Hiring a Youth Minister

R.I.C.H. Youth Ministry

Relational

Youth Ministry is primarily about building relationships - with young people, their families, and volunteers. An effective youth ministry will focus on making contact with young people through three ways:

See and be seen (Be Present)
Talking with young people (Listen)
Shared activity with Young people (Friendship)

Intentional

Youth ministry that is active and intentional requires adopting a missionary attitude by stepping into the youth culture and engage young people where they are, in order to proclaim the gospel to them. Effective youth ministry goes beyond the walls of the parish to meet young people in their ordinary everyday spaces and walk with them in faith journey.

Customizable

A one-size-fits-all programmatic youth ministry cannot meet the needs of all the young people in a parish. A fruitful youth ministry is multidimensional, offering multiple avenues for engaging young people based on their needs. It establishes a clear path that accompanies young people from initial conversion to missionary discipleship.

Hospitable

Evangelizing and discipling young people is the responsibility of the entire parish. An effective youth ministry is not isolated from the parish community but welcomes young people to participate and serve in the mission of the parish as fully integrated members of the parish community.

Preliminary Questions

The questions will help you identify the direction of the youth ministry and identify the type of youth minister needed for the job.

What is the pastor's vision for the youth ministry?

The youth minister's role is to implement the vision of the pastor for the young people of his parish. Identifying the needs the pastor wants the youth ministry to meet gives the youth ministry a specific purpose that will help define the parameters of the youth minister's job description.

What are the strengths of the Parish community?

Youth ministry is not the sole responsibility of the youth minister but the entire parish community. The youth minister will need support and assistance from parish volunteers. Structuring the youth ministry around the identity of the parish rather than the personality of the youth minister will ensure the longevity of the youth ministry if and when the youth minister leaves the role.

Where are the teens currently in the parish?

Knowing where to find the teens in the parish will help determine the role the youth minister will play in building the youth ministry. For example, if there are not many teens present in the parish then the role of the youth minister may be outreach and evangelization. If there are many teens present in the parish than the role of the youth minister may be organizing youth events to build a consistent place for them in the parish.

Which youth ministry model best fits the vision and strengths of the parish?

Choosing a model for the youth ministry gives the youth ministry focus and helps identify essential skills you are looking for in a candidate. For example, an emphasis on events requires organizational and project management skills, an emphasis on parish volunteers leading discipleship groups requires recruitment and training skills, an emphasis on missionary outreach requires evangelization skills, etc.

How does Confirmation fit into Youth Ministry?

It is highly suggested that Confirmation be kept separate from the role of the youth minister. Running a fruitful confirmation program requires a separate set of skills than needed for youth ministry. Asking a youth minister to oversee confirmation requires splitting the youth minister's time, focus, and energy between the demands of confirmation and the specific purpose you've determined for the youth ministry. Ideally, a part-time Confirmation Coordinator is hired to prevent the youth minister from burning out by working multiple roles.

Popular Youth Ministry Models

Discipleship Small Group Youth Ministry

Focuses on forming teens as intentional life long disciples of Jesus Christ through adult mentorship in a small group of their peers.

Large Group Youth Ministry

The standard traditional youth ministry model which focuses on fostering encounters with Christ through events - youth nights, retreats, conferences, service projects, etc.

Household Youth Ministry

Focuses on forming spiritual friendships rooted in discipleship by clustering small groups into household identities and utilizing large events to connect the households.