Empowering the Next Generation of Church Leaders: Arch Ministries’ Commitment to Youth
This January, Arch Ministries hosted over 70 students, from high school to grad school and beyond, at the 2025 Arch National Pastors Fellowship. This was a pivotal event where church leaders united to address a pressing challenge—the future of ministry leadership. A leadership gap is emerging as more pastors approach retirement, with five times more pastors retiring than being ordained.
We celebrated stories of young people stepping into leadership positions and acknowledged the dedication many teens and young adults show in their faith. However, we also addressed the reality that distractions and pressures have made it increasingly difficult for today’s youth to remain rooted in the church.
Arch Ministries has launched new youth initiatives aimed at equipping and encouraging the next generation of ministry leaders. These initiatives focus on disciple-making and intentional mentoring, empowering teens and young adults to embrace their calling and take active roles in their local churches.
We are inspired by their faith and commitment, and we remain dedicated to supporting and guiding these youth and young adults as they prepare to lead and serve in the years to come. Together, we are building a strong community of future leaders who will continue to shine the light of Christ for generations.
At the Arch National Pastors Fellowship, we learn from churches that are successfully equipping and encouraging their youth toward ministry roles. By sharing practical strategies and biblical insights, we can work together to reclaim and prepare the next generation for faithful service.
But this mission requires more than just our leadership—it requires the direct involvement of young people themselves. They are not just the future of the church; they are a vital part of its present.
That’s why Arch Ministries has launched new youth education initiatives, creating opportunities for teens and young adults to engage, grow, and step into leadership within the local church. By fostering a strong, Christ-centered network among them, we can help equip and encourage them to serve. Now is the time to act.
Scholarship Details (Level I)
References & Activities:
Get a reference from your pastor or principal.
Write a one-page essay answering, “Why would you like to attend the Arch National Pastors’ Fellowship?”
Complete the application here describing your current local church and school activities (that asks for the two above items).
The deadline to submit everything is December 1, 2024.
Interviews while at the Fellowship:
Actively participate in all meetings and meals at the fellowship.
Take notes and discuss your takeaways with your home pastor.
Interview pastors or ministry leaders using the form you received in your welcome packet.
Post-Fellowship:
Fill out and submit Arch’s post-fellowship survey.
Discuss your interview takeaways with your pastor, youth pastor, or principal.
Write a three-page, double-spaced paper on those takeaways/lessons learned from the interviews and the discussion of the interviews with your leader. (If you’re in a Christian school or homeschool, this paper could count toward your Bible class requirements.)
We are extending the deadline for the interviews and papers to March 31, 2025 at midnight as a HARD deadline. The final paper can be submitted/resubmitted to judithleary@archmin.org.
Anyone not submitting all aspects of Level I of the scholarship by 3/31 will not be advanced to Level II of the scholarship.
Level 1: Apply by December 1
APPLY NOW