5-Year Strategic Plan Focus Areas
Empowering 15,000 ministers to become advocates of youth.
Through building a vast network of united ministers, we will focus on the following areas to ensure success:

Embrace the Essential Elements of Comprehensive Youth Ministry

Embrace the Profession and Practice of a Youth Ministry Leader

Understand and Engage Youth as Protagonists

Support the Growth of the Domestic Church
Embrace the Essential Elements of Comprehensive Youth Ministry
Goal: Establish essential elements of a comprehensive youth ministry program and provide formation opportunities to align with these elements.
NFCYM members are currently engaging in the following project teams:
Project Team #1 – Identifying Essential Elements Project Team – In conversation with Renewing the Vision, Christus Vivit, and other recent documents and research, and wisdom gained from the field in the last twenty-five years define “Comprehensive Youth Ministry” and the essential elements (defined as direct ministry applications that are implementable, measurable, and able to evaluated) of a comprehensive youth ministry strategy/program/initiative in a community in our current time (parish, school, ministry).
Project Team #2 (Actively Recruiting)- First Things in Ministry Project Team – A seven-session online formation and training program sponsored by NFCYM to assist those who are brand new to youth ministry, whether volunteer or paid, in starting off in the right direction within the first six months of taking on their new leadership role. Contact Christina Davis at [email protected] to join the team.
Are you interested in helping NFCYM embrace the essential elements of comprehensive youth ministry? Contact Kathy Goller, Focus Area 1 Champion, at [email protected] to learn more!
Embrace the Profession and Practice of a Youth Ministry Leader
Goal: Establish essential elements of personal formation for ministry leaders and provide formation opportunities to align with these elements.
NFCYM Members are currently engaging on the following project teams:
Project Team #1 – Pathways to Professionalism – To promote and advocate for professionalization and competence in Youth Ministry Leadership.
Project Team #2 – Diocesan Formation Project Team – The New Diocesan Directors Institute (NDDI) provides training and support for new diocesan leaders involved in youth ministry, young adult ministry, and Pastoral Juvenil.
Project Team #3 – Micro-Certification Areas – (In formation)
Project Team #4 – Youth Ministers Research – (In formation)
Project Team #5 – Campus Ministry Specialization – (In formation)
Project Team #6 – Competency Assessment – (In formation)
Are you interested in helping NFCYM embrace the profession and practice of a youth ministry leader? Contact Cathy Becker, Focus Area 2 Champion, at [email protected], to learn more!
Understand and Engage Youth as Protagonists
Goal: Model integration of young people into leadership roles and share insights and formation about trends in youth culture.
NFCYM Members are currently engaging on the following project teams:
Project Team #1 – Youth Advisory Council Project Team – The National Youth Advisory Council is a diverse group of 12 young people that will integrate their voices and gifts into all work and ministry of NFCYM. Learn more about the NYAC.
Project Team #2– Formation of Young People – (In formation)
Are you interested in helping NFCYM understand, form, and engage youth? Contact Bob Noel, Focus Area 3 Champion, at [email protected] to learn more!
Support the Growth of the Domestic Church
Goal: Provide formation for ministry leaders to engage parents, guardians, and families and model engagement of them through NFCYM initiatives.
Are you interested in helping NFCYM support the domestic church? Contact Mark Mann, Focus Area 4 Champion, at [email protected], to learn more!