The most important thing is that they are believers with a strong one. Far from being a reason to run in the opposite direction, it is a reminder of the great responsibility and the greater responsibility that falls on those who respond to the call of youth ministry. Many prospective youth ministers aren't passionate about student-centered ministry in particular, and yet they don't want to treat the position as a springboard. Parents outsource discipleship to youth ministers and then blame them for their own children's difficulties.
The experience of working with young people, usually on a voluntary basis to begin with, is useful before applying for a paid youth pastor position. If you love young people and are passionate about the Bible, a career as a youth pastor can be a good fit for your passions and goals. There are too many nightmarish stories of those who began ministering to students and discovered that the leap to become senior pastors was an insurmountable abyss. Youth ministry is a specific type of ministry that focuses on meeting the spiritual needs of teens and children.
The tasks are endless, and if you can't remember why you first accepted the role of youth pastor, exhaustion will come quickly. Some youth pastors will go on mission trips abroad before pursuing their careers, and this can help them to see how young people from other cultures interact with biblical teaching. First, they will spend time studying the Scriptures to present the teaching to the young people they minister to, and second, they will organize programs and activities for young people. Many youth pastors will work with a senior pastor on a voluntary basis before starting to work as paid youth pastors.
To be successful in this role, youth pastors must be strong in their faith and have a passion for sharing the gospel. Parents and other church members want to know that the youth pastor is a good-character person with strong leadership skills. This makes sense because the youth pastor serves under the orders of a senior pastor, so it would be logical for the youth minister to have a slightly lower salary.
