Associate Pastor
Help the Pastor tend to the flock.
Bible Schools and programs for children and teenagers abound in churches, but adults need encouragement and guidance too. A person’s faith continues to grow throughout their life, and an Adult Ministries Director is the person who helps point them in the right direction. As an Adult Ministries Director, you provide resources to help others cope with life’s hardships, coordinate activities to help them relax, and provide them with a spiritually nurturing environment.
The majority of your time is spent planning. From weekly church meetings to special events, like holiday parties or summer camps for all ages, you hire Teachers, review lesson plans, and determine what your budget can afford. It’s a challenge to find programs that engage adults without coming across as too childish. Your creative skills help you develop age-appropriate programs that show how people can employ their faith in their day-to-day lives.
When you’re not planning events, you keep regular office hours for those who need to talk. A Teacher might need more money for a party her class is throwing, or a parent might need someone to talk to about family problems. Whatever the situation, you offer advice and help them resolve the issue.
Your job is not just about spreading your religion. It’s about bringing hope to everyone, whether they’re weekly church attendees or people whose hectic lives have kept them away from their religion for many years. As an Adult Ministries Director, you show compassion for others without judging.
Levelheaded: You hold your emotions in check, even in tough situations.
Reliable: You can always be counted on to do a good job.
Helpful: You always keep an eye out for what other people need.
Nationally: $19,000 – $70,000
Main education level: Bachelor's
source: US Dept of Labor