Certification Program
Certificate in Urban Youth Ministry Leadership
Program Background
UYWI Certification Program in Urban Youth Ministry Leadership, formerly known as 90 Degrees, is one of UYWI's most successful programs. The program offers both leadership development and personal development designed to equip high-capacity urban leaders with key elements of effective leadership in ministry. This certification was created to fill a void in the Urban Ministry Training landscape to provide solid, practical, leadership and ministry training by experts in ministry who have lived the urban ministry experience.
As of 2022, UYWI has led 19 cohorts and graduated 299 leaders. The UYWI Certification Program helps leaders build competencies and acquire practical training from experts in the field of Urban Ministry. The key areas and topics covered in the program are healthy leadership, self-awareness, spiritual rhythms, strategic planning, ministry organization, discipleship, community engagement, and more.
Program Modules
DEVELOPING
MY
LEADERSHIP
- Leading as Designed
- Value-Based Leadership
- Healthy Spiritual Rhythms
- Effective Communication
DEVELOPING
MY ORGANIZATION
- Organizational Excellence
- Developing High Performing Teams
- Strategic Planning/Mission Action Plan
- Funding Your Mission
DEVELOPING
MY
COMMUNITY
- Reaching My Community (Evangelism and Discipleship)
- Restoring My Community (Trauma Informed Care)
- Rebuilding My Community (Community Development)
Program Dates
Los Angeles
9/26/22
10/3/22
11/7/22
12/5/22
1/9/23
2/6/23
3/6/23
4/3/23
5/1/23
6/5/23
7/10/23
8/7/23
9/11/23
9/23/23
Online
9/26/22
10/10/22
11/14/22
12/12/22
1/23/23
2/13/23
3/13/23
4/17/23
5/8/23
6/12/23
7/17/23
8/14/23
9/18/23
9/30/23
Houston
2/27/23
3/6/23
4/3/23
5/1/23
6/5/23
7/10/23
8/7/23
9/11/23
10/2/23
11/6/23
12/4/23
1/8/24
2/5/24
2/10/24
New York
2/23/23
3/2/23
4/6/23
5/4/23
6/1/23
7/13/23
8/3/23
9/7/23
10/5/23
11/2/23
12/7/23
1/4/24
2/8/24
2/10/24
Program Venues
Los Angeles
Biola University
CURRENTLY CLOSED
(Not a function of Biola Univ.)
Houston
Fuller Seminary
CURRENTLY CLOSED
(Not a function of Fuller Seminary)
New York City
The Hub NYC
CURRENTLY CLOSED
(Not a function of The Hub)
Online
Virtual Cohort
CURRENTLY FULL
(Running a Wait List)
Each cohort has a 15-student limit, in order to assure the quality and depth of our Certification Program.
The enrollment period has closed. Fall 2023 Enrollment will open in May 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can apply, however, applicants outside of the areas where the in-person cohorts are offered will be given higher priority.
The actual program cost is over $5,000, but because of generous donations from UYWI donors, the program is made available for $1,645 in-person and $1,495 online. We also offer group discounts and spouse discounts.
Winter/Spring
In-Person Cohorts
Monthly: 10 payments of $154.50 (to be paid on the 15th of each month) beginning January 15th
Trimester Payments: 3 payments of $515 (to be paid January 15, May 15, September 15)
Online Cohort:
Pay In full: $1,495 – 5% discount - $100 deposit = $1,320.75
Monthly: 10 payments of $139.50 (to be paid on the 15th of each month) beginning September 15th
Trimester Payments: 3 payments of $515 (to be paid January 15, May 15, September 15)
You can, but you don’t have to. If it works better for you, you can pay monthly or quarterly. If you pay monthly, we will require that you sign a commitment to pay and your payment is made automatically each month through a credit or debit card withdrawal. Once you’re accepted into the program, you will be required to pay a $100 deposit (non-refundable) which will be deducted from the remaining balance.
