Ask a youth pastor these 45 questions (With Sample Answers)

Ask a youth pastor these 45 questions (With Sample Answers)

Youth pastors help the kids and teens in their church learn about their faith and develop spiritual habits. People who want to share their faith and help guide young people as they grow up might enjoy being a youth pastor. If you want to be a youth pastor, learning how to answer common interview questions can help you prepare for the interview part of the hiring process. In this article, we list 45 interview questions for youth pastors and show you how to answer some of them.

Questions to ask a youth pastor in general for a job interview

An interviewer might ask you general questions to find out more about you and decide if you’d be a good fit for their congregation. Some of these questions might be about how you do your job, what you believe, or how you try to be spiritual. Here are 12 general questions you can ask a youth pastor:

1. Can you tell me about what you think God is like?
2. What would you say about how you talk to people?
3. Can you talk about how God led you to ministry?
4. How well do you know how to work with others?
5. What are some of your best qualities on the job?
6. Do you want to be a full minister in this religious group?
7. Who are your spiritual heroes?
8. How do you feel about evangelism?
9. How do you understand the Gospels?
10. Can you describe your daily spiritual practises?
11. What are your long-term goals for your job?
12. What about you would your old pastor say?

Questions about work and history from the past

The interviewer can find out if you have what it takes to be a youth pastor by asking you these questions. They might ask you how long you’ve been a youth leader and what your most important skills are. Here are 12 questions about your experience and background that a youth pastor might ask:

1. How long have you been working with kids and teens?
2. Do you have anything you’d like to talk about in your background check?
3. How long have you been leading services of worship?
4. Do you have a current CPR or first aid certificate?
5. Can you tell me about a time when you taught or coached someone?
6. How long have you been a camp counsellor or led retreats?
7. Can you tell me about times you’ve worked with parents or guardians?
8. How does the Bible or something else you’ve learned guide your work as a youth pastor?
9. How much experience do you have working with elders and diaconate boards?
10. Are you interested in learning how to drive a church van?
11. How long have you worked for the government as a reporter?
12. Can you tell me about any work you’ve done for a mission?

Questions to ask a youth pastor in depth for a job interview

An interviewer might ask you specific questions to find out how you solve problems and what you’ve done in the past. These questions could be about what youth groups do or about problems that many people face. Here are sixteen detailed questions you can ask a youth pastor:

1. Can you tell me about a time when you helped coworkers, friends, or family get along?
2. How do you want to lead religious services?
3. How would you handle a fight between two people in your youth group?
4. What could you do if one of the parents didn’t like the way you led?
5. What are three ways that young people can raise money for a mission trip?
6. Tell me about a successful fundraiser you put together.
7. How could you get a shy or quiet youth group member to speak up during discussion time?
8. When could you tell a teen’s parents something they told you in confidence?
9. What are some of the most important spiritual problems that young people face today?
10. Tell me about a youth pastor who changed your life for the better.
11. How do you feel? Why do you think kids and teens should have faith?
12. How do you make sure that everyone in a youth group feels welcome and cared for?
13. What might you do if someone in your youth group told you they were having trouble with their faith?
14. How could you help a child or teen who missed home while on a youth trip?
15. What are your favourite ways to start a conversation?
16. How do you get kids to take charge in a youth group?

Sample answers to questions about the youth pastor asked in an interview

Here are five questions you might be asked at a job interview for a youth pastor position, along with examples of how to answer them.

Why do you want to be in charge of the youth at this church?

This is a question an interviewer might ask to see if you can meet the needs of the congregation. Hiring teams might like candidates whose goals are similar to the congregation’s, like growing the youth programme or getting involved in the community. Think about what you know about the congregation and how their mission fits with your own when answering this question.

Example: “I want to be a youth pastor at Martindale Avenue Christian Church because I believe that the church should teach its children and young people about spirituality and service. Even though I grew up in a different state, I went to the same type of church. I’ve always known that this congregation is known for being involved in the community and giving back, which are two of my most important values. I want to help the next generation grow and find their own spiritual identities by using my faith and energy.”

2.Can you talk about how you learned about religion and theology?

There are many things that youth pastors could have learned, but many of them have degrees in theology, religion, or Christian education. This is a question an interviewer might ask to find out where you went to school and what you believe in. This could change how you talk to people in your youth group. You should talk about how your degree or relevant classes helped you learn skills that are important for the job when you answer this question.

Example: “I got my degree in religious studies from North Houston College, where I studied theology and philosophy. I learned about the most important religious practises of many religions, including Christianity, in my major classes. This event helped me figure out who I was spiritually and made me feel like I was called to ministry. I did an internship with the National Church Education Organization when I was an undergraduate. There, I learned about youth outreach and education programmes, worked as a youth mentor at the organization’s retreat centre, and made lessons for groups of different ages.”

What do you do with kids and teens to help them grow in their faith?

This is a question an interviewer might ask to see how much you know about youth ministry. You can show that you have the skills to do well in this job by giving the interviewer specific examples of how you do youth ministry. When you answer this question, give specific examples and talk about how these things help young people.

Example: “I think a good youth minister does a lot of different things to keep people interested in their youth group and Bible classes. Each young person’s spiritual needs are different, so I like to give them a lot of choices. For example, some teens find journaling spiritual, so I teach them how to sit quietly and write about their thoughts and feelings. Others like to talk about Bible stories and current events with each other, so I always leave time for a free discussion during classes or meetings.”

How can you get young people to come to youth group meetings and events?

One way to measure how successful a youth programme is by how many kids and teens go to meetings, services, and trips. This is a question an interviewer might ask to see how good you are at promoting, which can help bring more people to youth events. Give specific examples of what you could do when you answer this question.

Example: “I try to find out what’s important to the young people in my congregation and link that to the goals of the youth programme. This strategy involves making different lesson plans for kids and teens so they can use materials and do activities that are right for their ages. For instance, kids in church might like to play games and make crafts to learn about Bible stories, while teens might like to talk about how their faith affects their relationships, goals, and interests. I usually make flyers or brochures that tell young people and their parents what each age group’s youth programme includes.”

5. If the church hires you, what other jobs can you do for them?

Even though a youth pastor’s main job is to help kids and teens grow spiritually, in some churches they also serve on leadership boards and run strategic projects to help the church grow. This is a question an interviewer might ask to find out what else you can do to help the company. When you answer this question, give specific examples of how you use your skills and what you like to do.

Example: “My dream job is to work with young people as a youth pastor, but I’ve always been interested in technology as well. I took a minor in computer science in college, and I’ve made a few websites for music groups and student groups that my friends are in. If the church’s leadership board decides to make a new website, put sermon videos online, or connect with parishioners virtually, I can set up the system to make those things happen. I’m also interested in social media marketing, so I can let people know about church events and help the church grow.”