Youth pastors
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A youth pastor, or Christian youth minister, is a pastor who is trained specifically to work with youth. Most youth pastors serve young people between twelve and eighteen years old.
In the United States, many Protestant churches that consist of more than 150 people employ at least one youth pastor. 97% of professional youth ministers reside in the United States even though the U.S. contains only 3% of the world's youth.
While youth pastorship used to be considered a stepping stone on the way to becoming a presiding pastor, the trend is currently moving toward treating it as its own vocation. Many Bible and Christian universities and colleges now offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in youth ministry.
Being a youth pastor can be both physically and mentally demanding, but for the right people can be exhilarating and incredibly fulfilling. Despite the fact that it can become a 24/7 role, former youth pastors often look back on it as a high spot in their lives. Any positive input into the lives of young people is invaluable.
