Yale University

Youth Ministry Institute

Resources

We have organized the information by topic as well as resource type. Feel free to browse through the information to get a sense of what is available or dive right into a topic you want to know more about. We hope our youth ministry resources will help support youth ministries throughout the world by providing access to free resources, training, and programming.

Explore Topics

Vision, Training and Safety

Every youth ministry is tasked with having a clearly stated vision.

Fostering Youth Leadership

A wise person once said, "Youth are not the church of tomorrow. They are the church of today."

Teambuilding, Mission Trips and Service

Building a sense of community through team building, missions and retreats help youth to broaden their horizons.

Youth Worship, Bible Study & Formation

When we worship with youth, not only do we show them how to worship, but they show us!

Pastoral Care & Mental Health

Youth ministry offers the unique gift of providing youth with a network of adults who care deeply for their health and well-being.

Confronting Racism

What is race? What is racism? And what does anti-racism work look like? An introduction into Race, Racism, and Anti-Racism Work With Youth

Ministry to LGBTQ+ Youth

Here you will find tools to help youth leaders accompany, work with, and support LGBTQ+ young people.

Innovation in Ministry

Find the resources you need to inspire and support innovation in youth ministry.

Let’s Talk About Sex

Your go-to guide for the resources you need to talk about sex and sexuality with young people.

Belonging for People with Disabilities

Resources for caring well for all members of your community.

Storytelling and Youth

A look at storytelling and deep listening with youth.

