NNU's 36-credit graduate specialization in Youth, Children & Family Ministry offers you a more holistic approach to ministry across the generations. Whether you're in a vocational ministry role as a family minister, youth, or children's pastor, or you're a layperson wanting advanced training for parachurch, Christian schools, or camping ministries, NNU's fully online Master of Arts: Leadership & Formation specialization in Youth, Children & Family Ministry offers a dynamic learning model grounded in developmental, cultural, and spiritual formation within a practical theological framework. If you're an adult learner who wants to engage the world of both today and tomorrow, reach out to us now with your questions or complete our online information form. We'd love to talk more fully with you!

Graduates from our Master of Arts: Leadership & Formation specializations assume leadership in various ministry venues, including pastoral leadership; staff ministry; church planting; university student development; military, healthcare, hospice, institutional, and marketplace chaplaincy; non-profit leadership; cross-cultural ministry; district and general church administration; and other innovative settings. A recent survey of graduates revealed that 68 percent had already been offered positions by graduation. Additionally, many of our graduates have advanced to doctoral studies at a variety of other educational institutions, including Drew Divinity School, Boston University, Regent, Claremont, Portland Seminary, Fuller, Perkins, and Nazarene Theological Seminary, to name just a few. 

• The graduate understands both the history and contemporary characteristics of human development, adolescence and family systems theory necessary for engaging in youth, children and family ministry.
• The graduate values the role of Practical Theology in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition and philosophy to inform practices fostering young persons and families.
• The graduate articulates and embodies a Biblical understanding of faith formation within the community of faith including the family.
• The graduate demonstrates a dynamic integration of practice and philosophy of leadership suitable for ministry in the Church and in the world.

Since 1930, NNU has been continuously accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities, the same respected accrediting body that validates other leading educational institutions across the Pacific Northwest. If a quality education from a respected institution with external validations is important to you, then NNU’s Master of Divinity or Master of Arts tracks are a great fit.

NNU’s Graduate School of Theology is also accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools. The following degree programs are approved by the Commission on Accrediting: Master of Divinity; Master of Arts: Pastoral Ministry; and Master of Arts: Leadership & Formation with specializations in Missional Leadership; Spiritual Formation; and Youth, Children & Family Ministry.