Nigeria

“TRAINING THE TRAINERS”

YMI is continually challenging those we train to take the training that they have received from us and then train others (II Timothy 2:2). It doesn’t end with just the national youth leader. Their challenge is to then train others. And they do.

Josua Ibukunoluwa is a Youth Ministry MA graduate in Nigeria.

I have had the privilege of facilitating the training of pastors committed to the leading of youth in the philosophy of Christian Education at the West African Theological Seminary, Lagos. The opportunity was utilized to concentrate on a philosophy of youth ministry. Pastors have made commitments to evaluate how they do youth ministry in their various denominations and churches when they returned home.

William Abadoo, another Youth Ministry MA graduate in Nigeria wrote:

Last year I gave a seminar on youth ministry at the quarterly meeting of the Association’s ministers conference. When I attended the January meeting, it was amazing how many people greeted me and said they started implementing information from my seminar and that there have been changes in their churches. The leadership had started putting the lecture into practice even before I left! This is my testimony of what God is doing with us through our training with YMI.

The investment that we at YMI make into the lives of these national youth leaders is not intended to end with them. YMI is very much committed to investing in the next generation of youth workers around the world. We desire to train these young men and women in youth ministry, so that they are better equipped to minister to the youth in their churches and communities wherever they live.

Teaching MA Courses for Youth Degree Program

YMI President, Randy Smith, visited Nigeria with staff member Franks Mills and board member Paul Crouthamel where they taught special classes to a group of youth trainers at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary.

Randy reported that 20 students passed the final course and graduated. Ten on these individuals already have doctorates and are beginning to teach youth classes to prepare more young people to be youth leaders in their churches and communities.

At the graduation ceremony Randy was invited to speak and present the diplomas and certificates along with the seminary president, who had a surprise for Randy and Frank.

Frank Mills and myself had a great time here at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary – Teaching the last course of our MA Youth Degree Program, being honored to give out the diplomas to the 20 MA graduates, then giving them our YMI Youth Minister Certification, and having the honor to give the Charge to the entire graduating class, the 120th graduation of the school!

THEN I found out that both Frank & I were to be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity (DD) for outstanding contribution to Nigerian and African youth ministry and life-long service! We are indeed blessed!

What an Historic time to be able to initiate and complete the first accredited MA in Youth Ministry in all of Africa, and at the largest evangelical seminary in all of Africa (1200 students)! We can all rejoice!

Blessings,
Randy Smith

And thanks to Paul Crouthamel (our newest YMI board member) for helping out with our lectures and seminars!

The 20 individuals who graduated from YMI MA program have now joined the ranks of highly skilled global trainers, following three years of tough training. These quality trainers are already involved in training others in four other schools. Reproduction has begun!

All 20 earned our YMI Youth Minister 5-Year Certification, and some are now working toward our Professional Certification over the next few years.

The 2019 graduation event at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary saw over 3,000 come together to watch as 372 students graduated from the various degree programs of the Seminary.

Pray that till will only be the beginning of a growing theological training program for youth leaders especially in West Africa.