Faithful CYMT Investors,
In May, CYMT celebrated the graduation of its sixth class of youth ministers! Six of our eight graduates were hired by their partner churches to continue to lead their youth ministries. Additionally, Erin Hicks is headed to Princeton Theological Seminary to continue her theological education and Joanna Simmerman got a full-time job at another church. We also celebrate the graduation of Tess Frohock, Jill Altom, and Sara Ellet—three alumni who started with CYMT we only offered a certificate program who came back and earned their Master of Arts in Youth Ministry degrees. God is using all of these graduates to walk with teenagers along their spiritual journeys.
We ask for your prayers for the 11 new graduate residents who are joining CYMT this fall including two international students. Most of them have begun working at their churches and are eagerly awaiting their first CYMT retreat. I would ask you to specifically pray for that they would:
- Know God’s presence and guidance as they begin their ministry in a new place
- Find a sense of home and quickly build relationships with others who sustain them
- Build relationships with youth and their families
- Learn to balance ministry, school, and life
- Fulfill their calling
Kelly Mongoven celebrating her acceptance to CYMT! Kelly started CYMT and began as the youth minister at Christ the King Lutheran in Birmingham this week.
The journey from applicant to CYMT Graduate Resident at their orientation retreat is a long one. They have experienced multiple interviews. They have waited as we prayerfully considered which partner church was the right one for them to serve. They traveled to meet a new congregation and be interviewed again. They are finally here and I pray that CYMT will be faithful to our task of equipping and preparing them for their journey.
Our 30+ youth ministers have been all over the country this summer taking their youth on mission trips, to camp, and on choir tours. Each trip has hundreds of memories of God’s love and grace, but I did hear one of our residents say this week, “What a blessing to serve God by leading, guiding, and sometimes following youth! If we simply follow where God is leading and point the way for others, lives are changed!” God continues to transform youth leaders, churches, and communities through your support of the Center for Youth Ministry Training.
Thank you for your investment in this ministry. We finished our fiscal year at the end of June in great shape. We look forward to another amazing year as God once again proves faithful. Thank you for doing your part.
If you would like to support the ministry of CYMT and get us off to a great start this year, you can do so by visiting www.cymt.org/donate.
Serving Christ,
Dietrich “Deech” Kirk, Executive Director