The Center for Youth Ministry Training

 
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Equipping the Local Church

Is the youth ministry in your church struggling?

Does your youth minister need theological education or practical training?

Could your congregation use some support and coaching to help develop a sustainable structure for long-term effective youth ministry?

The Center for Youth Ministry Training is here to help. Our Training Church program provides the training and support congregations need for youth ministries to thrive.

In today's world, good youth ministry requires more than just games and guitars. For youth to experience a life-changing faith, they need an intentional community of teens and adults where they have a personal encounter with God, are encouraged to understand God's purpose for their lives and find hope in the intersection of their story with God's bigger story. For this kind of youth ministry to happen, both youth workers and churches need training.

Training Church Benefits

Partner Churches gain a fantastic opportunity to invigorate and enhance any ministry the church already has to teens and their families. Specific benefits include:

  • Youth Minister earns an Masters of Arts in Religion and receives veteran coaching to hone their practical skills
  • Personalized veteran coaching for the church's youth ministry team and staff including:
  • Development of a strategic three-year plan for your youth ministry
  • Curriculum and discipleship planning
  • Volunteer recruitment and training
  • Foundational work to create an infrastructure to support a healthy, sustainable ministry to youth and their families.

How it Works

CYMT allows training church's youth minister to fully participate in our academic program which will allow them to earn a Masters of Arts Religion over three years. Additionally, CYMT will provide a veteran youth minister to coach the church and youth minister over the three years in the development of a healthy, sustainable youth ministry program.

Our partner churches represent a diversity of tradition including PC (USA), United Methodist, Cumberland Presbyterian, Disciples of Christ, Episcopal, Lutheran, and Church of the Nazarene, and non-denominational.

Why partner with CYMT instead of simply sending them to seminary?

  • Youth Ministry: It is what we do! We believe we have the best youth ministry education model in the country. Most seminaries do not have a youth ministry class.
  • The burnout rate for youth ministry is 3.9 years. CYMT's training and coaching teach graduate residents how to sustain and thrive as a youth minister.
  • Education matters: Only around 17% of paid youth workers have theological training, CYMT graduate residents are prepared both theologically and practically to develop strong youth ministries in your church.
  • Accountability: CYMT coaches hold both our residents and our partner churches accountable to developing the best youth ministry we can together. Open lines of communication allow for development and growth in the ministry.
  • Support: All CYMT coaches have over 12 years experience in a local church. Your coach and CYMT's full time staff is there to ensure that youth ministry happens and to help when other "stuff" happens.
  • Community: A community of peer support and relationships are essential to youth director sustainability.

To learn more about the academic and practical training components of the program click here.

Location

CYMT partners with churches from different denominations in Nashville and Memphis regions including North Alabama, North Mississippi, Eastern Arkansas, Southern Kentucky, and Middle and West Tennessee.

Requirements

  • Apply by March 31
  • Complete initial interview process
  • Create a youth ministry team or youth council
  • Allow CYMT graduate residents to participate in all CYMT classes and retreats
  • Develop a church-adopted child protection policy

To see the details of the training church requirements click here.

Financial Commitment

  • $12,000 in year one (July - June)
  • $12,000 in year two (July - June)
  • $10,000 in year three (July-May)
  • Youth budget - annual youth budget approved by CYMT

Veteran Pricing

Churches with a youth minister who has been in professional youth ministry at least six years qualify for a special training church rate of $9000 each year. Veteran youth ministers will participate fully in the educational portion of the program. They will not receive coaching for the individual or the church.

Visit our FAQ's page for more information on being a training church.