Essential Tips On Hiring A Minister to Young People
If an eldership determines they need to hire someone to minister to young people they are not doing a bad thing. In fact many young people need ministering to. Both John and Paul singled these out for special consideration. What follows are a few, hopefully helpful opinions and suggestions for those so hiring.
In some ways there is no more important hire. You will be trusting him with your most valuable and vulnerable asset. If the preacher says something false from the pulpit a good deacon will pile-drive him and two more will drag him out of the building and everyone will understand. But, let an academically warped guy get in the teen room and he will do potentially irreparable damage to those young souls that you are responsible before God to care for.
We pray these few thoughts on hiring a minister to work with your young people will be helpful:
First, make sure he is a man of The Book. Are we hiring a social event coordinator or a man who will help our young people grow spiritually? We have known Youth Minister’s who are diametrically opposite in their beliefs from the Preaching Minister and Elders. Do we want a man of little spiritual and Biblical depth teaching our most impressional sheep in God’s fold? We want a man who loves the church and will not turn our children away from it or sour them toward it. Make sure this man will speak well of God’s Family.
Determine what you value and need, and look for that. The role of Youth Minister is not a cookie cutter role. There are congregations that already have a great teaching program who need someone to help plan events, there are other places that the parents plan things fine but need someone who can teach a Bible class for young people. You may need an older and more experienced man to bring some order and respected organization to the program, or you may need a guy who brings the energy of fun that the kids need too. Why have him preach if preaching is not the focus of his work. If he can work with, teach, encourage, and help grow your children, that should be the standard of how you evaluate his value to the congregation.
Value what he brings to the table. Publicly commend his work. Value youth ministry. This may be most clearly seen by how you pay him - treat him like you would your son-in-law. I heard not long ago from a church that wanted a full-time minister to young people and wanted to pay them $25,000 a year. Now, be honest would you want your son to take that job? Do you want your son on food stamps? Do you want the father of your grandchildren to be so treated? Are you that out of touch? No, he didn’t get in this for the money, but get real. If the salary you offer is not one you’d advise your son to take why would you encourage another too?
Love him. Especially if you hire a young man. How you treat him will color the rest of his ministry. Talk to him with more tenderness than you think you should, talk to him about areas he needs to grow in, love him. If treated without love and respect he may move on to be an accountant (yes, he can go to heaven as an accountant and not everyone is cut out for ministry - BUT don’t let it be because he has a horror story that you helped create.
Ask for his social media links and go through them. You will find out a lot. You will find a lot about his temperament. You’ll find out if he project love or hate. You will find out if he is all about himself or others. You’ll find out if he is politically motivated or spiritually motivated. You will find out who and what he promotes.
Check his references. This should be true of every minister a church hires. Ask the elders from his previous congregations if he was difficult to work with in the Church. Ask about his work ethic. Ask if there were any problems in his relationships with the young people.
Notice his level of love for kids. Yes you want a man with a degree of maturity. Obviously he must be Biblically solid. But the key to being great as a minister to youth is loving young people! Ask questions that revel his level of concern for the young people. Watch how he interacts with children. AND for the church - it’s not a separate church. Help him help keep families and THE FAMILY together!
Communicate with your Youth Minister. Once he is hired, meet with him from time to time to see if there are any special needs or concerns. Include him as you do your preaching minister. Don’t treat him like a Jr. Minister. Keep him in the loop about what is going on in the life of the Church. Make him feel like he is a part of the team. Why, because he is part of the team. Paul told Timothy to not let anyone despise his youth. That would imply that we ought not to despise another simply because he might be younger.
If you are thankful for him, tell him regularly that you are thankful for him. Tell him publicly and privately. Think of ways to encourage him on a regular basis. This is a biblical injunction (Hebrews 3:13). We ALL need encouragement! Help him continue his training. Allow him time off to attend conferences and special programs. Pay for him to take classes for an advanced degree. Give him a book allowance to help further his education. Find tangible ways to encourage him.
Love his family. Treat the Youth Minister’s family like they are an important part of the Church family. If you want to keep this guy around, it will go a long way, if he thinks you love his family. Take them to dinner. Keep his kids or provide someone to do that so he and his wife can have a night out, alone every once in a while. Don’t plan every event where he ends up having to take care of the youth group and never gets to be a part of the group his age.
God bless you for loving His young people. And if you are hiring, let us know how we can help you in the process. TJI@TheJenkinsInstitute.com