The Synod of Mid-America (Presbyterian Church U.S.A.) includes six Presbyteries in Kansas, Missouri and some of Illinois. Youth Ministry Institute Midwest provides additional resources to the Synod in youth ministry development in the local church. YMI also provides discounted consulting services to these local churches focusing on congregational support, youth minister transition, and training for staff and volunteers.
The Discipleship Ministries (formerly GBOD) of the United Methodist Church helps local church, district, and conference leaders fulfill the shared dream of making world-changing disciples. YMI Midwest supports this vision by reaching out to United Methodist congregations in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. In addition to being a founding partner, the GBOD provides ongoing support to YMI Midwest.
HUMAN eX Ventures assesses youth ministers on thirteen core competencies identified as necessary for excellence in youth ministry. Youth ministers enrolled in the two-year YMI program, will write about an event where he or she has utilized or not utilized each core competency. Utilizing a small cohort of youth ministers and a facilitator who meet together monthly to review what each has written, attention is given to intentionally developing and improving behaviors associated with each competency. The Core Competency Assessment is used to differentiate candidates interviewing for youth ministry positions through YMI’s pre-hiring service. Other organizations contract with YMI to conduct assessments and developmental profiles for other youth ministers.
Village Presbyterian Church recognizes the importance of providing systemic education for youth ministers through our theological intensive courses, monthly instructional retreats, and individual field coaches. Several members of the church serve as faculty for YMI Midwest. Rev. Zach Walker, associate pastor, serves on the board for YMIM.
The Village Church Endowment Trust provided foundational resources, support, and meeting space to establish this ministry and to facilitate leadership development in regional local churches.
Southminster Presbyterian Church supports Youth Ministry Institute Midwest to provide leadership and care for youth and children during their most transformational periods in life. YMI Midwest provided on-site interim staff support to the congregation in 2013 and 2014. The congregation contributes support and additional resources to share this ministry with churches throughout our region.
Central Presbyterian Church supports the work of Youth Ministry Institute Midwest to nurture generations who will become leaders in the Church. Central is a valued partner because of our shared vision to empower leaders through spiritual fellowship, nurture, and compassion.
Rev. Heidi Peterson said, “Our congregation does not expect to realize an immediate benefit from this ministry, because we are missing the generation that would be a youth group for us. We recognize that this ministry will equip, nurture, and inspire leaders to widely impact the Greater Church, and this investment will benefit our congregation in future years. In this way, our support of YMI is a gift that expresses the unity of the Church.”
Asbury United Methodist Church in Prairie Village, KS, provides classrooms and monthly meeting space for the two-year Cohort Learning Program. Rev. Lee Johnson, associate pastor, serves on the board for YMIM.
The I
nstitute for Discipleship at Southwestern College partners with Youth Ministry Institute Midwest to provide substantive educational opportunities to local churches and their youth. The two organizations partnered to provide a meal for clergy in January 2017 with Professor Kenda Creasy Dean, a UMC Pastor and Professor at Princeton Theological Seminary.
The Florida United Methodist Youth Ministry encompasses over 700 United Methodist churches in Florida (minus the panhandle). YMI provides consulting services to these local churches focusing on youth minister transition and training. This model has become nationally recognized and is chronicled in an article co-authored by Bishop Carter.
Special thanks to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church for including Youth Ministry Institute Midwest as one of its Pentecost Offering Mission Partners.