Dear youth ministry friends,
Who is in your village?
As we engage in the study and practice of youth ministry, who are your people? To whom do you turn for support, for hope, for challenge?
Youth work is a particular niche in the field of ministry. Indeed, it is so niche that it is not uncommon for youth leaders to become siloed. Much has been made of the loneliness of vocational ministry… but most ministers have access to some fellow clergy through town or denominational groupings, a cohort of folks with a common experience. Youth leaders, on the other hand, are in a smaller field, and a field with lightning-speed turnover rates. They often find themselves without many fellow colleagues with whom to share ideas and experiences.
When we were designing the Certificate Program in Youth Ministry Leadership, we had two primary goals in mind. The first was to create a program with rigorous scholarship, so that everyone could acquire valuable tools for their ministries.
The second goal was more lofty. We wanted to create the village.
Every week, participants (from different religions, and from all over the globe) gather to discuss their settings. They wrestle with difficult readings and teachings. They ponder how to apply their course learnings into their own particular contexts. They challenge each other. They pray for each other. They allow space for growth to happen, and they foster that growth.
As it turns out, we did not create the village. That lofty goal was beyond us. What actually happened was more astoundingly beautiful: The participants have created their own village. The villages begin in our program. And then, by God’s grace, they continue to evolve long after the class concludes.
When I am asked what the Yale Youth Ministry Institute contributes to the field, it is that we are in the business of village-tending, with the hopes that youth leaders feel empowered, encouraged, and held in their callings. We hope that our certificate program is useful for learning… but it also embodies community.
When asked what they wanted to share with this year’s class, three of our last year’s graduates had this to say:
“It’s not the ‘how’ you discover, it’s the ‘you’ that you uncover.”
“You were made for such a time as this (Esther 4:14).”
“You are called, and you are not alone.”
Applications are now open for the third year of our program, which will begin in the fall. If mutual learning and village-creating speak to you, please feel free to learn more here. We will look forward to hearing from you, and seeing where God might wish to have us grow.
With you on the journey,
Rev. Dr. Jill