MISENHEIMER — While attending a United Methodist church in Hickory, Charlie Brown became heavily involved in his church’s youth group.

He never thought about entering youth ministry as a profession — until now.

After getting an associate degree of arts from the community college in his hometown, he became one of five students this semester to enroll in Pfeiffer University’s new youth ministry program.

“I really didn’t know what I was going to do,” Brown said. “Since coming here, I’ve talked to a lot of people who are like, ‘You can get a degree in that now?’ ”

Pfeiffer — with 750 students on its northern Stanly County campus and another 900 in Charlotte — has long drawn students for its religious studies. This year it became one of three colleges in the nation affiliated with the United Methodist Church to offer a bachelor’s degree in youth ministry.

To help get the program started, Pfeiffer professor Dr. Ed Trimmer came from teaching graduate-level youth ministry courses for 16 years at the Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio.

“It’s a huge growing segment of the ministry,” Trimmer said. “Some of the fastest growing churches in the nation have really outstanding youth ministers. And the smaller churches are seeing that and saying, ‘Hey, if we’re going to grow we need to get into youth ministry, too.’ ”

The curriculum for the new youth ministry program is very specialized. Courses include child and adolescent psychology, faith development, teaching and learning theories in Christian education and youth ministries, and field work and internships.

“There was a sense at one time that you had to go to a seminary,” Trimmer said. “This just made sense. We have a huge amount of need. The churches desperately need folks.”

Pfeiffer tries to distinguish its religious programs from those at public universities such as the nearby University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Dr. Chuck Ambrose, the Pfeiffer president who came to the university two years ago, has made a mission of training students to become “servant leaders.” Students are expected to create a portfolio by graduation detailing missionary and other volunteer work in the community.

“We’re preparing you for church leadership,” Trimmer said. “But we also want to help you become a servant leader.”

Pfeiffer student James Brown, who is also enrolled in youth ministry and is not related to Charlie Brown, came from his native Gibsonville, a small town between Greensboro and Burlington. Brown was involved in the youth group at a United MethodistChurch there.

“There is nothing out there in the college circuit for youth ministry,” James Brown said. “I don’t know why because children need care. They need nurturing.

“ ... Kids are looking for somewhere to go. They need love and acceptance just like the rest of us.”