Training Only Program

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 YOU do youth ministry. Each year CYMT partners with 12 churches to help them develop theologically informed and practically effective youth ministries. CYMT equips local churches with the tools necessary to develop sustainable youth ministries … because good youth ministry doesn’t just happen.

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.

Partner Church – Training Only Program 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
    • Infrastructure to support a healthy, sustainable ministry to youth and their families

How it Works

Training Only Program church’s youth ministers participate fully in CYMT’s Graduate Residency in Youth Ministry which will allow them to earn a Master of Arts in Youth Ministry over three years. 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.

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.

Burnout Rate: 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.

Note: Partner church expectations are subject to change by CYMT’s board of directors in August for the upcoming year.

Apply Online

Click here to start the Application Process and see the Graduate Resident Requirements.
June 1 - Training Only Admissions Deadline

Partner churches are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Training Only Information

Church Requirements

  1. Complete initial interview process
  2. Create a youth ministry team or youth council
  3. Allow graduate resident to participate in all CYMT classes and retreats
  4. Develop or submit a church-adopted child protection policy

Training Only Costs

  1. $350 Church Application Fee
  2. $2000 Church Deposit
  3. 35 Month Church Contract
  4. $1,000 a month

Locations

The CYMT Graduate Residency works with churches in the following areas: West Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, Eastern Arkansas, North Mississippi, and North Alabama.

Ecumenical

CYMT is an ecumenical program. CYMT has partnered with churches from the following denominations: Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian (USA), and United Methodist.

Veteran Pricing

Churches with a youth minister who has been in professional youth ministry at least five years qualify for a special training only 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.

A CYMT Story

CYMT Introduction

CYMT Philosphy

The 4 C’s

The graduate residency is comprised of four components designed to help you achieve academic success while gaining valuable ministry experience:
  1. Cohort
  2. Classroom
  3. Coaching
  4. Church

Cohort

Residents are a part of a group of 12 peers.  Together, you will learn about youth ministry and theology.  You will experience community and create relationships that encourage you and become those where "iron sharpens iron." A new cohort forms each year and joins two other cohorts already in years two and three of their residency to create a community of 36 residents.

Classroom

The coursework is designed to help you understand more than just what to do in youth ministry.  You'll learn to think theologically about the ministry you lead and have the knowledge to design ministry programs that help students develop a deep, life-changing Christian faith.  Courses are taught in a retreat format every 6 weeks, and there are weekly discussion groups and assignments.

Church

Residents gain in-the-trenches youth ministry experience by serving 25 hours per week in a local church.  Working part-time as a youth minister during your education allows you to put all the pieces together - everything you learn from the peers in your cohort, the professors in the classroom, and from your coach.

Coaching

Residents receive regular one-on-one coaching from a youth ministry veteran to help you master critical ministry skills and apply what you've learned. Coaches also work directly with the local church to help the staff and congregation develop a healthy understanding of youth ministry and how to best integrate it into the life of the congregation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Feel free to contact us anytime with questions about the Graduate Residency. You can also find answers to commonly asked questions in our FAQ's page.

Retreat-Based Education

CYMT and MTS have developed a retreat-based model that provides the best education and training available by allowing students to take classes through intensive retreats while working in local congregations. Learn More