About Us | The Center for Youth Ministry Training

About

Vision

History

Statement of Faith

The Center for Youth Ministry Training seeks to advance and extend the effectiveness of mainline church efforts to impact future generations for Christ by:

1. Training Youth Ministers,

2. Building Foundations in Local Churches, and

3. Bridging the Gap to Seminary.

In the spring of 1999, Dietrich Kirk was studying at Memphis Theological Seminary. While sitting in Dr. Knickerbockers’ Church History class, Dietrich began to reflect on youth ministry education when God inspired him to write what would become the vision for the Center for Youth Ministry Training.

In 2003, Mark DeVries went running with his Sr. Pastor Todd Jones. Todd mentioned that he thought it would be great if 1st Presbyterian would start a youth ministry training program. Two weeks later at a church wide visioning event, Todd announced 1st Presbyterian would be starting one. Mark realized he better figure out what that meant.

In July 2004, Deech and Mark would go to breakfast. During their conversation, Deech launched into the vision God had given him for the Youth Ministry Institute. Mark shared their church’s interest in a similar program. The Center began as a shared vision of Brentwood United Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, two churches with a long-standing commitment to youth ministry.

With over 40 years of combined youth ministry experience , the Rev. Dietrich Kirk (youth minister, BUMC) and the Rev. Mark DeVries, (youth minister, FPC) began to craft a shared vision for a Center that could provide hands-on training for future youth pastors, particularly for those stepping into their first youth ministry positions. The Center has become a concrete expression of both churches long range mission to “establish a youth ministry institute to train future youth leaders” in the mainline church, particularly among United Methodist and Presbyterian (USA) churches.

Soon after the strategic planning process began, a collaborative relationship was established between the Center and three other institutions with complementary missions: Duke Divinity School (Raleigh, NC), The Center for Church Leadership at Martin Methodist College ( Pulaski, TN), and the Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary ( Princeton, NJ).

On March 1, 2006, the dream became a reality after both churches had unanimously voted to support the creation of the Center.

The 2006 Inaugural Class of student interns included Kelly Gentry (TN), Tessa Frohock (NC), Jill Sethness (TX), Ariel Givens (KY), Harry Shaub (TN), Josh Vegors (TN), and Hillary Heinlein (MI). They inaugural partner churches would include Ashland City UMC, Preston Taylor Ministries and St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 1st Presbyterian Murfreesboro, 2nd Presbyterian Nashville, Advent Lutheran Murfreesboro, Nolensville UMC, Arlington UMC. Kris Lott from Calvary UMC and Chris Cummings from Crossville UMC would join the class as the tuition only students.

Vanderbilt Divinity School worked in coloboration with the CYMT beginning in the Fall of 2006 to provide the core seminary coursework for the CYMT program.

In January 2007, Lesleigh Carmichael would be named the Director of Coaching and take responsibility for coaching half of the students along with Deech.

In December 2007, the CYMT received the first two years of a proposed four year grant from the Lilly Foundation. The first two years provided $404,000 to help the CYMT develop its program, create a new campus, host a Youth Ministry Think Tank, and develop Lilly research into useable resources distributed through www.ymtoday.com.

On August 3, 2008, the inaugural class of CYMT students was commissioned to the work of youth ministry.

In January 2009, the CYMT partnered with Memphis Theological Seminary to provide a retreat based curriculum that would provide academic credit through MTS. In addition to the Certificate in Youth Ministry, a Master of Arts track was added to the CYMT program making it possible for a student to earn a degree.

In June 2009, the CYMT received the second to years of the Lilly Laboratory for Youth Ministry grant from the Lilly Foundation. The second two years provides $530,000 to support the development of the CYMT and a new campus as well as continuing the Youth Ministry Think Tank and YMtoday.com projects.

1. We believe in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

2. We believe in Jesus Christ, God incarnate, whose death and resurrection make possible the reconciliation of God and humanity.

3. We believe in the Holy Spirit, God dwelling in every believer and in the church.

4. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, authoritative Word of God.

5. We affirm the church is the most faithful expression of the body of Christ on earth and unity of all believers in Christ.

6. We believe in the priesthood of believers, that all disciples of Jesus Christ are called to share in his ministry here on earth.

