This position excites me because it allows me to work with young people through my discipling passion while being part of a church that firmly stands on Scriptural teachings and a life guided by gospel principles. The commitment of Grace Church to “gather, grow, give, and go” matches exactly with my passion for holistic ministry that changes lives both within the church and beyond its walls. The chance to develop Christ-centered spaces for middle and high school students to meet Jesus and both establish lasting faith foundations and become leaders fills me with energy. The combination of the church’s historical dedication to faithfulness and its goal of disrupting suburban apathy matches my vision of students practicing mission-driven living within their daily routines. The partnership with families and the wider church community to develop a discipleship journey from youth to adulthood particularly intrigues me. The combination of Ridgewood’s tight-knit community bonds alongside its powerful educational environment creates perfect conditions to develop future Christ-followers. This role represents a perfect alignment between my vocational calling and my passion for working within a dynamic church community.
The Grace Church of Ridgewood, New Jersey has maintained a consistent presence in its community since starting operations in 1946. On October 6 of that year the church was established when Mrs. Leah Stanton’s home hosted its 39 charter members led by founding pastor Larry McGill. The congregation bought land at the corner of Meadowbrook Avenue which led to beginning the construction of their first sanctuary in May 1947. By November the basement was ready for services while full completion of the building occurred in 1952. Since its construction in 1964 the existing sanctuary functions as the main center for church worship and ministry work.
From its establishment to the present-day Grace Church has demonstrated unwavering dedication to its original doctrines which stress both the importance of Scripture and Christ as the focal point. The church’s recent mission centers on breaking the suburban cycle of comfort and complacency to empower and send gospel-transformed people into mercy work and growth-focused ministry.
Ben Spalink became part of the pastoral team in June 2023 and contributed his considerable church planting and spiritual formation expertise to the team. His role as Pastor of Adult Spiritual Formation involves directing discipleship programs through classes and small groups to create an environment where community members share their spiritual journeys and develop into Christ-like individuals.
Grace Church remains a flourishing non-denominational community that devotes itself to understanding Jesus and sharing His message. The church uses its ministries and community work to prepare its members for meaningful lives based on gospel teachings.
Grace Church of Ridgewood is seeking a passionate and Christ-centered leader to serve as the Director of Student Ministries. This role is responsible for overseeing and leading our student ministry for grades 6 through 12. The Director will cultivate a dynamic and relational environment where middle and high school students grow in their faith, build Christ-centered relationships, and are equipped for lifelong discipleship.
Key Responsibilities:
Programming
Leadership Oversight & Development
Family Ministry Support
What a Strong Candidate Would Look Like:
