The Need for More Youth Ministers

It’s not uncommon to question a calling.

Perhaps you feel called to attend a Christian college and study ministry. You may even feel compelled to be a youth minister. Your love and commitment to Jesus Christ is the most important relationship in your life, and you want others to experience the same joy and sense of purpose that God has given you.

Your sense of calling is strong, but still you ask yourself: Will I be able to get a job after I graduate? If I get a job, will I make enough money to survive? Is youth ministry a serious major? And perhaps most importantly: Does the world really need more youth ministers?   

These questions are common. To be perfectly frank, it’s good you are considering them now, before you make a decision about which college to attend.

The reality is this: The world needs more youth ministers.

Let’s look at the numbers…

• World Bank estimated that as of 2021, 25% of the global population was 14 years old or younger.¹ That’s approximately 2 billion people!
• In the United States, there is only one trained youth leader per 400+ youth.
• Most of the world’s trained youth ministers live and serve in the United States, even though the majority of the world’s youth live outside the United States.

The numbers speak for themselves; we NEED more youth ministers. But what about those other questions floating around in your mind?

• Will I be able to get a job after I graduate? You have many options when it comes to finding a job after graduation. Ministry college graduates can serve in churches as well as in para-church organizations, camps, community-based ministries, juvenile justice organizations, Christian schools, international missions organizations, and adolescent treatment centers.
• If I get a job, will I make enough money to survive? Normally, youth ministry salaries are equivalent to or higher than teacher salaries in the same communities.
• Is youth ministry a serious major? Youth ministry is a high and holy calling, and it is supported by professional organizations and resources. (You can actually earn a PhD in youth ministry!)

If you believe that you are called to youth ministry, don’t let anyone discourage you. A youth ministry degree from a Christian college can help prepare you to serve wherever and however God leads you.

Huntington University offers a bachelor’s degree in youth ministry and seven additional ministry-related degrees. Learn more about the Institute for Christian Thought and Practice at huntington.edu/CTP or schedule a campus visit at huntington.edu/Visit.

¹World Bank, 2019