7. We believe in ministry for and with youth, the church of today and tomorrow.

Founding Churches:

Brentwood United Methodist Church – Brentwood, TN

First Presbyterian Church – Nashville, TN

Educational Partner
MTS
Memphis Theological Seminary is the Center for Youth Ministry Training’s primary educational partner. CYMT students retreat based curriculum is a program of MTS. CYMT students are MTS students and earn graduate level credits. The M. A. degree is awarded by MTS. We are grateful for MTS’s shared vision.

Collaborators

Duke Divinity School

Princeton Theological Seminary's Institute for Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry Institute

Ministry Partners

YMA
Youth Ministry Architects

Dietrich Kirk - Executive Director

Dietrick Kirk

"Deech" Kirk served as the youth minister of Brentwood United Methodist Church for six years before becoming the Executive Director of the Center for Youth Ministry Training in 2006. He continues to serve as one of Brentwood's assoicate ministers. He is one of the Co-author's of Now What? Next Steps in Your New Life with Christ. When he is not leading directing the CYMT, speaking at youth events, helping build new youth ministries, or training other youth workers, Deech enjoys spending time with his wife Keeley, daughters Carlisle and Hallie, and dog Bear.

Mark DeVries - Chair of Board of Directors

Mark DeVries

For over 20 years, Mark has served as Associate Pastor for Youth and their Families at First Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tenn., where he continues to oversee the youth ministry on a part-time basis. Additionally, Mark is the founder of Youth Ministry Architects, a hands-on coaching service for churches whose youth ministries are in transition (intentional or unexpected) or churches who hope to see their youth ministries move to the next level. Mark has trained youth leaders across the United States, as well as in Russia, Canada, Uganda, and South Africa, working with a wide variety of denominations. He is the author of Family Based Youth Ministry and Sustainable Youth Ministry.

Lesleigh Carmichael- Director of Coaching

Lesleigh Carmichael

Lesleigh directs the coaching process for the CYMT students. She has been here from the beginning and transitioned to her new role in the Spring of 2008 from the many jobs she had before at CYMT. When she is not working at the CYMT, Lesleigh enjoys spending time with her husband, Jamey, and their two little girls, Anna Lauryn and Karaley. Lesleigh is also a consultant with Youth Ministry Architects.

Will Penner- Resource Director

Will Penner

Will is the Executive Editor of The Journal of Student Ministries, the premier publication for professionals in youth ministry. He and his wife are currently the volunteer youth pastors at Westview United Methodist Church in Fairview, TN, where they live with their four children (ages ranging from 16 to womb). As a part of the Lilly Grant, Will develops resources for the CYMT that will be distributed through our new website Youth Ministry Today, www.ymtoday.com.

Jacob Fasig - Coach

Jacob Fasig

Jacob is on staff as one of the youth ministers at First United Methodist Church in Franklin, TN. He is married to Allison and has two daughters, Zoe and Eve. Jacob coaches our students working with each church's youth ministry team to build a foundation for effective youth ministry.

Glenn Miller - Coach

Glenn Miller

Glenn is on staff as the director of student ministries at Northside United Methodist Church in Jackson, TN. He is married to Barbie and has two daughters, Celeste and Summer. Glenn coaches our students and works with each church's youth ministry team to build a foundation for effective youth ministry.

Susan Groce - Coach

Susan Groce

After 10 years working with the youth at her home church, Susan accepted a call in 2008 to serve the Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination as the Coordinator of Ministries with Youth and Young Adult. She enjoys spending time with her husband of twelve years, Jaime, and their two sons, Braxton and Thatcher. Susan and her family live in Collierville, TN. Susan coaches our students and works with each church’s youth ministry team to build a foundation for effective youth ministry.

Kris Konsowitz - Coach

Susan Groce

Kris is the Director of Youth Ministries and Young Adults at Collierville United Methodist Church in Collierville, Tennessee. She is married to Bob and has three children Melissa, Chris, and Laura.

Chad Kingsbury - Coach

Susan Groce

Chad is one of five pastors at First United Methodist Church in Columbus, Mississippi, and serves as the Pastor of Student Ministries. He focuses on junior high, high school, and college students and their families. Chad is married to Katey and has two kids, Maggie and Max and a Chocolate lab named Bullet.