Browse Resource Types

The Lord’s Prayer
In this meditation, the Lord's Prayer is used as a focus.
Quest for the Spirit
Forgiveness
In this lesson, youth will discover that forgiveness is sourced in God and can be supported or suppressed by our community
Nurturing Joy
Kick Off Event – Carnival
This is a lesson for a first gathering of the year, with a fun, carnival theme.
General Programming
Grounding Ourselves in the Soil of Compassion (Compassion Lesson 1)
This is the first of four lessons on discussing race with youth.
Nurturing Joy
Taking the U-Turn (Compassion Lesson 2)
This lesson is designed to help youth name the various "parts" of themselves.
Nurturing Joy
Self-Compassion (Compassion Lesson 3)
This lesson helps youth to compassionately tend to their racialized parts.
Nurturing Joy
Self-Compassion for Others (Compassion Lesson 4)
This lesson is designed to help youth form authentic relationships across racial barriers.
Nurturing Joy
Lectio Divinia
The Lectio Divina is used in this mediation.
Quest for the Spirit
Welcome and Surrender
This lesson asks youth to focus on feelings or sensations in the moment, and to welcome those feelings.
Quest for the Spirit
Scripture Recitation
Scripture is used to frame this meditation exercise.
Quest for the Spirit
Loving Your Enemies
This meditation lifts up Martin Luther King, Jr. as an example of loving your enemies.
Quest for the Spirit
Sculptor Meditation
This meditation asks youth to visualize Jesus in the sculptors studio.
Quest for the Spirit
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Scripture
Looking for scripture resources that relate to current issues? See our list of topics.
Articles and Readings
An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Allen Hilton
Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton, founder and executive director of House United, a nonprofit initiative that helps groups collaborate across theological and political differences, writes an open letter to Youth Ministers.
Articles and Readings
An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Michal Beth Dinkler
Michal Beth Dinkler, Associate Professor of New Testament at Yale Divinity School writes an open letter to youth ministers.
Articles and Readings
An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Matthew Croasmun
Matthew Croasmun, Associate Research Scholar for the Yale Center for Faith and Culture writes to youth ministers.
Articles and Readings
An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Amanda Mbuvi
Dr. Amanda Mbuvi, Assistant Professor of Religion at Highpoint University writes to youth ministers.
Articles and Readings
An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Eric D. Barreto
Eric D. Barreto, Associate Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary writes to youth ministers.
Articles and Readings
Rejoicing in Adolescence: A Parable of God
David White, C. Ellis and Nancy Gribble Nelson Professor of Christian Education and Professor in Methodist Studies at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary on whether adolescence constitutes an aesthetic or joyful stage in the life cycle.
Nurturing Joy
Opportunities and Obstacles for Joy During Adolescence
Matthew Kuan Johnson looks at joy during adolescence from a cognitive science perspective.
Articles and Readings
Spiritual Awakening: Joy and Depression A Unified Pathway
Dr. Lisa Miller, Professor and Director of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University, looks at the relationship between joy and depression in adolescence.
Articles and Readings
Adolescent Joy and Christian Worship
Frederick Edie, Professor at Duke Divinity School explores the connection between Christian worship and adolescent joy.
Articles and Readings
Searching for Joy: A “Tangled Portrait”
Dr. Rodger Nishioka, Benton Family Associate Professor of Christian Formation at Columbia Theological Seminary looks at understanding the neuroscience of adolescents development.
Articles and Readings
Ode to Joy: The Adolescent Experience of Joy as Arousal
Kenda Creasy Dean, Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary on joy in adolescence.
Articles and Readings
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Youth Group Handbook
This is an example of a youth group handbook outlining the philosophies and plans of youth program(s).
Orientation Materials for Youth Workers
Youth Group Fall Schedule
Example of a fall schedule of youth group programming.
Sample Materials and Outlines
Omnibus Health Form
This is a sample health form to use for youth groups.
Sample Materials and Outlines
Mission Trip-Retreat Site Visit Checklist
This list contains suggested questions to ask, items to check and things to think about on a site visit for a mission trip.
Sample Materials and Outlines
Mission Trip Invitation Letter to Parents and Youth
Example of a mailing to parents and youth inviting participation in a mission trip.
Sample Materials and Outlines
Mission Trip Partners
This list provides just a few of the wonderful organizations who are ready and willing to work with youth groups for mission trips.
Sample Materials and Outlines
Mission Trip and Retreat Sample Forms
These are samples of forms that can be used for sign ups for mission trips or retreats.
Sample Materials and Outlines
Mission Trip 10 Commandments
This is a creative way of framing rules around youth group and/or mission trip expectations.
Sample Materials and Outlines
Advisor-Leader Handbook
A sample handbook for training youth leaders.
Orientation Materials for Youth Workers
CT Retreat Centers
This is a partial listing of Retreat Centers in Connecticut.
Sample Materials and Outlines
Denominational Resources
This contains denominational resources for mission trip locations and trip planning.
Sample Materials and Outlines
Host Church Thank You Letter
Sample of a thank you letter to a church for hosting a mission trip group.
Sample Materials and Outlines
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The Gospel of Luke Bible Study for Youth – Lesson 1: Luke 1-2
A bible study on the Gospel of Luke for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
The Gospel of Luke Bible Study for Youth – Introduction for Leaders
A bible study on the Gospel of Luke for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
The Gospel of Luke Bible Study for Youth – Lesson 2: Luke 3-5
A bible study on the Gospel of Luke for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
The Gospel of Luke Bible Study for Youth – Lesson 3: Luke 6-8
A bible study on the Gospel of Luke for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
The Gospel of Luke Bible Study for Youth – Lesson 4: Luke 9-11
A bible study on the Gospel of Luke for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
The Gospel of Luke Bible Study for Youth – Lesson 5: Luke 12-14
A bible study on the Gospel of Luke for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
The Gospel of Luke Bible Study for Youth – Lesson 6: Luke 15-19
A bible study on the Gospel of Luke for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
The Gospel of Luke Bible Study for Youth – Lesson 8: Luke 23-34
A bible study on the Gospel of Luke for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
The Gospel of Luke Bible Study for Youth – Lesson 7: Luke 19-22
A bible study on the Gospel of Luke for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
Reading the Bible with Youth – Lesson 1
A two-week study to introduce youth to the Bible.
Bible Study Lessons
Reading the Bible with Youth – Lesson 2
A two-week study to introduce youth to the Bible.
Bible Study Lessons
Genesis Bible Study for Youth – Lesson 1: Genesis 1-2
A Bible study on the Book of Genesis for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
View All
The Lord’s Prayer
In this meditation, the Lord's Prayer is used as a focus.
Forgiveness
In this lesson, youth will discover that forgiveness is sourced in God and can be supported or suppressed by our community
Nurturing Joy
Kick Off Event – Carnival
This is a lesson for a first gathering of the year, with a fun, carnival theme.
General Programming
Grounding Ourselves in the Soil of Compassion (Compassion Lesson 1)
This is the first of four lessons on discussing race with youth.
Nurturing Joy
Taking the U-Turn (Compassion Lesson 2)
This lesson is designed to help youth name the various "parts" of themselves.
Nurturing Joy
View All
Scripture
Looking for scripture resources that relate to current issues? See our list of topics.
Articles and Readings
An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Allen Hilton
Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton, founder and executive director of House United, a nonprofit initiative that helps groups collaborate across theological and political differences, writes an open letter to Youth Ministers.
Articles and Readings
An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Michal Beth Dinkler
Michal Beth Dinkler, Associate Professor of New Testament at Yale Divinity School writes an open letter to youth ministers.
Articles and Readings
An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Matthew Croasmun
Matthew Croasmun, Associate Research Scholar for the Yale Center for Faith and Culture writes to youth ministers.
Articles and Readings
An Open Letter to Youth Ministers – Amanda Mbuvi
Dr. Amanda Mbuvi, Assistant Professor of Religion at Highpoint University writes to youth ministers.
Articles and Readings
View All
Youth Group Handbook
This is an example of a youth group handbook outlining the philosophies and plans of youth program(s).
Orientation Materials for Youth Workers
Youth Group Fall Schedule
Example of a fall schedule of youth group programming.
Sample Materials and Outlines
Omnibus Health Form
This is a sample health form to use for youth groups.
Sample Materials and Outlines
Mission Trip-Retreat Site Visit Checklist
This list contains suggested questions to ask, items to check and things to think about on a site visit for a mission trip.
Sample Materials and Outlines
Mission Trip Invitation Letter to Parents and Youth
Example of a mailing to parents and youth inviting participation in a mission trip.
Sample Materials and Outlines
View All
The Gospel of Luke Bible Study for Youth – Lesson 1: Luke 1-2
A bible study on the Gospel of Luke for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
The Gospel of Luke Bible Study for Youth – Introduction for Leaders
A bible study on the Gospel of Luke for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
The Gospel of Luke Bible Study for Youth – Lesson 2: Luke 3-5
A bible study on the Gospel of Luke for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
The Gospel of Luke Bible Study for Youth – Lesson 3: Luke 6-8
A bible study on the Gospel of Luke for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
The Gospel of Luke Bible Study for Youth – Lesson 4: Luke 9-11
A bible study on the Gospel of Luke for youth based on the Yale Bible Study series.
Bible Study Lessons
View All