How to Add an Outstanding Youth Minister (Part 2 of 2)

There are two needs in congregations that justify a youth ministry/pastor/worker on staff.

1. When your church has a large number of youth and children in Sunday school and a significant of high school/college age young adults.
2. When your church has almost no children in Sunday school and perhaps few high school and college age young adults.

How do you find an outstanding youth minister/young adult pastor/worker?

1. Some of the best “fishing pools” for youth ministers are churches that have had strong youth ministry for at least ten years. Those churches likely have a good youth minister who has been a model for young adults growing up in that church.
2. Youth ministry is better caught than taught. That means great youth ministries raise up new great youth ministers.
3. The best way to teach effective youth ministry is to model it. So, when you interview a youth minister, make sure he/she has a strong commitment to disciple youth to be the youth minsters of the future.
4. Look at a youth minister who has the objective of equipping youth, to replace themselves in a decade. Shy away from youth ministers who have the idea that their primary calling is to entertain the youth in the church.
5. Look for a youth minister that has the objective of continually developing future youth ministers, within the congregation, unpaid, and operating, so that the youth minister operates as an overseer/coach, discipler of volunteer youth who are empowered to lead and multiply future leaders.
6. When looking at youth pastor candidates, make sure they understand and commit to the philosophy of ministry of your church. If your church does not have a philosophy of ministry, develop one, using the book, Your Church has Personality: Find Your Focus/Maximize Your Mission. Bring a team together and develop a philosophy of ministry.
7. When reviewing candidates, ask them to take a spiritual gifts survey. Watch for dominant gifts of wisdom, leadership, apostle, teaching and exhortation (encouragement).
8. As with any leadership position, look for one who knows how to relationally disciple others.
9. Identify whether the candidate has a lifestyle of Bible study. This is important because it demonstrates a priority that can be modeled to young people.
10. I know of no better source for an outstanding youth minister than a young adult who has been equipped in the ten-month spiritual adventure, SENDNorthAmerica.com, especially if they have the spiritual gifts listed above.