Top 10 Things to Know when Hiring a YP

So a couple of churches have asked my advice on hiring a Youth Minister. (Including one I use to have a ministry at, how weird is that?) So here is what I came up with. I'm also doing Top 10 Things to do When Looking for a Church. These will probably be published soon and revised to help both churches and youthworkers. - G.



Top 10 Things To Know when Hiring a Youth Pastor

1. Expectations. What do you expect of him or her? Have a Job Description. Contract. Purpose of Hiring – is it for shepherding your students, programs, evangelism? Specific role etc. The more you have this in writing the better. Have a good profile in mind. Do we have the budget? Sometimes it might be good to start with a summer intern (Usually you find these by interviewing in the Fall of that year for the Summer of next year on the Bible College campuses)

2. Theology. Theology is everything. You want someone who knows the Word, and meets the qualifications of a pastor and is on the same page and vision as the church.


3. The Interview process. Form a Search Committee. Know how the process goes. Advertise the position, look for good youth workers that are already in ministry. Communication with all resumes is key. No Beauty pageants. Acknowledge receipt of the resume – if know this person isn’t going further in the process – tell them thanks but not a fit. If looking at that person’s resume – tell them – they might have several options. Ask for references. With every response, and decision – always follow-up with a letter. Do unto others, as you have them do unto you. There have been several churches I’ve applied to never to hear from them again….

4. Questions. Be willing to ask them. Have a good committee do the research. Know your philosophy of youth ministry, as well as others. Be honest about your church’s past. What is your church culture? Ask and being willing to answer questions. Tele-conferences work well. Use the personal touch. Questionnaires might be good, but sometimes you read too much in between the lines or not enough. Some of the best questions that people asked me were: What are you reading, what do you watch on TV? What websites do you visit?, besides the regular questions.


5. Marketability – Check out sites as youthspecialties.com, churchstaffing.com, christianchurchtoday.com, some seminaries and Bible colleges, network with other ministers to know who is good and what you might be looking for.

6. Demographics – Have a history of your area, church, average age of the church, style of leadership, what the pay package would include: Health, retirement, book allowance, food, education etc. The more info and prepared you are for a youth minister for the long term – the better your church is. A good profile and portfolio goes a long way. Having this on CD isn’t a bad idea either. Include websites: List of schools, hospitals, about the area etc. The current church I’m at did this …invaluable information.


7. References – not only look at the applicants’ references but also give them referrals. References for all the staff. The Senior Minister needs to give his references as well as the church give names of other churches – both denominational and Christian Churches in the area to see what others say about your church. (Some churches might be scared of this – but it one of the best perspectives out there as well …what does the Community say about X Church I am applying to?)

8. Search Committee Make-up: Make sure you have some of your students, student leadership, church leadership and some parents on the committee. Gives a variety of opinions and aspects of interacting and seeing what type of youth minister you want.


9. Resourcefulness: How much are we willing to invest in this? The Hiring and transition process can be less painful if ask the tough questions. Do we have the funds for this position, how are raises given, do we have a budget so this person can do their job? Do we offer a book allowance, teaching, training etc, what benefits? Do we fly the person in, his family? Where will they stay, person’s home, hotel, moving costs? Etc.

10. Prayer. (This should be Number 1) Seek God’s Will. This is like a marriage – you want the staff member to work well with the other staff and volunteers and be in it for the long term. It isn’t easy but worth the efforts. God’s blessings and prayers are with you.

Gerrard R. Fess is a 11yr veteran in youth ministry. Married to Valerie. And has 3 children: Kendra, Nicole and Brian. He dreams of one day being a professional NHL zamboni driver. He currently is the Youth and Family Minister at Cary Christian Church in Cary, NC. He holds a BS from Roanoke Bible College, some Graduate Work at Anderson University and has written for many publications Including: Youthworker Journal, and the Christian Standard.

Some resources to consult:
How to Choose a Youth Pastor by Paul Borthwick
Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry – Doug Fields
Youth Ministry Management Tools – Olson, Elliot and Work.
Group Magazine Nov./Dec 2005. – 2005 Youth Ministry Salary Survey edition.
2006 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff - James F. Cobble & Richard R. Hammar
The Big book of Job Descriptions – Gospel Light
Things They Didn’t Teach at Bible College but you really need to know about Youth Ministry – Todd Clark
Youth Ministry Handbook – Edward A. Trimmer.

