Our Cohort program is a comprehensive two-year instructional track for Youth & Children’s ministers that combines classes, conferences, and one-on-one mentoring conversations and StrengthsFinders coaching.
A team of academic leaders teaches 12 classes in youth and children’s ministry. Each class includes multiple units taught in specific ministry areas covering both theology and practical ministry, and college credit may be offered for those who complete the two-year course of study. Each class includes several practical units in specific topics, which are separated into the sections below. Classes are held monthly.
Introduction to Youth and Children’s Ministry (six units)
Human Development and Social Values (four units)
Studies in Church and Culture for Young People (four units)
Prof. Rick Bartlett, DMin
Matt Vaughan, MA
Zach Walker, MDiv
Kevin Wilder, MDiv
Adaptive Leadership in Ministry (four units)
Communicating the Gospel to Young People (four units)
Counseling Foundations and Pastoral Care Principles (four units)
Prof. Rick Bartlett, DMin
Melissa Gepford, MTS
Sally Wright, MDiv
Applications of Historical Christianity (five units)
Christian Theology for Ministry with Young People (five units)
Intensive: Study of the Old Testament (twelve units)
Intensive: Study of the New Testament (twelve units)
Prof. Meredith Holladay, PhD
Prof. Kris Kvam, PhD
Prof. Phil Meckley, PhD
Program Design: Ministry in the Local Church (four units)
Practicum: Application of Ministry and Soul-Tending (five units per year, totaling 10 units)
Jacob Martin, MBA
Matt Vaughan, MA
Our teaching faculty are highly trained in their fields and dedicated to your success in ministry with young people. Learn more about our accomplished and insightful instructors.
The MLI Instructional Cohort Program includes participation in annual conferences in national and regional settings.
An MLI faculty member leads a monthly discussion, based on case studies prepared by participants, with each cohort. The process is an integral part of the practicum, designed to encourage deeper self-awareness, confidence, and the application of new skills among those in the program. MLI partners with Gallup to administer a CliftonStrengths Talent Assessment with each participant, and these StrengthsFinders results are used by MLI faculty to design monthly discussion group topics.
Each participant is assigned a trained ministry mentor or coach to help participants apply classroom material to individual ministry settings. Mentors help provide accountability between monthly instruction and ministry application for cohort participants and partner churches.
Pastors who supervise a participating youth or children’s minister are asked to engage in conversations each semester with the participant and their assigned mentor. Conversations with home pastors are developmental, not evaluative.
Megan Doffin, Commissioned for Ministry in 2019
Our schedule for 2023 and 2024 will include both in-person and online instruction. Typically, instructional sessions will meet in Prairie Village, Kansas. For in-person gatherings, the two-day retreat schedule begins with lunch on Monday. Instruction is offered on Monday afternoon, Monday evening, Tuesday morning, and Tuesday afternoon, adjourning by 5:00 on Tuesday. Restaurant or catered meals are provided. MLI provides hotel accommodations for out-of-town students (the cost is included with enrollment and breakfast is offered on Tuesday). Online instruction is scheduled in the Winter, and to accommodate for unforeseen health reasons (such as COVID-19), as directed by the MLI Board of Directors.
SEPTEMBER 15–16: Two-day Fundamentals of Ministry Retreat, often in partnership with various denominations. This is a yearly event for new enrollees and those interested in learning more about MLI programming. Interested participants who are not enrolled in the two-year Instructional Cohort Program may register for this retreat as a continuing education experience.
OCTOBER 10–12: Optional participation in a Kansas Leadership Center training event in Wichita, Kansas. Your Leadership Edge is a program designed to equip participants with adaptive leadership skills. Registration, lodging, and meals are included.
NOVEMBER 9–11: Two-day Instructional Retreat, with an introductory session for the Bible intensive. Lodging and meals are included.
DECEMBER: Online instruction is provided in December. In-person retreats are not typically scheduled in Early Winter to accommodate for weather and health changes, common in the Midwest.
JANUARY 18–20: Gathering in Nashville for MLI cohort participants and residents from the Center for Youth Ministry Training. Registration, lodging in Nashville, and meals are included. Special travel accommodations will be provided for those farther than 350 miles from Nashville.
EARLY FEBRUARY: DECEMBER: Online instruction is provided in early February. In-person retreats are not typically scheduled in Early Winter to accommodate for weather and health changes, common in the Midwest.
FEBRUARY 22–24: Three-day Instructional Retreat, including a second session in the Bible intensive (this event is typically held late in the month to avoid Winter travel). Lodging and meals are included.
APRIL: Online instruction is provided in April. Topic and schedule will be announced in Spring 2024.
MAY 2–4: Three-day Final Instructional Retreat. Lodging and meals are included. This is the final retreat of the academic year and includes a certification event for second-year cohort participants. First-year cohort participants will return in the Fall.
SUMMER: Coaching and additional consulting support continues through the summer. The academic calendar begins again in September.
MLI continued to teach during the pandemic, adapting to changing conditions with a hybrid of online and classroom-based learning.
