Willow Kids Pastor at Willow Creek Community Church – West Chicago, Illinois

At Willow Creek, we don’t believe kids are the "future" of the church—we believe they are the church. We’re looking for a visionary leader who doesn't just want to "babysit" the next generation, but wants to ignite their faith, empower their families, and build a ministry where every child knows they are deeply loved by God.

If you are a high-capacity leader who sees a playground as a mission field and a volunteer team as a movement, we want to talk to you.

The Mission

As the Willow Kids Pastor for our Wheaton location, you’ll be the architect of the Birth–5th Grade experience. You won’t be doing this in a silo; you’ll be a key part of our campus leadership team and our central Willow Kids family. Your goal? To create environments so engaging that kids drag their parents to church. Willow Wheaton is a portable church location with an office in West Chicago and services taking place at Wheaton Academy in Wheaton, IL.

What You’ll Do

• Build the Dream Team: Recruit, train, and champion a world-class volunteer team. You aren't just filling slots; you’re developing leaders.
• Partner with Parents: Act as the primary advocate and resource for families as they navigate the beautiful chaos of raising kids who follow Jesus.
• Execute with Excellence: From weekend programming to "big win" events, you’ll ensure every touchpoint is safe, fun, and spiritually intentional.
• Collaborate & Cast Vision: Work alongside the Campus Pastor and Central Kids team to ensure the Wheaton campus is a vibrant reflection of our overall mission.

Why Willow?

We are an egalitarian, multi-site church passionate about helping people take their next steps with God. Here our Mission is to Love God. Love People. Change the World.

• Salary: $45,000–$63,000 (commensurate with experience and education).
• The Benefits: Full medical, dental, and vision; retirement match; parental leave; and generous PTO.
• The Perks: Mental health counseling reimbursement and tuition assistance. We care about the whole you.

Success is Defined As: A thriving Wheaton Kids ministry where innovation is the norm, volunteers are thriving, and every child leaves knowing they have a place in God's story.

Ready to lead? Let’s change the world together.

What you bring:

• A Talent Scout: You have a sense for spotting leadership potential in others.
• A Solution Specialist: When a problem arises, you’ve already thought of three ways to fix it before the meeting starts.
• A Cultural Cheerleader: You live out our values: Trust is your default, Grit is your style, and Joy is your attitude.
• A Servant Leader: Your goal is to serve your volunteers, kids and congregants and nothing is beneath you if it needs doing.
• A Jesus Follower: Your leadership flows from a genuine, growing relationship with Christ.

Qualifications

• Experience: 2+ years in kids ministry preferred
• Leadership: A proven track record of building and mobilizing teams.
• Education: Undergrad degree preferred (but we value your "in the trenches" experience too).
• Heart: You genuinely love kids and want to see them thrive.