Here is my top 15 things a church can do to keep their youth worker.
- Pay well. A first year youth worker in a church should earn the starting salary of a first year teacher in the area.
- Give vacations. At least 3 weeks a year and 4 Sundays.
- Give “comp time.” If they worked 50 hours one week, let them take 10 hours off the next week.
- Do not expect the spouse to work in the Youth Ministry. Your paying for 1 person.
- Sundays are work hours too.
- Overnighters should be included in comp time (including the time they’re asleep).
- Require time doing nothing but being silent, in prayer, and reading scripture. Spiritual Disciplines should be a part of the job description.
- Don’t expect to see them much in the office. They should be doing a lot of stuff away from the office. Unless the office is a spot a lot of youth come to.
- Don’t micromanage the ministry. Encourage, support, advise but give freedom.
- Give permission to fail.
- Judge the ministry based on quality of ministry not the quantity of youth.
- Invite them over for dinner.
- Watch their children so they can go out on a date.
- Make them accountable to the senior pastor not the church board.
- Be clear on expectations. Have them in writing.
(Like any blog, it doesn’t go well if it is only one sided. Please add your own to the list in the comments)
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