My friend Gabe and I were talking over email about conducting exit interviews for seniors leaving your ministry. We talked about what we could learn from them in order to better prepare them for college and life post-HS. Is this a good idea? Anyone out there already doing it?
Here’s a few of the questions we came up with, take a second to add a few of your own in the comments, too:
- On a scale of 1-10, how involved were you in youth group?
- Did you participate or lead a ministry?
- What is something that the as adult leaders could have done to help or support you more?
- How would you describe the “culture” of the youth group?
- What did you like best about our youth group?
- Were there any opportunities we missed?
- Did you feel supported/loved in a critical time or crisis during High School?
- What program/event did you benefit from the most? (Retreat, Overnighter, etc)
- How can our church continue to encourage and support you?
- If there was one thing you could teach the younger students, what would it be?
- What/when was a defining moment in your spiritual walk?
JG
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Josh Griffin has been in youth ministry for 16+ years in a small church and a big church. He currently serves as the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. [
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Geoff Stewart serves the Jr / Sr High School Pastor at Peace Portal Alliance Church in Surrey B.C.
Chris Wesley serves as the Director of Student Ministry at Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland.
Colton Harker serves with Josh at Saddleback Church. He is currently in his second year in youth ministry.
I think this is a great idea, Josh. Yes, we do interviews. I appreciate seeing the questions you cover as it helps me compare notes.
–Terrace Crawford
http://www.terracecrawford.com
http://www.twitter.com/terracecrawford
I love this idea! When do you send the e-mail? Before or after graduation?
personally tami, I usually prefer to give the interviews in person, usually one or two at a time. you can get so much more out of them in person than through email
and to answer your question, after would be probably be better because they are out for summer and have more time
Thanks for the great list of questions. I have done two interviews so far. It has been so good. It is so encouraging to reflect, remember, reminisce, etc. One question I added to your list has worked really well. “If you were the new youth pastor this fall, what would you change or keep the same?” Both students I have interviewed gave some great answers to this question.