendly, laid-back feel with a mix of established neighborhoods and growing areas.