Everyone pays a (non-refundable) $100 deposit when submitting the enrollment form. It will be deducted from the total fees. There are 3 payment options:
Los Angeles In-Person Cohort:
Pay In full: $1,645 – 5% discount - $100 deposit = $1,462.75
Monthly: 10 payments of $154.50 (to be paid on the 15th of each month) beginning September 15th
Quarterly: 3 payments of $515 (to be paid September 15, January 15, and June 15)
Winter/Spring In-Person Cohorts:
Monthly: 10 payments of $154.50 (to be paid on the 15th of each month) beginning January 15th
Trimester Payments: 3 payments of $515 (to be paid January 15, May 15, September 15)
Online Cohort:
Pay In full: $1,495 – 5% discount - $100 deposit = $1,320.75
Monthly: 10 payments of $139.50 (to be paid on the 15th of each month) beginning September 15th
Quarterly: 3 payments of $465 (to be paid September 15, January 15, and June 15)
The start and end times for the cohorts are:
Los Angeles - Start: 5:00 PM (PST) End: 9:30 PM (PST)
Houston - Start: 6:00 PM (CST) End: 10:00 PM (CST
New York - Start: 6:00 PM (EST) End: 10:00 PM (EST)
Online - Start: 3:00 PM (PST)/6:00 PM (EST)
End: 7:00 PM (PST)/10:00 PM (EST)
A sample breakdown of the class day:
-
4:50 p.m. Arrival (Snacks & Drinks Provided) 5:00 p.m. Class begins 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Session 1 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. Dinner Break 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Session 2 7:40 – 7:50 p.m. Break 7:50 – 8:50 p.m. Session 3 8:50 – 9:30 p.m. Closeout and look ahead to next month *Times adjusted accordingly by cohort..
The program is a year-long certification program. Each month's course is a unique subject and is self-contained. Leaders are expected to attend each class. Absenteeism and tardiness are strongly discouraged. Tardiness or absences may be cause for dismissal from the program without any refunds.
Your 1-year certification training will give the youth worker practical skills to operate in ministry at a higher level. Although our program is not an accredited program transferrable to a university, we believe it is the best training a youth Pastor, Director, Leader can receive in leadership development.
No. The books and supplies you will need are all a part of the program cost. We’ve selected three (3) books that we believe are great resources or essential to your growth as a leader. We will offer other book suggestions that you might consider to build your library of resources that and will be beneficial to you in ministry and leadership.
Visit this page to apply beginning November 1st for the Houston and New York Winter/Spring 2023 launch. For further information, please contact dianna@uywi.org
Please note that the Los Angeles and Online cohorts are already underway and enrollment is closed until the enrollment period for Fall 2023 (which begins May 2023).
Reviews
"This course has been a catalyst to reignite a fire that God has put in my heart!"
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! This was a blessing to my growth as a youth leader
"I love you guys! Thank you so much for everything this has been an amazing experience."
"Thank you all so much for this program and for your love for the kids!"
"THANK YOU everyone for this great opportunity! What you do is crucial and so needed in this Youth Ministry field! We need like-minded people who understand the joys and struggles and can lift us up! That's what you guys definitely did during the UYWI Certification Program!"
"Before I took this class, I asked around other youth leaders and Pastors that I knew took various leadership courses. One of them said that if I wanted to change the world then the UYWI Certification Program was the way to go. They were right."
"This is bittersweet and I'm going to miss the classes!"
"Just want to say thank you. You guys changed our life forever."
"Thank you so much for everything UYWI! You are all real ones, praying for you always!"
"Grateful for you fam!! 🙂 Let's keep advancing the Kingdom together! Love you guys!!!"
"Curriculum and cohort have been amazing. Presenters of every subject have been phenomenal. The program has enhanced my ability to create a vision cast and to make it come to fruition. The skills and insights have encouraged me to be confident in applying my vision that God. Has placed in me."
"Yes, I would recommend this program. Youth workers are often running on fumes. They need resources, community and greater skill sets. The UYWI Certification Program helps with that!"
"The strategic plan class was so good. It helped us to organize what we do and why we do it. It also helped us lock down a more specific vision and mission."
"Yes, I would recommend this program. It is such a practical program that provides many tools."
