The mission of the Yale Youth Ministry Institute at Yale Divinity School is to promote adolescent faith and flourishing in a diverse and changing world by conducting scholarship, equipping leaders, and resourcing collaborative communities in and beyond Christian churches.
The Yale Youth Ministry Institute is pleased to announce the schedule of free lectures with leading practical theologians and youth ministers presenting on belonging, gratitude, community, wisdom, praise, imagination and creativity, grace and agency.

Upcoming Events › Youth Ministry Now: 2013-2014
May 2014
Dr. Yolanda Smith on Exploring the Bible with Contemporary Youth
May 7, 2014, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yale Divinity School,
409 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
New Haven, CT 06511
"Exploring the Bible with Contemporary Youth"
Dr. Yolanda Smith delivers a lecture entitled, "Exploring the Bible with Contemporary Youth." Many things capture the minds and imaginations of today’s youth—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, virtual games, flickr, tumblr, and so much more. In a media and technologically savvy world, how can today’s youth find time to explore the Word of God? This workshop will explore multiple ways of teaching the Bible with contemporary youth. Attention will be given to the nature of youth, creative approaching to teaching the Bible, and equipping youth to engage the text in a way that is meaningful and transformative in their lives.Video
April 2014
Rev. Mark DeVries on Sustainable Youth Ministry
April 2, 2014, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yale Divinity School,
409 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
New Haven, CT 06511
"Sustainable Youth Ministry"
Rev. Mark DeVries delivers a lecture entitled, "Sustainable Youth Ministry." In the world of youth ministry, there are a handful of constant factors that thrive over the long haul. This seminar introduces participants to those factors and offers a strategic design for instilling these foundational patterns into the fabric of any youth ministry, regardless of its model. Mark DeVries identifies patterns that persistently show up in “stuck” ministries and introduces proven principles for moving beyond stuck-ness and progressing toward a ministry characterized by strategic forward motion. Sustainable youth ministries are led by successful systems leaders. Transformation of traditional person-centered/ program-centered ministries requires leaders who are equipped to make the leap from a short-term, patchwork ministry to one that promises staying power long after the current leadership team has moved on.Video
March 2014
Dr. Rodger Nishioka on Youth Ministry and Technology
March 12, 2014, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yale Divinity School,
409 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
New Haven, CT 06511
"Youth Ministry and Technology"
Dr. Rodger Nishioka delivers a lecture entitled, "Youth Ministry and Technology." 25 years ago we pretty much thought the only creature on the face of the earth that could legitimately create a “website” was a spider. Six years ago we thought the only creature that could “tweet” was a bird. Now we know differently. There is no such thing as “high tech” with youth ministry. Technology is the norm. It is the standard. So how do we do youth ministry in this technological age? Do we just join them on Twitter and Instagram? What about friending them on Facebook? What about the emerging trend of technology sabbaths? This session will focus on the opportunities and dilemmas surrounding technology and youth ministry. Together, we will explore basic guidelines and best practices around technology for our ministry with youth and their families.Video
January 2014
Dr. David White on Missional Practices for Youth Ministry
January 8, 2014, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yale Divinity School,
409 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
New Haven, CT 06511
"Participating with God: Missional Practices for Youth Ministry"
Dr. David White delivers a lecture entitled, "Participating with God: Missional Practices for Youth Ministry." Mission encounters are a staple in youth ministry and constitute an essential practice of Christian faith. This lecture will briefly survey the theological significance of mission, reveal the historical and developmental significance of missional activities for adolescents, and will suggest best practices for missional youth ministry.Video
December 2013
Dr. Andy Root on Interpreting the Experience of Divorce for Youth Ministry and the Church
December 4, 2013, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yale Divinity School,
409 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
New Haven, CT 06511
"The Children of Divorce: Interpreting the Experience of Divorce for Youth Ministry and the Church"
Dr. Andy Root will deliver a lecture entitled, "The Children of Divorce: Interpreting the Experience of Divorce for Youth Ministry and the Church." This presentation will explore the impact of divorce on young people. Usually (both in the church and culture) we have seen divorce as a painful occurrence that can nevertheless be overcome if the young person can be taught to think correctly about the divorce of his or her parents (“it isn’t your fault!”). Yet, such a perspective tends to distract us from larger realities. Divorce at it core thrusts young people into questioning their very existence, “if I exist because of the relationship of these two people, who I am, and how can I be in the world, if they are no longer together?” This presentation will examine this all too common cultural reality from a philosophical and theological perspective, seeing what difference this makes for our ministries.Video
November 2013
Rev. Skip Masback on The Arc of a Year: How Mission Drives a Youth Group Program Schedule
November 6, 2013, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yale Divinity School,
409 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
New Haven, CT 06511
"The Arc of a Year: How Mission Drives a Youth Group Program Schedule"
Rev. Skip Masback delivers a lecture entitled, "The Arc of a Year: How Mission Drives a Youth Group Program Schedule." Youth Ministry is more than wacky games and mission trips, and it’s even more than programs earnestly planned on the fly late Tuesday night after you’re done with the confirmation class and before you stagger home. Effective youth ministers work with their colleagues, youth group members and their parents to discern the youth ministry’s mission before turning to their calendars. As the saying goes, “We mostly hit what we’re aiming at in life”. This session will focus on alternative mission statements and how to craft a cycle of programming to drive those respective missions.Video
October 2013
Dr. Chap on Sticky Faith and Other Ways to Love Kids
October 2, 2013, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Yale Divinity School,
409 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
New Haven, CT 06511