Profiles of Roothbert: Andrew Zirschky

“I was in Princeton from 2004 to 2010,” began Andrew Zirschky ‘07. “My doctoral advisor asked me what I wanted to do when I finished my program, and I knew I didn’t want to get locked into teaching at a theological seminary.” 

Following his PhD at Princeton Theological Seminary, Andrew connected with the Center for Youth Ministry Training (CYMT), discovered similar visions for youth ministry, and moved to Nashville, TN. 

Andrew is inspired by young people and has committed himself to their spiritual and holistic development. At CYMT, fellows complete a three-year fellowship in youth ministry while earning a masters degree at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The program provides a unique opportunity within youth ministry to combine theory and practice. Furthermore, throughout the entire process, fellows receive mentorship from experienced coaches. 

Currently, Andrew is a Research Professor in youth Ministry at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and coordinator of the MA in Youth Ministry. “I love teaching in a program that is holistic, a program that takes account of students physically mentally, and spiritually.” CYMT provides aspiring youth ministers with church experience, classroom experience, a sense of community, coaching, and care. 

“The youth minister is the person who focuses the congregation’s life on caring for and loving young people,” explained Andrew. “This looks different in each context, church, city, and neighborhood.” Andrew envisions youth ministry as greater than the development of young people in their faith. “Youth ministers can take into account the full development of young people and lead kids to think through deeper questions.” 

“People go into youth ministry for a couple of reasons,” commented Andrew. Speaking to his own experience, Andrew recalls explicitly not wanting to enter youth ministry as a teenager. “I grew up in the church and could take it or leave it until about 7th grade. In fact, I really didn’t like going to church.” However, it was the launch of Bible Quizzing, a program modeled after Jeopardy or Knowledge Bowl that introduced a more thorough understanding of Christian scripture into Andrew’s life. 

“My church would assign a portion of the Bible each year to study, and I got really caught up in this. People who were really good at this would memorize the entire book. I had this profound experience with God as an 8th grader, memorizing Jesus’ sermon on the mount in my bedroom. I remember very distinctly being personally confronted by these words I was memorizing.”

By 9th grade, Andrew had felt a profound calling to become a youth pastor. From part-time responsibilities in youth ministry during his undergraduate studies in Idaho to his current work with Austin Theological Seminary and CYMT, Andrew has found his passion. Andrew later reflected on how youth ministry informs his perspective as a father. 

“My son just graduated high school and convinced me that he does not need to go to college.” A music composer, game developer, and online influencer, Andrew’s son envisioned a different pathway for himself, and his father provided the necessary reflection to make the best decision. 

“I needed a 10-year plan for finances. I needed to know that my son found a way to be a lifelong learner and make great money. Then, I asked him ‘What is your calling in the world? How are you going to make the world a better place through love, care, and creation through what you are doing?’ I want my son to flourish as a human being. I think good youth ministers are challenging kids with those kinds of questions.”

“I see this as a lifelong calling,” commented Andrew. “I’m inspired by young people who early on sense their responsibility, power, and agency in the world.” In a society prone to dismissing its youth, Andrew maintains that upcoming generations are “only hobbled by their beliefs in our beliefs about them.” In cherishing and cultivating the promise of our young people, we can facilitate a world in which “youth don’t allow their age to hold back their passion and their belief that they can do something in the world.”