Gap Year Program Director
WAVA 105.1 AM/FM Salem Communications, Virginia, MN, United States
Our Mission
The Gap Year at Lodestar exists to equip young adults for a life of growth in character, calling, and community, so they may know Christ and make Him known.
Position Overview The Program Director is a full-time, twelve-month leadership role reporting to the President of Wingfield Ministries. This individual provides spiritual, academic, and operational leadership for the Gap Year at Lodestar program, serving 20–25 residential students annually.
The Program Director is first and foremost a shepherd and culture builder -cultivating a Gospel-centered community where students deepen their faith, develop conviction, and grow into Christ-centered servant leaders. This role requires initiative, pastoral wisdom, organizational strength, and a heart for mentoring young adults in a formative season of life.
Students at Lodestar live and learn in Smoke Hole Canyon, West Virginia, where they engage in academic coursework (earning up to 27 college credits through Lancaster Bible College), practical life skills training, wilderness and inner-city experiences, domestic and international travel, and intentional discipleship.
Primary Areas of Leadership 1. Spiritual Formation & Discipleship
Shape and sustain a Christ-centered community culture.
Develop and oversee a comprehensive discipleship pathway for co-ed students.
Teach and oversee biblical and theological content in classroom and group settings.
Provide personal mentorship, pastoral care, and spiritual accountability.
Guide students toward spiritual maturity, theological clarity, and Gospel confidence.
2. Program Design & Student Experience
Collaborate with the Academic Director to align curriculum and assignments with student learning outcomes.
Integrate classroom learning, practical education, and community life into a cohesive formation model.
Design and lead transformative travel experiences (domestic, wilderness, and international).
Oversee weekly rhythms that intentionally cultivate growth in character, calling, and community.
Evaluate and refine program effectiveness in real-time and annually.
3. Team Leadership & Partnerships
Lead and develop the Assistant Director and Resident Leaders.
Establish healthy leadership rhythms, feedback structures, and accountability.
Build strong communication channels with parents and ministry partners.
Foster collaborative relationships with guest speakers, ministry partners, and contributors.
Support recruitment, fundraising initiatives, and strategic planning efforts.
Additional Responsibilities
Steward program budget in coordination with organizational leadership.
Participate in student recruitment efforts and representation of the program.
Assist in hiring and on-boarding support staff.
Contribute to long-term vision and strategic development of Gap Year at Lodestar.
Qualifications & Characteristics The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
A growing, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ.
A deep conviction about the transformative power of the Gospel.
5+ years of experience in youth, college, or discipleship-oriented ministry.
A Master’s degree (recommended).
Strong leadership instincts with relational warmth and pastoral sensitivity.
Organizational skill and proactive initiative.
A commitment to continued spiritual and professional growth.
Ability to participate in fundraising efforts (preferred).
The Opportunity This role offers the joy of investing deeply in young adults during a pivotal year of formation. The Program Director helps create an environment where students not only learn about Christ - but are shaped by Him for a lifetime of faithful presence in the church and the world.
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Position Overview The Program Director is a full-time, twelve-month leadership role reporting to the President of Wingfield Ministries. This individual provides spiritual, academic, and operational leadership for the Gap Year at Lodestar program, serving 20–25 residential students annually.
The Program Director is first and foremost a shepherd and culture builder -cultivating a Gospel-centered community where students deepen their faith, develop conviction, and grow into Christ-centered servant leaders. This role requires initiative, pastoral wisdom, organizational strength, and a heart for mentoring young adults in a formative season of life.
Students at Lodestar live and learn in Smoke Hole Canyon, West Virginia, where they engage in academic coursework (earning up to 27 college credits through Lancaster Bible College), practical life skills training, wilderness and inner-city experiences, domestic and international travel, and intentional discipleship.
Primary Areas of Leadership 1. Spiritual Formation & Discipleship
Shape and sustain a Christ-centered community culture.
Develop and oversee a comprehensive discipleship pathway for co-ed students.
Teach and oversee biblical and theological content in classroom and group settings.
Provide personal mentorship, pastoral care, and spiritual accountability.
Guide students toward spiritual maturity, theological clarity, and Gospel confidence.
2. Program Design & Student Experience
Collaborate with the Academic Director to align curriculum and assignments with student learning outcomes.
Integrate classroom learning, practical education, and community life into a cohesive formation model.
Design and lead transformative travel experiences (domestic, wilderness, and international).
Oversee weekly rhythms that intentionally cultivate growth in character, calling, and community.
Evaluate and refine program effectiveness in real-time and annually.
3. Team Leadership & Partnerships
Lead and develop the Assistant Director and Resident Leaders.
Establish healthy leadership rhythms, feedback structures, and accountability.
Build strong communication channels with parents and ministry partners.
Foster collaborative relationships with guest speakers, ministry partners, and contributors.
Support recruitment, fundraising initiatives, and strategic planning efforts.
Additional Responsibilities
Steward program budget in coordination with organizational leadership.
Participate in student recruitment efforts and representation of the program.
Assist in hiring and on-boarding support staff.
Contribute to long-term vision and strategic development of Gap Year at Lodestar.
Qualifications & Characteristics The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
A growing, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ.
A deep conviction about the transformative power of the Gospel.
5+ years of experience in youth, college, or discipleship-oriented ministry.
A Master’s degree (recommended).
Strong leadership instincts with relational warmth and pastoral sensitivity.
Organizational skill and proactive initiative.
A commitment to continued spiritual and professional growth.
Ability to participate in fundraising efforts (preferred).
The Opportunity This role offers the joy of investing deeply in young adults during a pivotal year of formation. The Program Director helps create an environment where students not only learn about Christ - but are shaped by Him for a lifetime of faithful presence in the church and the world.
#J-18808-Ljbffr