EFFECTIVE MEN, WOMEN & YOUTH MINISTRIES: HOW TO RAISE YOUTH PASTORS/LEADERS THAT WILL RAISE OTHER YOUTH

It is a truth of the hour that churches today are now building and raising what is commonly called Youth Church-they either get a worship centre for them within the premises of the parent church or rent a facility outside for them for a worship centre. While this is good and secondary, yet it is not the better and primary step to take when putting up a Youth Church.

Why This Assertion?

Today we focus much attention on worship centre than who leads the worshippers.
We appoint Youth Pastors and Leaders based on age, status and zeal.
No training, exposure and no written guiding principle to do the work.
Poor supervision and mentoring of the Pastor after appointment.
Wrong purpose and vision for raising a Youth Church – in some cases it is aimed towards making money, celebration centre, attracting the rich big boys and ladies in town, not really to give them foundation in the faith of our Lord Jesus.

Raising a Youth-Ministry side of the church is God’s will, but raising capable young leaders that will lead the work and raise other youth is much more important than starting the Youth Church.

A. Biblical Foundation and Examples – Exo. 24:13; 33:11; Deut. 1:38; 3:28; 2 Chro. 29:3- 5,11; 2 Tim. 2:2

It is God’s will that elderly ministers and leaders raise young pastors and leaders in ministry. This is the best legacy any leader can leave behind: to raise young Levites, Priests and Pastors who will carry on the work in your days and after you are gone to glory.

Check the list of how men of old raised young leaders then:

1. God told Moses to encourage Joshua Deut. 1:38; Exo.33:11

2. Moses often took Joshua along to mountain and Tabernacle for encounter (Exo. 33:9-11)

3. Moses poured himself into Joshua by laying on of hand – Deut. 34:9 3. 4.

4. King Hezekiah called all the young Levites and Priests first for sanctification (2 Chro, 29:4-5)

5. King Hezekiah tutored young Levites and Priests to know their purpose as ministers (2 Chro. 29:11)

6. Apostle Paul taught Timothy and commanded him to train others (2 Tim. 2:2)

7. Paul fully poured his doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, patience, charity and longsuffering into the young Timothy (2 Tim. 3:10)

These are how the fathers in the faith raised young ministers and we cannot do less today.

B. Who is a Youth Pastor?

This is the portrait and picture of life a Youth Pastor must possess:

1. living a A youth after God’s heart pleasing life to the Lord.

2. Genuinely born-again Christian

3. A Holy Spirit filled and led brother or sister

4. Sound in Scriptures – not just a zealous and activity-driven person.

5. One that is called by God – anointed by the Lord not someone who is just interested in youth leadership.

6. A mentoree or protégé of his pastor.

7. One who has been discipled and who is still a disciple of Jesus and his pastor.

A Youth Pastor having reflected these pictures in his or her life must still possess some qualifications in order to be fully qualified and guaranteed to pastor a Youth Church successfully. (20 Qualifications to be found later in this material)

C. Leader’s Steps To Appointing a Youth Pastor

There are steps leaders are duty-bound to take before appointing anyone as youth leader or youth pastor:

Share your vision for Youth Church or ministry with him or her.
Clearly put the vision and mission statements in print.
Bring him up in the nurture of the Lord over a period of time.
Give him guiding principles to do the work.
Watch him closely test him with little assignment
Look for fruit of the Spirit in him – look beyond his talents and activities.
Pray for him and with him.
Involve him in your in-house training and send him for training outside.
Seek the consent and approval of the Lord before appointment.
Check his report and image among the brethren (Acts 16:1-2) 11. Check for manifestation of your values, purpose and doctrine in him (2 Tim. 3:10)

D. How To Watch Over Your Youth Pastor/Leader

Considering some mistakes itemized in the introduction above, this is how to close door against some of them:

1. Accept that he is not going to be perfect, he needs mentoring and guidance.

2. Trust him but not without checks –

i. Check what he teaches and preaches,

ii. Check the progress of his meeting and fellowship programme.

iii. Check the growth of attendance

iv. The income and financial record

v. His friends and association

vi. The books he reads

3. Watch over his relationship with youths in his care.

4. Watch over his marriage – guide how he marries, his choice of partner or his relationship as a young husband or wife.

5. Attend to complaints about him before it leads to crisis.

6. Maintain constant contact and connection with him.

7. Take care of his welfare salary, emolument, accommodation etc.

8. Watch over his accountability of life and record keeping.

9. Watch over his personal growth because it is his all-round growth that will determine the growth of the work.

10. Mentor him for true leadership, mentor his marriage and his spouse.

E. How To Raise Faithful Youth Pastor/Leader

1. Be a model of a faithful pastor and leader with your own life.

2. Be his mentor – be there to correct, guide and instruct him.

3. Gradually resource him – encourage him with materials to do a better job.

4. Expose him to training earlier – before the time of appointment, send him out for training, to seminars, school of ministry, Bible school and involve him in in-house training.

5. Expose him to your books especially books on leadership and personal growth. 6. Take him along to seminars and conferences

7. Give him platform – let him be heard too.

8. Encourage him to take personal growth it is the and improvement serious mother of every other growth.

9. Emphasize intimate relationship with the Lord (in daily devotion) and how to relate well with people.

10. In all ways, let him know you believe in him and his future.