Youth Leadership Training Program
Introduction
The Youth Leadership Training program offers a creative way for Fellowship Baptist churches to prepare gifted leaders to fulfill their calling to minister to youth. Built out of a unique partnership between the FEB Pacific Youth Network, Northwest Baptist Seminary, and local FEB Pacific churches, this program allows students to learn while they are doing, preparing for professional youth ministry in the context of a local church youth ministry. This creative and innovative blend of mentored learning, hands-on experience, and formal academic study helps to develop a godly pastoral perspective and effective leadership skills in an affordable manner. Students who complete all levels of the program will earn a Master of Arts in Christian Studies with a specialization in youth ministry, simultaneously experiencing the advantage of learning on the job, guided by experienced ministry leaders and seminary faculty.
Student Profiles
The YLTP has a pathway for anyone who can show evidence of gifting and calling toward the work of Youth Ministry.
Students Who are Part-Way through College or University
This profile would represent the ideal YLTP candidate. A student who has approximately two years of post-secondary education would do the Diploma in Christian Studies (with the Executive Certificate in Youth Ministry built in) leading into the Master of Arts in Christian Studies (see below). Such students would not earn a bachelor’s degree, but would have a faster track toward completion of their Masters – in as little as three years time. (see below).
Students Who Have Already Completed an Undergraduate Degree
Students who are already finished a bachelor’s level degree could move directly into the Master of Arts in Christian Studies (see below). Such students would build the Executive Certificate in Youth Ministry into their MACS and complete the degree in as little as two year’s time.
Students Who Have Little if Any Post-Secondary Education
Students who have little or no post-secondary credits earned could step into the Executive Certificate in Youth Ministry (see below). The certificate could stand alone, or it could help the student toward greater objectives, counting, for example, toward the 60 credits a student would need to move into the Diploma in Christian Studies (see below).
Structure of the Program and Academic Expectations
The YLTP is structured around four learning packages, which function together to lead the student toward the desired outcome. Students are not obligated to complete all aspects of the YLTP structure.
1. Executive Certificate in Youth Ministry
This four-course, twelve-credit package of courses, taught by FEB Pacific experts in youth ministry, is available at either the undergraduate or the graduate level. All such credits are transcriptable through Trinity Western University and Northwest Baptist Seminary. The certificate is awarded by the Centre for Ministry Excellence of TWU. Students must have already completed at least 60 undergraduate credits in order to qualify for learning at the graduate level.
2. Diploma in Christian Studies
This 28-credit graduate-level diploma is available to students who have completed at least 60 undergraduate credits. The twelve-credit executive certificate described above can form part of the Diploma, requiring only 16 further credits (five or six courses) worth of work toward completion of the program.
3. Executive Certificate in Advanced Youth Ministry
This advanced 12-credit certificate is taught by FEB Pacific faculty mentors and is available for graduate credit to those who have completed at least 60 undergraduate credits and who have already taken the Executive Certificate in Youth Ministry (#1 above). Those who wish to utilize these courses toward their 60 undergraduate credits, may do so, however this certificate is not transcriptable at the undergraduate level by Trinity Western University. Northwest Baptist Seminary will transcribe these courses at the undergraduate level for students who require it.
4. Master of Arts in Christian Studies
This 48-credit program is available to students who bring at least 60 credits of undergraduate work, plus the Diploma in Christian Studies. The Executive Certificate in Youth Ministry (#1 above) or the Executive Certificate in Advanced Youth Ministry (#3 above) can be included within the MACS as a “specialization track.”
Expectations and Commitments
Key to the success of this program for the church and for the student rests on the maintenance of agreed-upon standards. Northwest Baptist Seminary relies upon the Youth Network of FEB Pacific for the approval of youth leadership teaching churches and for the monitoring of standards. Please note that FEB Pacific has an extensive Mentor Application that details many of these commitments.
Expectations of the Student
The student will be prepared to serve as an intern of the church under the direction of the church approved mentor, ideally the youth pastor. The student will pay one-third of the cost of tuition for the entire program. In pursuit of studies, the student should expect to invest 30 to 40 hours of work for every credit hour enrolled in. For example, as the entire program is 79 credit hours, spread over three years, that would result in an average of 15 to 20 hours of academic work per week. Note, of course, that much of this work would be in direct service to the ministry the student serves.
Expectations of the Youth Pastoral Mentor
To serve as a mentor within the YLTP, a youth pastor will have at least five years of youth ministry experience in a single location. They will be able to show evidence that lost teens have become Christians, that believing teens have grown in Christ, and that believing teens and adults have been equipped for service in ministry, such that leadership has been multiplied. Once approved, the mentor will agree to encourage the student through (1) a weekly hour-long meeting with the student that focuses on student development, rather than ministry planning, (2) during the first year a commitment to being present at least 50% of the time where the student is leading in ministry, (3) reading and critiquing all the student’s written academic work (particularly those assignments required within the youth leadership executive certificate courses), (4) participating in the Functions course held each April at the FEB Pacific convention, and (5) be part of an annual evaluation of the YLTP program for FEB Pacific.
