A New Chapter in Ministry with Children, Youth, and Families (CYF)

After nearly a year and a half of prayer, conversation, and discernment, we’re excited to share a decision about the next chapter of ministry at Salt House: We are moving forward with hiring a Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries!  

Investing in our children, youth, and families is a strategic and hopeful choice we are excited to move forward with this season. The job description outlines a 25-hour-per-week position, focused on nurturing and growing this important part of our life together.

This decision didn’t happen overnight. Over the past year and a half, we’ve been asking some big questions: What are our staffing needs? What priorities is God calling us toward? Do we need another pastor, another ministry position, or something else entirely?
The work of our Wisdom Council last year gave us an important piece of the answer. As they listened to the hopes, insights, and voices of our whole congregation while imagining who God is calling us to be over the next five years, a priority came through clearly: ministry with children, youth, and families matters deeply to who we are and who we are becoming.

As we’ve considered that vision alongside our financial resources, our staffing needs, and the places where we most want to invest our energy, we’ve discerned that this where we feel called to invest.

You may be wondering what this means for pastoral leadership and the other ministries of our church. One of the gifts of hiring a dedicated, robust position for CYF is that it allows me to give more attention to other areas of ministry that nurture and connect our whole church. This includes attending to our spiritual formation, deepening small-group ministry and creating opportunities for meaningful connection, strengthening our engagement with justice in the wider community, and continuing to nurture the ways we care for one another.

We are also excited to make some shifts within the staff. I am actively working with our Church Manager, Tonja May, as well as our Worship & Arts Leader, Jason Bendickson reevaluating and shifting some of our ministry tasks given the gifts both Tonja and Jason bring to the table. We’re listening for the Holy Spirit and being thoughtful about what we take on, about doing some things differently, and considering where we may need to let go of a few things. This work feels energizing and centering for us as we follow Jesus and focus the life together of our church.

We also want to say something about Rachel Horton, who has faithfully built and directed our CYF ministry up to this point. Rachel is deeply loved by our whole church, and we are grateful for the care, creativity, and heart she has given in dedication to this ministry and our families. As this ministry grows, we're recognizing the need for a position with more hours and capacity than Rachel's current 12-hour role allows. Rachel herself suggested that we expand this role, and she is excited about this next chapter, seeing the opportunity as an important one for our church. She loves Salt House and will continue to be part of this ministry (i.e., Rachel isn’t going anywhere)! She looks forward to finding her place in helping lead and nurture our children alongside the new CYF director once that person is in place. We are grateful that she shares our excitement about what lies ahead.

We have a lot to look forward to! This decision is more than simply filling a position. It’s about investing in our children and young people, supporting families, and making room for the faith, questions, relationships, and joy that help a community become more like Jesus, together.

We invite you to respond to this news with hope and faith! Please read and share the job description with anyone who might be a wonderful fit for this role. And, as always, we invite you to keep praying, dreaming, and imagining with us.

We’re excited for this next chapter and for all that God has in store for Salt House!