non - denominational

WEEKLY ATTENDANCE: 317

Meet Oakhouse Church

The story of Oakhouse is one of love, perseverance, and most importantly obedience to Jesus. There is no perfect church, because there are no perfect people. But our hope is that we, as individuals and as a church, encourage and compel one another to love God, love others, to be witnesses for Jesus, and to make disciples of Jesus. 

We originally started as a campus of Rockharbor, which was launched in 2009. Over the next 12 years, Rockharbor Mission Viejo found its identity as a place of authentic, creative, and Spirit-led worship and justice; a space for people to love God and others near and far. In January of 2022, we became Oakhouse, an independent, non-denominational church in Mission Viejo, CA.

About the Student Pastor

The student pastor requires an intentional blend of outreach and discipleship, equally valuing large group teaching and relational small groups to foster deep spiritual growth. The ideal candidate should be an innovative risk-taker who prioritizes developing volunteer leaders while maintaining a direct, relational connection with the youth. Additionally, the new pastor will play a key, hands-on role in designing a dedicated youth space for the church's upcoming relocation during their "Home Base Building Campaign”.

The Student Pastor's responsibilities include:

Ministry Focus & Programming

• Balance Outreach and Discipleship: Create an intentional blend of programming aimed at both evangelism and deep spiritual growth.
• Strategic Events and Small Groups: Use events strategically as connection points to invite friends, while ensuring that core spiritual growth happens within relational small groups.
• Blend Fun and Spiritual Disciplines: Maintain an equal split between fun/fellowship time and dedicated time for teaching and practicing spiritual habits.

Teaching & Leadership

• Teach and Develop Leaders: Prioritize the development of volunteer leaders, while continuing to regularly teach the large group and maintain direct, relational connections with the students.
• Provide Balanced Application: Deliver teaching that integrates large group sessions with small group discussions, balancing deep biblical study with practical, relevant life application.
• Innovate: Act as an "innovator/risk-taker" by trying new approaches to ministry, provided that any changes are clearly communicated to church leadership and parents.

Operations Schedule

• Budget Management: Oversee the annual youth department budget of $15,000.
• Weekly Schedule: Maintain in-office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Lead regular youth gatherings, which are planned for High Schoolers on Sunday nights and Middle Schoolers on Thursdays (with Middle School ministry also taking place on Sunday mornings).

Special Projects

• Design New Youth Space: Play an active, hands-on role in creating and designing the new dedicated youth space as part of the church's upcoming "Home Base" building transition.

What you bring

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Student Pastor:

Education and Experience

• 5 or more years of ministry experience.
• Minimum: a high school diploma. 
• Ordination is not required. Licensing is offered through the church.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

• Theological Alignment: The candidate must possess a strong theological understanding that aligns with the church's beliefs in continuationism (the active practice of spiritual gifts) and believer's baptism.
• Biblical Application: They must have the biblical knowledge necessary to deliver teachings that balance deep biblical study with practical, relevant life application.

Skills

• Teaching and Discipleship: The skill to effectively teach in large group settings while equally valuing and integrating relational small group discussions each week.
• Volunteer Development: The ability to prioritize, train, and develop volunteer leaders while still maintaining a direct, relational connection with the students.
• Strategic Programming: The ability to intentionally blend outreach/evangelism with deep spiritual growth, ensuring ministry time is split evenly between fun/fellowship events and the teaching of spiritual disciplines.
• Innovation and Communication: The ability to act as an "innovator/risk-taker" who tries new approaches to ministry, paired with the communication skills required to clearly relay those changes to parents and church leadership.
• Administrative Management: The operational skill to oversee and manage the annual youth ministry budget of $15,000.

Abilities

• Creative Vision: The ability to participate in creating and designing a new, dedicated youth space as part of the church's upcoming move to a permanent building
• Relational Capacity: A genuine love for students and the intentional desire to choose to be with them.
• Community Building: A high level of ownership and the ability to jump in and build deep community both within the church staff and throughout the broader congregation.
• Spiritual Maturity: The ability to maintain a vibrant, obvious walk with Jesus, keeping Him at the absolute center of their life and actions.
• Resilience and Humility: The emotional and spiritual capacity to embrace both the "good and hard" work of ministry with a consistently humble attitude.

Personal Characteristics and Qualifications

• Spiritual Maturity: The candidate must have Jesus at the absolute center of their life, demonstrating a vibrant walk with Him that is obvious in their words and actions.
• Relational Heart: They must possess humility, a genuine love for students, and an intentional desire to spend time with them.
• Resilience and Ownership: The church is looking for someone who is equipped to handle both the "good and hard" aspects of ministry. The candidate should exhibit a high level of ownership and be ready to jump in to build deep community within the staff and the broader congregation.
• Leadership Style: They should be an "innovator/risk-taker" who is willing to try new approaches to ministry, provided they clearly communicate any changes to church leadership and parents.

What it's like to live in Mission Viejo, CA

Living in Mission Viejo offers a high quality of life with a strong sense of safety and community. The city is beautifully maintained, with clean neighborhoods, landscaped streets, and a welcoming, family friendly atmosphere. Residents enjoy access to plenty of parks, walking trails, and outdoor recreation, making it easy to stay active and enjoy nature. The weather and outdoors are major highlights, with abundant sunshine, warm days, and mild winters throughout the year. There are great schools, well kept public spaces, and a strong sense of local pride that adds to the overall appeal. Overall,