Training Needs Assessment for Youth Pastors in the Assemblies of God Church, North Central Zone

This study conducts a comprehensive training needs assessment for youth pastors serving in Assemblies of God churches within the North Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria, covering Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Niger, and Plateau states. Youth ministry in this zone faces the compounding challenges of post-conflict trauma, unemployment, and rapid urbanisation, creating complex pastoral demands that many youth pastors feel inadequately prepared to address. Using a descriptive survey design, structured needs assessment questionnaires are administered to 95 youth pastors, supplemented by focus group discussions in each of the six states. The assessment evaluates current competencies and perceived gaps across five domains: biblical knowledge and theology, counselling skills, leadership and administration, digital ministry skills, and community development. Findings indicate the largest competency gaps are in trauma-informed counselling, digital content creation, and youth programme administration. Youth pastors in rural and semi-urban contexts report greater isolation and less access to continuing professional development than their urban counterparts. The study recommends the development of a regionally tailored continuing education programme for Assemblies of God youth pastors in the North Central zone, with modular delivery options including residential intensives and online learning. Keywords: training needs, youth ministry, Assemblies of God, North Central Nigeria, pastoral competency