How long should I do youth ministry?

[Cody Cummings]

Hey, I am currently a college student and I have a calling into pastoral ministry. When I graduate I want to be a youth director for a few years before jumping into seminary and a senior pastor role. I was wondering if ya'll had some advice on how long I should stay in youth ministry. Also, I will be 21 when I graduate with my Bachelor's.

 

[Tolworth John]

Hey, I am currently a college student and I have a calling into pastoral ministry. When I graduate I want to be a youth director for a few years before jumping into seminary and a senior pastor role. I was wondering if ya'll had some advice on how long I should stay in youth ministry. Also, I will be 21 when I graduate with my Bachelor's.

A more realistic assessment is, you graduate, find a secular job near a church that needs help in the youth ( unpaid volunteer) you do this for a few years becoming the leader of the youth work., another church poaches you for a paid possition where you work at this lower paid job again for a few years before appling to be an assistant pastor, once this is obtained again working for several years before finding your own church.
If you are sucessful here, growing the church etc, a larger church might take you on as part of there ministry team where you will inherit the senior pastors position.

 

[The Liturgist]

Hey, I am currently a college student and I have a calling into pastoral ministry. When I graduate I want to be a youth director for a few years before jumping into seminary and a senior pastor role. I was wondering if ya'll had some advice on how long I should stay in youth ministry. Also, I will be 21 when I graduate with my Bachelor's.

You should make contact with your District Superintendent and the elders of your local parishes straightaway and discuss your career, including your long term desire to be a senior pastor (an elder in UMC terminology) and your desire to do youth ministry in the shorter term. If you impress the DS he may be able to arrange a scholarship for your MDiv. Having a relationship with the hierarchy is critical.

 

[Paidiske]

Hey, I am currently a college student and I have a calling into pastoral ministry. When I graduate I want to be a youth director for a few years before jumping into seminary and a senior pastor role. I was wondering if ya'll had some advice on how long I should stay in youth ministry. Also, I will be 21 when I graduate with my Bachelor's.

I agree with The Liturgist that you should consider the requirements and discernment process of your denomination.

That said, I would not recommend taking on a youth ministry role without any relevant qualification and experience. It is not less serious or less demanding than working with more mature adults.

 

[The Liturgist]

I agree with The Liturgist that you should consider the requirements and discernment process of your denomination.

That said, I would not recommend taking on a youth ministry role without any relevant qualification and experience. It is not less serious or less demanding than working with more mature adults.

Indeed, growing up in the Methodist church our Methodist Youth Fellowship was led by the father of three teenage girls, a married man in his 40s-50s, one of whose teenage daughters was still in high school, and a member of the group. This was good for us.

 

[Ahermit]

Hey, I am currently a college student and I have a calling into pastoral ministry. When I graduate I want to be a youth director for a few years before jumping into seminary and a senior pastor role. I was wondering if ya'll had some advice on how long I should stay in youth ministry. Also, I will be 21 when I graduate with my Bachelor's.

Until you have a calling to go somewhere else, after all, you wanted to be a in service to God. Let God's will direct you.

However, there is a saying, You do it until you no longer resist it (having to ask to do something else). Meaning, that once you no longer resist, your fruit in this matter has ripen _ it's time for another growth challenge.

 

[createdtoworship]

Hey, I am currently a college student and I have a calling into pastoral ministry. When I graduate I want to be a youth director for a few years before jumping into seminary and a senior pastor role. I was wondering if ya'll had some advice on how long I should stay in youth ministry. Also, I will be 21 when I graduate with my Bachelor's.

Hey brother, that part is up to the Lord. Some will stay as an assistant pastor their whole life. You may love youth ministry. Or it may just be a phase. But yes youth ministry is usually the first place to start out. But there is no time limit. You will realize when you feel you are ready to go to the next phase. And more importantly an opening will arise, that you cannot refuse. But praying about each phase is probably the most important advice a layman like myself can give. Prayer is key.

 

[Quasiblogo]

Among the evangelical churches I attended over the past 30 years, the youth ministry seemed to be the anchor. The hardest change for these fellowships to adjust from was change in youth ministries--not even a new building program caused so many ripples. Some should consider staying in the youth ministry for the long haul. It is one of the surest ways to staunch church-hopping and a great way to attract families with kids and college-bound ones. You really are having the most impact, IMO.

 

[Brian Mcnamee]

I like the starting at the bottom approach and do not like the up the ladder strategy. I am from Calvary Chapel and many of the best pastors who have had major influences have started off as guys who got saved and loved the LORD and were called to the ministry by a natural step or progression. The work of the church is to prepare the saints for the work of the ministry and these guys had a hunger for the word and a heart for the lost. As they gained seasoning they started home bible studies that grew into large churches. A Church plant is more what I prefer to see as weather you are called to sink or swim will be evident. How much faith does it take to move up the ladder with a steady paycheck assured. This idea of being a disciple and then making disciples is how the church grows and in your vision the building up of the saints in the faith is your number 1 task. Many youths leave the church when they go off to school or are in the group for the social dynamics rather than really growing in the LORD. To this degree that you hold yourself accountable to seeking the LORD and walking with Him will be the degree you will be able to share with others. College can give you what some see as the qualifications and yet many pastors do not believe the Bible is the inspired word of God from cover to cover.

 

[bekkilyn]

I personally don't like the idea of youth ministry being viewed as merely a stepping stone to something "better". One shouldn't do youth ministry at all unless one is specifically called to do youth ministry. It is unfair to the youth for their youth minister to view them as anything less than priority. Pastoring youth should not be considered the bottom of a ladder, but a true calling that is just as important as being called to any other role, if not more so.

That said, a pastor in many mainstream denominations is going to be serving youth in some way as part of being a pastor as the churches are often unable to afford a youth minister and the solitary pastor will be taking on practically ALL staff roles within a church. The vast majority of churches are small town and rural and you would be senior there by default because there is no one else.

However, I agree with expressing your interests to your church organization (I don't want to assume that "Methodist" means "United Methodist"), perhaps starting with your own pastor, who can help you make the contacts you need and help discern more precisely where God is calling you to be.

 

[Cody Cummings]

You should make contact with your District Superintendent and the elders of your local parishes straightaway and discuss your career, including your long term desire to be a senior pastor (an elder in UMC terminology) and your desire to do youth ministry in the shorter term. If you impress the DS he may be able to arrange a scholarship for your MDiv. Having a relationship with the hierarchy is critical.

I have a great relationship with my church staff and I was considering talking with my head pastor about what steps I should take with my journey.

 

[The Liturgist]

I have a great relationship with my church staff and I was considering talking with my head pastor about what steps I should take with my journey.

Good. You will want to get to know your district and neighboring church leadership as well.

 

[RBPerry]

To me being a youth pastor is more important than senior pastor. You have the opportunity to lead a young soul towards a relationship with Christ. What could ever be more important than that?