The Youth Ministry Institute formed in 2005 to providing training and long-term support for youth ministers. YMI has certified over 50 youth ministers in its two-year cohort learning program and provided coaching and consulting services to an additional 70 churches across the country.
The organization expanded to the Midwest in 2013. Matt Vaughan, director, brings over 20 years of youth ministry experience to YMI, including 12 years at one of the largest mainline churches in the Midwest. Youth Ministry Institute Midwest offers the same cohort learning, coaching, and consulting options for churches and youth ministers in states that surround the Kansas City area.
![youth ministry board](http://midwest.yminstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/board-of-directors.jpeg)
The founding YMI Midwest board – September 2013
A diverse board of directors from a number of Christian traditions governs the Youth Ministry Institute in areas of curriculum development, program direction, and funding. It is the continuing commitment of our entire team to work with churches from a variety of Christian traditions in regions all over the United States so that their youth ministries may rise to the level of excellence.