What’s Happening in the Certification Program
The UYWI Certification program, formerly known as 90 Degrees, after a brief hiatus in 2020, relaunched in the Fall of 2021. The program is a year-long journey for leaders and offers both leadership development and personal development designed to equip high-capacity urban leaders with key elements of effective leadership in ministry. The 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.
40 leaders enrolled for the 3 cohorts based in Los Angeles, New York and our newest cohort in Houston to journey to receive their Certification in Urban Youth Ministry. Some leaders even made the commitment to travel from as far as Colorado, Connecticut and Tennessee to be a part of these cohort experiences.
Each month leaders meet together and are guided through the Certification courses by veteran urban youth workers who facilitate the course content and discussion. Leaders have the opportunity to learn, discuss, share, pray and grow in their cohorts. Leaders have expressed how impactful and timely the Certification courses have been for them in this season of their leadership development.
WHAT LEADERS ARE SAYING:
Loved the class; have made a few new friends. Loved small groups and the teaching. Four hours goes by so quick when in class.
Cielo Arrioja – Los Angeles Cohort
The Developing My Leadership [module] definitely opened [my] mind to understand what type of leader I truly am. And how I can improve to be the best leader that God has called me to be.
Chantise Scott – Houston Cohort
One of my main key learnings was through the Healthy Spiritual Rhythms class. I did not realize I was experiencing burnout as I kept trying to “remain strong” and “pray about it.” I appreciated the holistic healthy balance and have benefited tremendously from the content in this class.
Elijah Oliver, Sr. – New York Cohort
All our cohorts have reached the halfway mark to complete the Certification Program and have already covered such foundational courses as Leading as Designed, Value Based Leadership, Healthy Spiritual Rhythms and Effective Communication.
As the cohorts get ready to dive into their next class on Strategic Planning and draft their Mission Action Plans, we are excited to hear about the vision that God has put in the hearts of our leaders to restore and rebuild their communities for the Gospel of Jesus Christ using the tools they gained through the Certification Program.