Missions: geographic AND generational!
We love global youth! All of us who are apart of the GYFM are missional youth ministers with a heart for seeing kids around the world touched and transformed by a relationship with Christ and His church—catching His Kingdom vision for their lives.
The Global Youth and Family Institute is our prime initiative in pursuing this vision. The GYFI works to see youth ministry movements as integral to our church planting efforts around the world. To accomplish this we provide training for cross-cultural youth ministers sent as missionaries with MTW, as well as equipping and encouraging field leadership, national leaders and indigenous churches in engaging the emerging generation in their context.
Our goals for this ministry:- Developing strategic partnerships with agencies, churches, organizations, and institutions across the globe.
- Training & mobilizing global youth ministers to serve as catalysts, resources and leaders in youth and family ministry around the world.
- Equipping & encouraging national leaders and indigenous churches to reach the emerging generation—establishing youth ministry movements in communities around the world.
Why engage global youth?
There are three global realities the church must face in reaching the next generation:
- The extension of adolescence around the globe: We’re seeing the average onset of puberty at 10.5 years old, and the average age people are recognized as entering adulthood is between 25-30 yrs old! Adolescence is now a 15-20yr journey of being “in between” childhood and adulthood.We must bring the gospel to bear on the developmental issues of early, middle and late adolescents.
- An exploding global youth population: 2010 was the tipping point—50% of the world’s population is now under the age of 25… that’s three billion people! Yet the majority of our ministry and mission resources and leaders are focused on reaching adults.We must raise-up servants who will lead the church in reaching the next generation.
- An emerging global youth culture: Consensus continues to build on the existence of an emerging global youth culture as kids around the world have more in common with one another than they do with the adults in their own culture. Technology, media and the global experience of systemic adult abandonment have set young people in a culture apart.We must take seriously the call to engage youth culture with gospel.The call to missions is not only geographic, but also generational!
Would you prayerfully consider joining us in this mission?
What we offer:
The Global Youth and Family Institute works to equip and encourage the global church in reaching the emerging generation in several ways:
- GYFI Certificate & Degree Programs: The GYFI Certificate is a must for missionaries called to cross-cultural youth ministry, and for missional youth ministers engaging the changing cultural landscape of North America.We offer three Foundations modules, which make up the GYFI Certificate program:
a. Theology of Global Youth and Family Ministry
b. Global Youth Culture, Development and Discipleship
c. Global Youth and Family Ministry Models and MethodsThrough our partnership with Covenant Seminary, students can earn a:
a. Master of Arts, concentration: Global Youth and Family Ministry
b. Master of Divinity, concentration: Global Youth and Family Ministry
- Consulting and Speaking: Is your church or team wrestling with youth ministry issues? Would you benefit from having a consultant guide your team in developing a theology, vision and strategy for your youth ministry? Would your church or community benefit from inviting an “expert” to give a seminar on parenting adolescents? Would your leadership benefit from hosting a youth ministry training event to further sharpen your team? Our GYFI Trainers speak, lead seminars, offer training events, and consult with churches and mission teams around the world. Let us know your needs and we’ll let you know what we offer and how we can serve you.
- Networking and placement: Are you exploring a call to youth ministry? Are you open to serving in another context, even across the globe? Are you a missionary or pastor looking for a youth minister to serve with your team or church in reaching the next generation? We love to help make those connections and mobilize youth ministers around the world.
- Mentoring and coaching: The GYFI encourages local grass-roots cohorts of youth ministers to meet regularly for prayer, encouragement and ministry sharpening in communities around the world. For example, we lead SLYnet (St. Louis Youth Network), the local network in our hub city. Through this grass-roots cohort, youth ministers are praying together, learning together, and partnering in mission to reach the emerging generation in their city. We’re seeing the wisdom and expertise of seasoned youth ministers building up the next generation of leaders, and the enthusiasm and insight of young leaders refreshing the veterans. We make connections like these around the globe: facilitating cohorts, advising leaders, and connecting local churches and leaders to resources.
GYFI Trainer Program:
Global Youth and Family Institute Trainers are seasoned practitioners with a heart for equipping and encouraging leaders in reaching the emerging generation. Our GYFM Trainer team is made up of leaders with a deep love for Jesus, his global church, and his work around the world. These outstanding men and women have a big heart for coaching and mentoring leaders in youth ministry. Each one brings their unique youth ministry experience serving across a variety of cultures and contexts.
Our GYFI Trainer Team:
Dr. Eric Larsen – eric.larsen@gyfm.org
Rev. John Chung – john.chung@gyfm.org
Interested in becoming a GYFI Trainer?
Contact us for more information.
