Youth Pastor's Age

We don't really have a "youth group" or "youth pastor" because there just aren't that many of us, all though we are growing! One of my friends just turned 23 and he's been teaching the youth class for a couple of years now. About two or three, so he probably started teaching us at 20 or 21.
He definatly knows what he's doing, and sure dosn't hesitate to tell it like it is. He preaches and teaches to us from the Bible, and he's sound in doctrine.
I'm not sure that it would matter how old the man is, just as long as he's first of all saved (lol, that's a given!) and sound in doctrine. I would think he'd need to know his Bible well, and be willing to take time to study and prepare his lessons, and be in prayer.
I'm sure churches have diffrent opinions on age, but if God calls you to this, you certianly have to start somewere!
Timothy of the Bible was a young preacher and Paul told him:

Paul didn't want people despising this young man because of age, and told Timothy not to neglect his gift.
And as for the older of the candidates? Well then they have years of experiance, and wisdom to impart to those young people. They've been there, and done it, so they know what us young people should expect.
And if they've been saved for many years, then most likely they have many years of Bible study as well, which will definatly be good for the youth.
Above all, no matter if the man over the youth is 18 or 80, he must be willing to study, preach and teach for those kids. They don't need programs or modern whatever. Just to be first of all saved, then decipled, and then grounded in the Word.

~Miss Abby
Proverbs 31:30 KJB

 

I dont know my youth pastors exact age but I do know that he did just retire and he is prolly in his 40s
I dont think age matters

 

Don't even worry about your age. I'm 17 and I wouldn't care if my youth leader was 20 or 70 as long as he/she cares about me as a young person and wants to see me grow in the Lord!! If being a youth leader is what you feel like the Lord is calling you to do...then I say go for it!!

Alivingsacrifice

 

Don't even worry about your age. I'm 17 and I wouldn't care if my youth leader was 20 or 70 as long as he/she cares about me as a young person and wants to see me grow in the Lord!! If being a youth leader is what you feel like the Lord is calling you to do...then I say go for it!!

Alivingsacrifice

 

I'm 25 years old, and am the new head youth minister at a church with 350 youth on the roll. Age doesn't really matter in my opinion, but it can be an issue with others in the church. The students I work with don't have a problem at all with my age - even the college students, which range from 18-24. I realize I'm not the rule, but in student ministry, having a heart for students and being a student of the Word means more than what it says on your birth certificate.

 

Trotter, this is really a good thread to keep around, and I appreciate the fact that you asked the question in the first place.

If anyone else has some input, it would be WELCOME! I'm sure there are many others out there who are asking the same questions. Has anyone else been called to work with youth?

 

I was a youth leader in my church when I was 22-23. I don't think age really matters as you can have an immature or mature person at any age. I would like to think my youth learned something even though I was a young pup at the time.

Jason

 

The only problem I could envision is if the Youth Minister is 24 or so and he's leading a large group of college and high school young people... how to say this.... It would be very hard, if he's single, not to be tempted to date some of the young ladies his age and that could lead to hurt feelings. I remember having a horrible crush on our Youth leader when I was about 13. He was in his mid 20's and such a wonderful and godly young man.

Diane

 

One of the benefits that I have is that my better half (we're getting married in December) is a godly, Christian woman who all of the girls in our group know and love. I am also EXTREMELY careful as to where I am and with whom. For example, I don't drive girls anywhere, even if it is across the parking lot, nor do I place myself in a room alone with a girl, except in counseling, where I have a window on my door.

As a therapist, I've learned about transference and it's important to keep that out of the relationships that youth ministers build with their kids - you're not their father, nor a boyfriend/husband person - you are their minister, responsible for helping them become more and more like Christ each week. Don't be their "friend," show them what it means to be like our Friend. (Does that make sense? )

 

I tend to be slightly shy of the "younger" model of youth minister. Mainly because ours is 25, and has just not been the best thing for us. He's a nice guy, and his wife is sweet, but he actually told our youth that he wished that he and his wife had not taken a position with the youth during the first year of their marriage (they've been married two years in March). Then, he's also the "Minister to College Students" and we've been left out in the cold until someone else stepped up and took over so that the gaps would be filled in. I guess a younger one is fine if God is ready for them to take on the responsibility...but I would want to know for sure that it was God calling. Did that make any sense?

 

The youth pastor at my church, who is also one of our pastor's sons, is going to be 25 years old this June.

 

You were in my youth group??

Seriously, I was a youth leader when I was 22, and the group was Jr High age. There was the occaisional girl who had a cruch or two on me (blush). Whoda thunk???? But our youth ministry had a strict rule that members of the youth staff and volunteers (like myself) were strictly forbidden from dating people in the youth groups.

Once, I asked the youth pastor how I should handle a girl who said she thought I was cute, and his wife (who was a very good childhood friend of mine) said, maybe we should have their eyes checked

Seriously, though, I'm 38 now, and I found out that a girl in my daughter's high school class (age 16) has a crush on me. And I'm not exactly a looker. The point is, crushes cn happen when you're 21 or 41. If the person is Godly and responsible, he/she should not be barred from serving as a youth pastor/counsellor/leader.