Ministry Leadership Initiative

The primary ministry overseen by MLI, its two-year Instructional Cohort Program, is comprised of groups of youth and children's ministry leaders serving in local churches. A core of expert practitioners, composed of pastors, counselors, educators, and experienced youth ministers, provides practical ministry training; at the same time, a robust team of theology professors and instructors teach theological education. The program develops authentic, intentional, proficient, and theologically informed ministers, church staff, and lay leaders who serve in a variety of congregational settings. The program is integral at providing proficiency and leadership development in these partner churches and organizations. Hundreds of youth and children and dozens of congregations benefit from this transformed leadership.

MLI offers one-day and multi-day consulting visits to churches and religious organizations. These services encompass the collection of comprehensive research data and may include personalized coaching and relevant training specifically related to these consulting reports. The research data is combined with experiences and feedback collected in the organization's primary service, which is the instructional cohort program. In this way, the MLI services compliment one another to accomplish the organization's mission statement. The various consulting services include ministry advising, strategic planning, ministry program development, staff search guidance, and peacemaking conversations.

MLI provides two types of coaching and online support services to churches and religious organizations. The first part of this program is a traditional coaching model for pastors and church staff. Members of the MLI faculty schedule monthly phone calls and meetings to help these partners develop professional skills and accomplish specific tasks. Many of these partners reflect on improvements in proficiency, self-awareness, and productivity. The second part of this program is to provide online education and support to students seeking professional development. MLI faculty assign texts, engage in online discussions, and provide similar coaching resources to these groups of church staff and volunteers.