Both in class and in ministry, students keep learning and applying, and developing their own style of ministry. At Gordon approximately 80 students major or minor in youth ministries because they want to make a difference in the lives of young people. The youth ministries major is designed to prepare students to minister in a variety of settings. While some graduates go to seminary or graduate school, most students choose to serve churches as youth ministers or Christian education directors in urban, suburban and rural settings. Some graduates choose to minister through organizations such as Young Life, Youth for Christ, Student Venture, Youth with a Mission, and many other ministry organizations.
Some students choose to work in the United States while others become involved in overseas ministry.
For those who want to minister to young people, the Gordon experience will prepare them to do so. Over the past decade Gordon's youth ministries program has consistently been rated as one of the best in the nation. In 1987 Group Magazine researched 110 colleges and seminaries and recognized Gordon College for having one of the top two college youth ministries programs in the country. In 1993 the Center for Youth Ministry in Virginia searched through 200 colleges and universities for the nation's best youth ministries program, and in the Best of Breed report Gordon's youth ministries program came out on top. In the November 1995 issue of Group Magazine, Gordon's youth ministries program was once again ranked as the nation's best.