Certification Program
Certificate in Urban Youth Ministry Leadership
Program Background
UYWI Certification Program in Urban Youth Ministry Leadership 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 April 2025, we have led 30 cohorts and graduated 404 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, strategic planning, discipleship, trauma informed care 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 Venues | Now Accepting Applications
Online
2025-26
Virtual Cohort
Begins Fall 2025
Houston, TX
2025-26
In-Person Cohort
Begins Fall 2025
APPLICATIONS TO ONLINE & HOUSTON COHORTS ARE OPEN.
Each cohort has a 15-student limit, in order to assure the quality and depth of our Certification Program.
2025-26 Cohort Program Dates
Online
Winter 25-26
2/24/25*
3/3/25
4/7/25
5/5/25
6/2/25
7/7/25
8/4/25
9/11/25 - 9/13/25
10/6/25
11/3/25
12/1/25
1/5/26
2/2/26
2/7/26*
*Not a first Monday
SEDUTH
Winter 25-26
2/24/25
3/10/25
4/14/25
5/12/25
6/9/25
7/14/25
8/11/25
9/4/25 - 9/6/25*
10/13/25
11/10/25
12/8/25
1/12/26
2/9/26*
2/14/26*
*Not a second Monday
Houston
Fall 25-26
9/29/25
10/6/25
11/3/25
12/1/25
1/5/26
2/2/26
3/2/26
4/13/26*
5/4/26
6/1/26
7/13/26*
8/3/26
9/14/26*
9/19/26*
*Not a first Monday
Online
Fall 25-26
9/29/25
10/6/25
11/3/25
12/1/25
1/5/26
2/2/26
3/2/26
4/13/26*
5/4/26
6/1/26
7/13/26*
8/3/26
9/14/26*
9/19/26*
*Not a first Monday
Cohorts Currently Underway
Online
Virtual Cohort
SEDUTH
Virtual Cohort
Frequently Asked Questions
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."
