Youth Ministry Institute Inc.
Empowering Youth Ministers to Become Skilled and Effective Leaders
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
According to varied studies (including Barna) the vast majority of people make decisions about their faith in God before age 18. However, youth ministers, the people charged with helping young people in their decision making process, are under trained. Only 25% of working youth ministers are trained to do what they do. In addition, untrained youth ministers have shorter tenures with the churches who employ them. Turnover causes mistrust and disruption in a young person's spiritual formation. The Youth Ministry Institute offers on-the-job training and coaching for youth ministers. The results are outstanding. 80% of the youth ministers who complete YMI's coaching and training program stay at their church for longer than five years and experience 131% increase in attendance.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Instructional Training
Instructional Training is an important part of the Youth Ministry Institute. At monthly workshops or semi-annual week-long intensives taught by experienced practicing youth ministers, theologians, and experts in youth culture, youth ministers learn strategies, leadership principles, theology, and practical ministry ideas to guide youth in their spiritual and moral development. Each participant writes a reflective paper after each workshop, offering timely feedback on the principles learned and applied since the previous time.
In addition, participants attend two national conferences per year and read nearly twenty books on ministry, theology and leadership during their time with the Youth Ministry Institute.
Coaching
Coaching provides ongoing support to youth ministers by veterans in the field. Their experience and friendship are invaluable to another less experienced youth minister. Their monthly meetings are guided by a curriculum piece that mirrors the instructional training workshop topics, creating multi-directional input and feedback. In addition, the coach participates in a ministry needs evaluation of the church youth ministry.
Consulting
Creating a healthy environment for youth ministry to thrive is key. Consulting services can vary from region to region. Consultations can include a pre-hiring focus group, creating a profile of the soon-to-be-hired youth minister based on personality characteristics, leadership style and ministry focus or training for adult volunteers. In addition, the regional directors travel across their regions annually visiting with over 50 churches, meeting new youth ministers and pastors, building a network and support system of like minded professionals.
Where we work
External reviews
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The Youth Ministry Institute envisions healthy, vibrant and dynamic local churches with skilled and effective youth ministers who lead youth in the formation of their faith so that they will positively impact their community and world. This is accomplished by providing over 325 hours of face-to-face instruction over a variety of practical, theological and personal development topics insuring excellence in youth ministry. Youth ministers receive monthly one-on-one and group coaching from other more experienced youth ministers. The Youth Ministry Institute provides consulting services to the local church which includes an on-site needs evaluation of the youth ministry. The overall goal is to give youth ministers the appropriate education and support so they are able to thrive in their ministry, helping young people form their faith. Increasing the tenure of youth ministers will be an appreciable result.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Instructional training is one strategy of the Youth Ministry Institute. The practical, theological and personal development emphasis within the curriculum give youth ministers confidence and the skills to be effective in their work. Coaching is another important strategy. Skilled and experienced youth ministers lend their wisdom, encouragement and, sometimes, grit to a peer who is nearer to the beginning of their professional work. However, the instruction and coaching won't work if the church system is bad. Therefore, a ministry needs evaluation with a resulting strategic plan insures the church is maturing in their understanding of effective youth ministry at the same rate as the youth minister.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The collaborative work of the Youth Ministry Institute recognizes that there are many “experts”. Over 25 instructors teach for the Institute. They are professors, pastors, youth ministers and others who possess expertise in the subjects that move youth ministers to excellence. Over 35 field coaches have been employed to pass their wisdom to the next generation of youth ministers. Human eX Ventures custom developed an assessment tool that measures thirteen core competencies that help youth ministers achieve the level of excellence in their profession. There is a network of many individuals and organizations that supports and informs the work of youth ministers enrolled in the Youth Ministry Institute. This, in turn, has lasting effects on the young people they serve.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
80% of the youth ministers who complete the Youth Ministry Institute are still at the church that hired them or remained at their church for a minimum of five years, reaching our goal. The Youth Ministry Institute hired a coaching coordinator in 2012 to increase our productivity from our field coaches. Attention to coaching has encouraged youth ministers to flourish since 2012. Core competency scores have increased. Accountability to the strategic tasks in each local church promotes a sustainable youth ministry model. At the end of 2012, the Youth Ministry Institute expanded their job placement services to help churches post and screen applicants for a youth ministry position. Through consulting with the local church, YMI determines the "best fit" candidates and delivers those for final interviewing by the local churches. If churches select their youth ministers more carefully using proven processes and methods, then a youth minister will be more apt to stay for a greater length of time. This process is new and still being tested. The Youth Ministry Institute expanded to the Midwest (Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa) in 2013 and is looking to expand to other regions in the future.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Youth Ministry Institute Inc.
Board of directorsas of 02/22/2022
Chad Garmon
YMCA of Central Florida
Term: 2018 - 2021
Steve Schneeberger
Youth Ministry Institute Florida, Orlando, FL
Lisa Greenwood
Texas Methodist Foundation, Austin, TX
Scott McQueen
Chad Garmon
YMCA of Central Florida
Megan Lineberry
Ideas United
Megan Donahue
Wizards of the Coast
Jeremy Knight
Main Street UMC
Shala Mills
New Paltz State University
Victoria Reeves
West Collaborative
Wendy Simpson
Greg Stoskopf
Deloitte Consuling
Cynthia Weems
Florida UMC Conference
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
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