• The worker is committed to youth work year round. He doesn’t have to return to classes or leave the field after a few months of ministry. The youth ministry is a permanent part of the overall church program and can be developed as such.
• Even though the church offers a year round salary, it is part-time. The minister has other work outside of the local church and doesn’t have to completely depend upon the church for financial support. It is a minimal financial investment as far as the church is concerned.
• As a general rule of thumb it can be said that the paid worker is more committed to the work than a volunteer would be, because the paid worker is accountable to the local church for the financial support he receives.
• The young people will have a long-term familiar face with whom to develop a relationship. The teenagers needn’t have to build new trust each year with a different minister. This will promote ministry stability.
• The paid youth minister can plan with the pastor and other leaders for the long haul. Youth ministry becomes as much an important aspect of the local church as any other ministry emphasis.

Disadvantages of having a permanent part-time youth minister:

• If this individual is a member of the local church, conflicts may arise if he doesn’t get along well with other staff or church members. Even though a troublesome worker can be fired it could be ill advised as long as the worker is a long-term member of the local church. Without very careful planning and coordination dismissal could precipitate major internal problems.
• Unless the church invests time to develop a comprehensive job description, difficulties and confusion could arise concerning the direction of ministry. Even though the youth worker is a member of the church, great care must be taken to clearly define expected responsibilities.
• Church decisions could offend church members who are relatives of the youth worker.

The full-time youth worker

The preferred youth ministry worker will be a called outsider who can work on a full-time basis. This individual is selected because of his preparation and comes expecting to dedicate his full attention to the local ministry. His call to ministry is not unlike that of the pastor, only he is called to work specifically with teenagers. The church will be responsible for his full financial support.

Advantages of having a full-time youth minister:

• Like any other full-time worker, this individual can give his undivided attention to the ministry to which he was called.
• It is easier to elaborate a stable ministry that will grow and develop. Every new ministry and minister require a certain period of time whereby everyone gets to know one another which will contribute to a successful program.
• The youth minister works to support and complement the work of the senior pastor.
• During the pastor’s absence the youth minister can help with preaching, visitation, and overall adult ministries.
• There is a positive influence on church growth as prospective members become aware of the full-time youth ministry offered by the local church.
• A full-time additional staff person might be used to build up other ministries like Christian education, outreach, or music. In this sense the church gets double for its financial investment.

(To be continued)