Tony Akers - Coach

Susan Groce

Tony grew up a “Hoosier” (someone from Indiana) and has been involved in youth ministry since 1989. He has a Masters degree in Christian Education/Youth Ministry from Asbury Theological Seminary and is a frequent contributor to Group magazine, a leading youth ministry resource. He recently began his 7th year of serving at the Minister to Youth and their Families at Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

Tony is married to Debbi and is dad to Madison (15) Samuel (11) and Hannah Grace (4).
In his free time he likes hanging out with his family, hiking, fishing, canoeing and writing.

Jason Sansbury - Coach

Susan Groce

Jason Sansbury is the youth minister at Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Franklin, TN where he has served since 2005. Previously, Jason has worked in youth ministry, serving churches in Georgia as well as being on staff for Young Life. Additionally, Jason was one of the founding partners of Crossed-Up Ministries, a ministry specialized in putting together large worship events for youth groups. He has a heart for helping young people find their call into ministry and succeeding early in their ministry and careers.For fun, Jason loves movies, music and television. He is a fount of useless pop culture trivia and dreams of being a winner on the TV show “Jeopardy.”

Judy Norris - Coach

Susan Groce

For the past 20 years Judy has been involved in children’s ministry serving churches in Brentwood, TN and Denver CO. She is currently on staff at Brentwood UMC serving as associate director of children’s ministry. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Christian Educators Fellowship and been a consultant with Cokesbury on VBS curriculum. In her leisure time she enjoys being outdoors hiking and biking and spending time with her 6 grandchildren.

Julia Canada Wilburn - Editorial Director/Operations Manager

Julia Wilburn

Julia directs the editorial efforts for the www.ymtoday.com family of websites and manages operations and events for CYMT. She has an extensive background in marketing for both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Prior to joining CYMT she was a freelance marketing consultant. A native Tennessean, Julia and her husband Jonathan live in Nashville with their dog, Elwood, and they enjoy traveling, cooking, biking and going to music events.

Keeley Kirk - PR and Admissions Coordinator

Keeley Kirk

Keeley specializes in public relations, marketing, graphic arts, and business organization. Keeley lives in Brentwood, TN with her husband, Dietrich, and their daughter Carlisle. Keeley manages all public relations activities, as well as, coordinates the admissions process for the CYMT.

Jim Edwards - Director of Finance

Jim Edwards

Jim Edwards volunteers his time as our Director of Finance. Jim is retired from a life in business with Sage Employment. He and his wife Katie have one son, Steven, and enjoy spending their time traveling and playing golf.

The CYMT produces a bi-annual newsletter. Below are pdf’s of the entire newsletter if you would like to print one or the articles are below

Newsletter_Summer_2008.pdf (2009-07-13)

Newsletter_Summer 2009.pdf (2009-07-27)

Newsletter_Winter_2010.pdf (2010-01-28)

Mark DeVries, First Presbyterian Church
Robb Harvey, First Presbyterian Church
Tricia Carswell, First Presbyterian Church
Overton Colton, First Presbyterian Church
Marty Martin, First Presbyterian Church
John Padgett, Brentwood United Methodist Church
Jason Fisher, Brentwood United Methodist Church
Jim Edwards, Brentwood United Methodist Church
Crea Sielbeck, First Presbyterian Church
Maral Missirian-Dill, Brentwood United Methodist Church
Kris Lott, CYMT Alumnus
Hank Hilliard, At-Large Member
Dayle Rounds, Princeton Theological Seminary Representative
Fred Edie, Duke Divinity School Representative

Mailing Address:
Center for Youth Ministry Training
309 Franklin Road
Brentwood, TN 37027

Phone:
615.823.7595

Fax:
615.301.9933

Email:
info@cymt.org

Offices - Buchanan House, Brentwood UMC

Bucannon

The Center for Youth Ministry Training is located in Brentwood, Tennessee and is housed at Brentwood United Methodist Church. Brentwood is a suburb just South of Nashville. Our offices are located on the 2nd floor of the Buchanan House, across the southern parking lot behind Amsouth Bank.

Address:
CYMT
309 Franklin Road
Brentwood, TN 37027
Need Directions?

Housing - Tyne House, First Presbyterian Church Nashville

Some of our Student Interns in the Nashville area are housed at the First Presbyterian Church’s Tyne House which has been renovated to provide rooming for 4 students. The Tyne House is located on the First Presbyterian Church campus just south of the main building.