The Youth Ministry Institute provides students with the incredible opportunity to receive four years of hands-on ministry experience while they complete an accredited bachelor’s or associate’s degree. Our graduates receive over 7,000 hours of ministry training through a variety of experiences.
We offer several different programs to fit your personal ministry objective. Whether you are looking to work as a youth pastor, missionary, head pastor, homemaker, counselor or businessman, our desire is to prepare you for a lifetime of ministry wherever God leads you.
The YMI is part of the ministry of Teens For Christ (TFC), an international youth ministry which ministers to over 300,000 teenagers each week in 8 different countries. While our expertise is Youth Ministry, our vast network allows us to train students for a wide array of vocational and non-vocational ministry.
Our students have the opportunity to work alongside and be mentored by the staff at TFC. Additionally, there are opportunities to interact with our international directors when they visit the headquarters or to travel abroad and see the ministry of TFC internationally.
YMI DISTINCTIVES
Spiritual Formation
We believe that an effective ministry starts with a spiritually healthy minister. Our students go through two years of spiritual formation training in small groups with a mentor. This personalized focus on the heart of the individual is how we seek to prepare men and women for a lifetime of fruitful ministry.
Individual Mentoring & Counseling
All of our students are mentored by TFC staff or other leaders in the community. This benefit extends even beyond mentoring, as they also have access to a licensed on-site counselor to help them with other issues that may arise during their time in the YMI.
Foundations of Life & Ministry
Our Foundations training course seeks to help students lay the foundation of a successful life and ministry. Students learn about their unique design and how to interact with people who are different from them, how to lead and mentor others, how to manage their own personal finances, and even how to utilize technology well.
Chapters
Every student is involved in at least two chapters of TFC. These weekly youth group meetings provide students with frequent opportunities to teach, evangelize and disciple teenagers in the local community. This training ground, coupled with weekly training sessions and staff support, provides an opportunity to develop as a ministry leader.
Converge
YMI students play an integral role in helping TFC run the largest youth conference in Northwest Ohio. Every spring, our students help plan, promote and put together nearly every aspect of Converge. This allows students to develop a variety of ministry skills transferable to almost any setting. To learn more about Converge, you can click the logo above.
Discounted Tuition
As part of the YMI, our students receive a special discount from Liberty University and Clarks Summit University on tuition. This discounted rate allows our students to receive a solid Christian education for the same cost as attending a local state college.
On-Site Classes
In addition to the discounted tuition, we provide on-site classes for YMI students. These classes transfer to Clarks Summit and are provided at no additional cost as part of the YMI program.
Placement
Our Institute partners with churches throughout the region to provide them with pastors, youth pastors, children’s ministers and worship leaders. Many students have the opportunity to intern with a church during their junior or senior year. We also assist upperclassmen with resumé building and next steps after graduation.