The YMIM summer newsletter is out!

Biggest Summer Newsletter Yet!
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Two fun highlights on April 29
Why we operate as a nonprofit
Our newest client partners
Upcoming dates and events
Denominational consulting project
Personal adventures & family pics
Upcoming news – next month

Two Youth Ministry Highlights on April 29
First pic: Matt Vaughan, Rev. Brenda Davids, and Sabrina Wellman on April 29. Matt preached with Brenda (a YMIM coach) at De Soto UMC to commission Sabrina by YMI after she completed our two-year Cohort Learning program.

Second pic: Matt Vaughan and Molly Ramsey led the youth ministry at Village on Antioch church in the afternoon on April 29. Village on Antioch is a satellite campus of Village Presbyterian Church, which is a founding partner of YMIM.

Why We Operate as a Nonprofit
The stack of letters in this picture were just mailed to 200 families that provided financial support to YMIM over the last two years. In this letter, I shared an update of our work and our partners – we rejoice that one of our client youth ministers got married this month! Another had a baby recently! And, others are traveling on mission trips this month or leading VBS. God is good!

I consider the individuals who support us as our "cloud of witnesses." Their gifts comprise around 30 percent of our annual budget. These gifts ranged from $10 to $5,000 – all helping us accomplish our ministry objective to share the love of Jesus Christ with young people through skilled and effective leadership. I am deeply grateful for these families.

Our nonprofit work makes a difference. I regularly check the market to see who else provides youth ministry training. There are some great colleges that provide degrees, but they don't help with on-site consulting support or one-on-one coaching. There are also several expensive for-profit consulting groups that help churches. In contrast, YMIM provides training, coaching, education, and consulting for youth ministers and for churches of all sizes – from 60 in worship to over 1,000. We do this affordably, effectively, and locally. We're the only nonprofit youth ministry training and consulting group within 500 miles, and our ministry is growing (story continues...).

Our primary program provides a full package of training, education, coaching, and consulting in our two-year Cohort Learning program. Between YMIM and our sister campus, 80 percent of youth ministers who complete this program stay in their jobs for five years or more, and nearly all double the attendance in their youth program!

Please let me know if you have a suggestion of a church, pastor, or youth leader whom I should meet. And, if you're a fan of our work, we'd love to visit with you about how your financial gift helps in places like Hays, Wichita, Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Omaha, Manhattan, Dodge City, Lincoln, Lawrence, and other communities in our region.

Thank you!
– Matt Vaughan • 913/972.2530

Our Newest Students in Cohort Learning
I had the privilege of visiting Central Nebraska and Western Kansas recently to meet with the two newest churches in our Cohort Learning program! Matt Jones is featured on the left (with me and our friend Polly Pierce from Omaha). Matt is the youth minister at FUMC in Kearney, Nebraska. And, I took a fun selfie at "Boot Hill" in Dodge City, Kansas, during a recent visit to FUMC there. Dodge City First UMC just hired a new youth minister, Jeremy Amerin, who will join Matt Jones and our returning cohort this fall! Welcome, Matt and Jeremy!

Our current cohort is featured below: Ryan King (Lawrence FPC), Megan Doffin (Norfolk FUMC), Jenna Soltys (Village Pres), Bryant Westbrook (Valley Center FUMC), Charles Lingerfelt (Pittsburg Pres), Sabrina Wellman (De Soto UMC), and Matt Dumler (Hays FUMC).

YMIM monthly retreats resume on August 27–28. Newcomers are welcome to join us at no initial cost! Contact Matt Vaughan for more information.

Summer and Fall 2018 Dates and Events for YMIM

Aug. 27-28 - Orientation retreat for new students (no initial cost, contact me for information about how to participate at matt@yminstitute.com)
Sept. 26-28 - COR Leadership Institute Conference in Leawood, KS
Sept. 28 - Introduction to the Old Testament class with Dr. Phil Meckley in Overland Park, KS
Oct. 22-23 - YMIM Instructional Retreat in Prairie Village, KS
Nov. 4 - Fall YMIM Fundraising Event at Topgolf - SAVE THE DATE!
Nov. 4-6 - E4 Conference in Kansas City, MO
Nov. 12-13 - YMIM Instructional Retreat in Prairie Village, KS
Dec. 10-12 - Old Testament Intensive Retreat in Prairie Village, KS
Jan. 24-26 - Youth Ministry Academy in Montreat, North Carolina - registration is open to the public through the event website

Denominational Project – Presbytery of Northern Kansas
The Presbytery of Northern Kansas recently asked YMIM to conduct a six-month consulting study and report to help its 60+ churches better engage in effective youth ministry programming.

As a part of this process, I'm visiting with denominational offices throughout the country to learn how others are adapting their multi-church youth ministry programming to be relevant, engaging, and innovative.

Please contact Matt Vaughan if you have any suggestions or thoughts. Thank you!

Family Summer Adventures
Amy and I are now parents of two teenagers. Jack turned 13 last week! His baseball team just won their summer tournament. Sam is working as a lifeguard this summer, is driving as a 16-year-old, and recently played on his high school tennis team. We spent the weekend with Amy's mom most recently, and we traveled earlier this summer to the beach and nearby mountainside.

Here's a few pictures of our life together this summer. Life is moving fast!

Photos:
1) Jack and Sam on our beach trip; 2) Our annual family beach photo; 3) Sam and me on a mountain hike; 4) Jack's last day of 6th grade with Amy and me – middle school starts next month for him 5) Jack pitches in his tournament baseball championship; 6) Sam serves in a tennis match last week for his JTL team.

Next Newsletter – August!
There's more news to share, so we'll be back in touch next month!

We're hosting a Youth Ministry Conference in Montreat
New staff are joining the YMIM team for coaching and event roles
We're returning to Topgolf in November for our annual fundraiser
Additional churches are seeking YMIM for consulting or training support