Get Hope?

So Yesterday, a friend & I paid a visit to a church around the corner from me. A $40 Million Dollar Facility. Impressive. Or made me jealous in some ways.

Hope Community


There were some cool moments though. Meeting and hanging out with the staff. Hearing the stories of God's story.

The ones that really hit me was the ones about their receptionist.

She used to work for Thy Dollhouse, as a stripper. Came to the Lord. The finance committee helped her with her bills (Going from making loads of $$$ to hardly any was hard) and she on her own decided to not stay with her live in boyfriend and moved back home. (On a sidenote, my friend was taking pictures for his church because of their possibly using the same architect and recommendations and to get some ideas and the receptionist was Shy and didn't want her mug taken - we thought it odd, and still are like after hearing about her story ...makes some sense).

So the receptionist had friends come to the church as well. One used to work @ the Dollhouse - (was asked after winning Amateur nite via encouragement from her husband). After this women went to be stripper, her husband left her. She came to the Lord later, and now her and her husband are reconciled and there @ Hope each Sunday. It was good to hear the encouraging stories. I do wonder on the struggles the church has had to endure to get this far in 12 years.

Nice to have neighbours though that know the Kingdom of God is bigger than their own little community.

Top 10 Mistakes Youth Pastors Make

Some insight from an Interview



Some Resources:



Things They Never Taught you in Seminary
Practical tips for dealing with the nitty-gritty issues of pastoral life by Deborah and James Bushfield Herald Press, 1994.

The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Makes - Hans Finzel.
Victor books, 1994.

What I wish my Youth Leader knew about Youth Ministry by Mike Nappa

8 Habits of an Effective Youth Worker - Tim Smith.

All star Bloopers from All-star Youth Leaders - group.

Things They Don't Teach At Bible College ....
But you Really Need to Know About Youth Ministry! By Todd Clark. Foreward by Les Christie.

Ten Skills They Didn't Teach you in Seminary by John Gocke


And here are my Top Ten: (Adapted from Top 10 Mistakes Leaders Make)

1. Attitude - make sure our attitude reflects the Saviour.

2. Paperwork Before People - Ministry is about Relationships.

3. Absence of Affirmation - Encouragement goes a long way.

4. No Room for Lone Rangers - You are not alone in Ministry.

5. The "I know all the Answers" Guy - Don't give Pat Answers.

6. Dirty Delegation - delegated those things you just don't like to do.

7. Communication Chaos. It is always better to overcommunicate than to undercommunicate.

8. Missing the Cues about your Church culture. There are some Sacred Cows of the Community you work - and to touch them could me updating your resume.

9. Success without Successors - Idea to have those that to do ministry even if you are to go elsewhere.

10. No Vision. Cast Vision, Give perspective and hope for the future.

And of course there are more - have some boundaries and accountability when it comes to dealing with finances, the opposite sex, and dealing with conflict.

Plagiarizing and Ministry

My friends over at Think Christian
have this Blog Entry


I find it amusing. I enjoy doing research, offering resources for FREE, and helping out but there has to be some effort to put your mark and take for ministry. I had a Senior Pastor that preached from a Book word for word. (I still remember the title: How to Love someone you can't stand). Sad really. And then I heard one of my favourite authors was fired for plagiarizing from Bob Russell(Bob Russell's sermons from his radio show) (article here
. He wrote a book entitled, Escape From Church, Inc. That made me SAD. And then @ a Teen convention I heard a seminar plagiaring Mike Yaconelli and telling the story of Sadie as if it happened to them. And then also at a youth convention - where the Main Speaker was paid - He spoke from a book entitled Great Youth Outlines and Discussions.

Is plagiarizing something new? Nope. I just pray that the pastors that do it are convicted to STOP!

