Are You Looking For Someone to Fill a Role or Build a Future?

I work with a lot of parishes that are looking to hire someone to fill a role. They often selected wonderful people, who love young people and the Church; however, they are completely overwhelmed.

Unless you only need someone to run a program, youth ministry (and children's ministry) is not a role that can be filled. Asking or inviting someone into ministry is an investment, that not many parishes understand. If they did then you wouldn't be seeing data like that found in the Senior Pastor's Perspective on Ministry with Young People provided by Fuller Institute with Tenx10.  They found that:

• Only 1 in 3 pastors consider youth ministry among their top five priorities.
• The majority of churches invest only 2%–10% of their budgets toward youth ministry.

With such a limited commitment, we need to ask whether we are just filling a role or building a future.

Youth Ministry as a Priority or Afterthought?

When we view youth ministry as a “role to be filled,” we shortchange the potential impact it can have on the future of the Church. It’s easy to think, “We have someone handling youth ministry, so we’re good,” but that approach ignores the reality that ministry requires more than filling a gap. It demands a long-term vision that recognizes the importance of developing the leaders so they can develop the next generation. 

If we’re serious about the future of the Church, we can’t settle for filling roles in a way that leads to burnout or turnover. We have to commit to forming leaders who can connect with young people, adapt to their needs, and inspire a new generation of faith.

Moving Beyond Just Filling a Role

If you’re responsible for overseeing youth ministry, take a step back and ask yourself some hard questions. Are you simply asking someone to “get the job done,” or are you investing in their growth as a minister and as a person? The goal shouldn’t be to find a temporary solution—it should be to equip leaders who will help build the future of the Church.

Here are some key questions to consider:

• What is my biggest hope for the next generation of Church? Whether you are the pastor of your parish or the youth minister, you need to dream about where the next generation can go with the Gospel? Don't be afraid to think big and create a vision for the young people in your parish that goes beyond, "Understanding the faith better."

• What does it look like to invest in the formation of our leaders? If you want a growing ministry then you need the people leading it to grow too. In addition to their personal relationship with Christ, you need to ensure that they are growing in their profession. Whether it's books, workshops, conferences or coaching, don't be afraid to create a growth plan for them.

• How are we going to measure health beyond the numbers? Yes, attendance does matter, but that's a limited measurement. You want to know what it looks like for your ministry to grow deep in faith and wide with influence. Go back to your vision, and start defining what it looks like when it's coming to fruition. Set your goals and metrics from the vision. 

When you ask these types of questions it forces you to think long-term. You'll recognize that you are investing in more than a program, instead it's people.

Shifting Our Mindset: Investing in Youth Ministry

So, how do we shift from simply filling a role to truly investing in youth ministry? Start by reevaluating your parish’s budget and priorities. Look at how much is allocated for youth ministry and ask whether it reflects the importance you place on this work. Is 2%–10% enough to meet your vision for a thriving youth ministry?

And beyond finances, consider the intangible support—mentorship, encouragement, prayer, and formation. Youth ministry isn’t an isolated program; it’s a community endeavor. When we commit to developing leaders who can embody and promote a vision for young people, we are making a commitment to the future of the Church itself.

Building a Ministry with Staying Power

Instead of asking if someone can “fill a role,” ask if they have what they need to build a future. Investing in youth ministry leaders by supporting their spiritual, human, intellectual, and pastoral formation means investing in a ministry that can grow, adapt, and inspire. When we build a foundation with these four pillars, we’re not just filling roles—we’re creating a legacy of faith for generations to come.

If you are a youth minister or someone who works with young people in the local Church please take a few minutes to complete the Ministry Training Source survey on Pastoral Leaders Serving with Young Catholics HERE. Your input will help us gather the data we need to continue to invest in those that accompany and serve the young Church.