for a few years, i’ve been thinking it would make great sense for youth specialties to launch a consulting arm. we get asked for this from time to time, and haven’t really had anything to offer churches. most of the time, these requests come from church in-between youth pastors, or looking for an outside evaluation of their youth ministry and its place in their church.

so, it’s with excitement that i announce the official launch of ys consults. as the website says:

Whether you’re looking for ways to manage, improve, or grow your youth ministry. YS Consults has what you need. Our experienced consultants can help you with everything from:
• Leadership
• Strategic planning
• Staff issues
• Hiring
• Transition
• Teaching
• Theology
• Emergent ministry
• Vision
• Spiritual formation
• Volunteer-led ministries

Comprised of a team of youth ministry veterans, educators, authors, and practitioners, you’ll get insight, instruction, and inspiration from someone who understands youth ministry, and will work to understand your specific needs.

Let YS Consults help you continue to build, grow, and nurture the ministry you care so deeply about.

we’ve assembled a sweet team of youth ministry experts who are available for a variety of consulting topics, contexts and durations. the current consultant list includes:

Steve Argue
Executive Director, Contextual Learning Center

Chris Brooks
National Coordinator, URBNET

Chris Folmsbee
Chief Ministries Officer, YouthFront

Rick Heltne
Senior Search Consultant, People Management Minneapolis

Scott Kail
Pastor to Students, Piedmont Community Church

Tiger McLeun
President, Youth Leadership

Mark Oestreicher
President, Youth Specialties

Ginny Olson
Co-Director, North Park University Center for Youth Ministry Studies

Mark Riddle
Entrepreneur, the Riddle Group

Jeanne Stevens
Director of Training, Youth Specialties

i’m making an announcement about this new service tonite on the main stage of the national pastors convention, here in san diego. and we have mark riddle and scott kail at the event to offer free one-hour consulting appointments for a couple days.

my hope and dream is that this ministry will help address some of the more systemic issues we constantly see with churches; that we’ll help some churches rethink their approach to youth ministry in a way that will be more fruitful, and less abusive to youth workers; and that we’ll help youth workers and churches establish healthy patterns of communication about assumptions and expectations.

for benefits, FAQs, bios of the consultants, a link to the intake form, and more info, check out the website.