As someone once told me - Quoting only one source "Plagiarizing"

Quoting 3 or more sources : RESEARCH

Adding your insight to the Research "Priceless"

'Twas The Night Before Youth Ministry

I wrote this last year and thought to share again Here:




'Twas the Night Before Youth Ministry

'Twas the Nite Before Youth Ministry,
When all through the church
Not a church was stirring, not even a pastor.
The budget minutes were done for the year with care.
In hopes that funds for the ministry next year would be there.
The church-goers had gone. All full of themselves.
With visions of only thinking of Thyself.
The Leadership wanted the last say on everything.
And the Senior Pastor had to be right on every theological thing.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter.
Several of us had sprung out of the church to see what was the matter.
As we entered the church parking lot What did we see?
But Angry parents and students wanting youth ministry for FREE!

More rapid than insults, the crowd made demands.
They had expectations of what they thought youth ministry looked like and added their demands.

They started to name the youth orgainzations by name:

Now "Youth For Christ, Young Life, FCA, and such, Campus Life, CEF, First Priority too let's put all these youth pastors to shame"

"You need to be like Bo Boshers, Doug Fields or some other mega church name ...maybe its 180 and putting all others to shame."

"To the top of the denomination, to the top of the glee of the crowd, we'd rather have glorified babysitting and we want it now."

So as the demands of the parents, full of themselves ....
Several others had cried as the silly demands had abound.

Youth Ministry is not a thing dressed up and made good.
It sometimes speaks of sex, drinking and peer pressure as one should.

It isn't about looking cool.
Or even having a Dodge Viper or Hummer or 2.

Youth Ministry is sometimes about stuff you don't have a clue.

It's about Jesus, church, loving God and others too.
And not another marketing tool.

All of the gimmicks make me want to laugh.
"Teach like Jesus" or get this item for half price and have your church grow without having the Spirit in it at all!

O the marketing - be the next Mega Thing rather than
Be Who God created you to be and not something else.

When will we learn?
When will we turn from this youth ministry as glorified babysitting thing?

Then I knew I had nothing to dread.
Jesus loved me, instead of these angry parents instead.

Jesus spoke such kindness and did such a good work.
He gave of Himself, and never was a jerk.
He was born as God's Son.
Human became.
Loved, died, rose, and is Coming Again!

As I think of Jesus, Youth Ministry and all ....
Its about being the church
And not this programming call.
So the next time someone gives you a complain.
Turn to them and proudly proclaim:

"I serve my Christ offering Him to all;
Love God and others is my Call."

Thus Youth Ministry is a calling and not sort of thing.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.


Parody by Gerrard R. Fess.

Copyright 2004. Permission granted to share everywhere just note the author

Purging the Office

So I’m going through my books and stuff. Throwing some stuff away. Going through old files, and basically File Thirteen them. I, even, went to Mike’s Used Book Store (Made some $$$) and got rid of my Left Behind Series. (Now who in their right mind who want those?) And I came across the following quotes today:

“Better to eat Twinkies with friends; than to eat Broccoli alone.”



“Gerrard will never be famous, and people don’t give him much slack, but he will do much for the kingdom through youth ministry. Amen” In a letter to me from a friend, Brian Bilodeau – who writes that Steve Hill paid that compliment and said hello. (Steve Hill was one of my mentors, and instructors in college on Youth Ministry and this was after I graduated)

And a new and interesting site (I had an Advertisement for it) The Logan Show

Accountability

After much prayer, and effort. I finally have an accountable friend and co-partner in ministry. We meet on Thursday for lunch at Damon’s. We decided to be more fruitful for monthly and updates daily as well. Good first meeting. Some questions we’re considering asking each other. (Hoping others can use these questions as well)

1. Did you accomplish your spiritual goals for this month? Did you pray for others? Did you have a quiet time with Jesus?

2. What did you do this month to enhance your relationship with your spouse?

3. In what ways has God blessed you this month? And/or what disappointment consumed your thoughts this month?

4. Did you look at other women in a lustful manner this month?

5. Have you shared your faith? In what ways? How can you improve? Have you an opportunity with a Non-Christian?

6. Where are you financially right now? Are things under control? Are things under anxiety? Is there any great debt?

7. What do you see as your number one need for the month? What are the other person’s in the group number one need?

Have you lied about any answers above?