Ministry Leader

Program Overview

Praying Pelican Missions (PPM) exists to equip, encourage, and support local churches in reaching their communities for Christ.  The Ministry Leader program is designed to develop, equip, and support Christian leaders in ministry through investing in genuine partnerships. Serving as a vital bridge between local churches and mission teams, Ministry Leaders facilitate both the logistical and relational dimensions of PPM short-term trips. Participants engage in a comprehensive training model that combines interactive video conferences, digital learning modules, and immersive on-the-field experience to prepare them for impactful service. 

The Ministry Leader position is seasonal, beginning January 4th and ending August 13th, 2027. The Ministry Leader will act as vital support to their assigned location, assisting with trip setup, team consulting as assigned, and trip leading. 

Key Responsibilities

• Professional Conduct: Promote a positive image of PPM, build trust across staff, and maintain healthy, God-honoring team relationships.


• Trip Preparation: From January through May, commit 10 hours weekly to leadership development, trip setup-related tasks, and group consulting. Assist group leaders with spiritual and logistical prep, ensuring all capstone calls and pre-trip requirements are completed before departure. 


• Ministry Operations: Partner with the location leader to source ministry opportunities and finalize team itineraries. Lead daily operations on the ground—managing schedules, logistics, and supplies while actively serving alongside teams in community outreach and service projects.


• Leadership Support: Support Location Leadership in executing team delegations through joining L10 location meetings or, if unavailable, report directly to your Operations Leader.


• Spring Field Training: Complete at least one PPM training mission trip experience in the assigned location between January and April. The Location Manager will coordinate this trip to familiarize the Ministry Leader with location logistics, host partners, and ministry operations. This requirement must be completed by late April unless an exception is approved by the Program Manager.


• Summer Trip Leading: Complete all required preparations to serve as an effective Trip Leader during the busy summer season, leading 8-10 mission trips based on scheduling needs.


• Offboarding Commitment: Complete program wrap-up requirements including finishing expense reports, completing all trip leader surveys, having an end-of-summer exit interview with the program manager, return of all PPM equipment if applicable, and fulfillment of all scheduled trip assignments.
  
  

Requirements

• Faith & Alignment: You are a devoted Christ-follower who is actively engaged in your local church. You are in alignment with PPM’s Statement of Faith (a core requirement for all staff): It is as follows:
  
  
  
  • The Bible is God’s complete and perfect Word and our ultimate authority as followers of Christ. (2 Timothy 3)
  
  
  • We are all lost, fallen short of the glory of God, and in need of a Savior. (Romans 3)
  
  
  • Jesus came to earth for the purpose of seeking and saving the lost. (Luke 19:10)
  
  
  • Jesus died on the cross. Three days later, He rose from the grave, paying the ultimate sacrifice and conquering death for all who believe in Him. (1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 2:2, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9)
  
  
  • As a result of God’s grace alone, through faith in Christ alone, we are saved. (Ephesians 2, John 14)
  
  
  • Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit are One. (John 1)
  
  
  • Jesus Himself commissioned His followers (the Church) to go into the world and make disciples. (Matthew 28) 
  
  
  
  

• Character: Those who know you consider you humble, dependable, and see no task as too big or too small. You’re excited to work with people from diverse cultural, geographical, and denominational backgrounds each week, knowing you’re good at uniting people and able to focus on common ground rather than differences. You are a problem-solver who is adaptable, not easily thrown off by changes to schedules or environments. You get excited about close community living and working, and have a commitment to servant leadership.


• Leadership Experience: You must have proven leadership experience, preferably in missions and/ or a previous PPM leadership mission setting.  


• Age & Availability:
  Open to candidates 18 and older, with a strong preference for applicants 21 or older. Position requires a commitment of 10 hours/week from Jan–May, followed by a flexible summer schedule leading 6 to 10 weeks of trips from late May–Aug, based on operational need.

• Licensed Driver: Must possess a valid driver’s license and be prepared to safely transport others during the trip week to and from sites.


• Mandatory Training:
  Attendance at meetings and trips on the following dates is required:
  
  
  
  • Program Orientation via video conference the week of January 4th, 2027.
  
  
  • Weekly training sessions as assigned by the program manager via video conference 
    
    
    
    • If a session cannot be joined due to an approved absence (class or work conflict), ML will work with the program manager to make up training. Proof of attendance will be required.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Commit to completing Pelican University online training by the assigned deadline. 
  
  
  • Attend an on-site training trip in the assigned location between January and April. 
  
  
  • In-person attendance at the PPM Spring Conference in Black Mountain, North Carolina, from April 23-25, 2027 is required.
    
    
  
  
  
  

Benefits and Compensation

Travel Benefits

• Air travel, lodging, and meal expenses are covered by PPM for applicable weeks of service as well as the Spring Conference.
  
  
  
  • Mileage reimbursement may be available for those who live within driving distance of their assigned location. Must be pre-approved by the location manager.
  
  
  
  

Please note: All travel and lodging will be managed by PPM Operations Staff. Meals will be allotted within budgeting parameters.

Compensation 

• PPM considers you a seasonal employee and, therefore, ineligible for the benefit plans available to regular year-round employees, unless stated otherwise. 


• PPM classifies this position as exempt from minimum wage and overtime pay through the ministerial exception to the Fair Labor Standards Act.


• PPM will apply deductions for standard payroll taxes related to earnings and taxable benefits.


• January through August: in recognition of ML training, consulting, trip planning, and spring mission trip experience
  
  
  
  • New Ministry Leader pay rate is $700 per month ($350 per pay period)
  
  
  • Returning Ministry Leader pay rate is $770 per month ($385 per pay period)
  
  
  • Payment is twice monthly on the 15th and last business day of each month, with the first pay date to occur on January 29th, 2027.
  
  
  
  

Bonus Eligibility and Payout: MLs are eligible for bonuses for each trip worked. These will be paid out the month after completing the trip (ex- March trip paid on April 30). Bonuses are calculated as follows:

• $450/week that the ML served as a Trip Leader


• $250/week that the ML served as an Assistant Trip Leader