Expectations of the Church
The church will agree to employ the student as an intern under the direction of the youth pastoral mentor throughout the duration of the program. While these arrangements can be negotiated, the intent is that the church would provide basic living expenses (perhaps room and board) plus one-third of the cost of tuition for the entire program. Churches should understand that at least half of the student’s time will be spent in the pursuit of their academic studies, however much of what the student does academically will be in direct pursuit of the church’s mission and goals.
Potential Scheduling
The following schedule describes a potential schedule for the pursuit of the full youth leadership training process. Note that this is only a suggested schedule. The student is free to pursue these studies at whatever pace is preferable. Courses are offered through several formats, modular, online, and by distance. Students can work with seminary program advisors to work out a pathway toward completion of their studies. (Please note that students desiring to leave open the possibility of moving into a Master of Divinity program later on should choose their elective courses from within the MDV curriculum.)
Year One – Fall Semester
Developing Core Priorities in Youth Ministry (3 credits)
Introduction to Disciple-Making in Youth Ministry (3 credits)
Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics (3 credits)
Year One – Spring Semester
Advanced Disciple-Making in Youth Ministry (3 credits)
Leadership Functions in Youth Ministry (3 credits)
Introduction to Believer’s Church Theology (3 credits)
Year One – Summer Semester
Foundations of Christian Leadership (3 credits)
Elective Course (3 credits)
Elective Course (3 credits)
Year Two – Fall Semester
Christian Leadership Elective (3 credits)
Advanced Youth Leadership Course (3 credits)
New Testament Elective (3 credits)
Year Two – Spring Semester
Christian Leadership Elective (3 credits)
Advanced Youth Leadership Course (3 credits)
Old Testament Elective (3 credits)
Year Two – Summer Semester
Christianity and Culture (3 credits)
General Elective (3 credits)
Research Strategies (1 credit)
Year Three – Fall Semester
Christian Leadership Elective (3 credits)
Advanced Youth Leadership Course (3 credits)
Church History Elective (3 credits)
Year Three – Spring Semester
Christian Leadership Elective (3 credits)
Advanced Youth Leadership Course (3 credits)
General Elective (3 credits)
Year Three – Summer Semester
General Elective (3 credits)
Summative Learning Experience (3 credits)
Financial Information
Tuition costs for the program are shared equally between the student, the church, and the seminary. In addition, the church and student are encouraged to negotiate terms that allow for the support of the student during his or her period of internship in the program. Tuition costs for the year 2010-11 are $315 per credit hour for executive certificate courses, and $420 per credit hour for all non-certificate graduate level courses.
The following scenario describes the typical student who comes to the program with 60 undergraduate credits, and who builds the Executive Certificate in Youth Ministry into his or her Diploma in Christian Studies program, and who builds the Executive Certificate in Advanced Youth Ministry into his or her Master of Arts in Christian Studies…
Tuition cost for the Diploma:
12 certificate credits at $315 each = $3780.00
16 graduate credits at $420 each = $6,720.00
Student, church, and seminary pays one-third = $3,500.00 each
Tuition cost for the Master of Arts in Christian Studies
12 certificate credits at $315 each = $3,780.00
36 graduate credits at $420 each = $15,120.00
Student, church, and seminary pays one-third = $6,300.00 each
Cost to student/church per semester, assuming three year years of three semesters (fall, spring, and summer) per year = $1,088.00 each.
Please note that tuition prices tend to rise from year to year. The calculations above do not include books and fees.
Admission and Registration Checklist
The following describes a plan and schedule for the student’s admission and registration in the program.
- Read all the enclosed information in order to determine whether both the student, the church, and the mentor are willing and capable of meeting program standards.
- Contact Northwest Baptist Seminary to confirm the student’s general academic qualifications (kenta@twu.ca).
- If indications from the seminary are generally positive, contact Rob Schweyer, director of the FEB Pacific Youth Network to confirm the suitability of the mentoring/ministry setting (rschweyer@mapleridgebaptist.org). If indications from FEB Pacific are generally positive, the student and the mentor must make a formal proposal to the Lead Pastor and leadership board of the church seeking their support for the program.
- If the church leadership approves support, the student and mentor will complete the YLTP Mentor Application and submit it to FEB Pacific for approval. Deadline: May 15.
- FEB Pacific will consider the application and if suitable, seek an interview with the student and mentor. Deadline: June 15.
- FEB Pacific will then submit the application to NBS along with their recommendation. Deadline: June 30
- NBS will then contact the student with directions as to the necessary process for gaining admission and course registration, depending upon the level and learning package intended for the student. Deadline July 15
- The student will complete the ACTS/TWU admission/registration process as required. Deadline July 30
