Forged
FORGED is a selective two-year training experience for youth leaders, designed to teach practical strategies and spiritual disciplines that increase longevity and effectiveness in Salvation Army youth ministry leaders.
Who Can Apply ?
Youth workers/directors
Corps assistants
Divisional Youth Specialists
What are the Requirements ?
A soldier and/or employee in good standing
Active in youth ministry in Corps
Obtain Corps Officer/DC and other appropriate approvals
Candidate to sign commitment for entirety of program
Candidate capable, willing to be coached, and can fully participate in work that is generated by Asbury University for the success of this program.
Candidate willing to commit to participate in on campus retreats
What Can I Expect from FORGED?
Small Group Training
Participants will connect (virtually) every other month for one on one accountability and the development of an individual growth plan.
Personal Coaching
Forged participants meet (virtually) every quarter with their cohort and leaders for teaching and discussion on topics such as:
- Spiritual Formation and Personal Discipleship
- Building and Growing Relational Youth Ministries
- Replicating Leadership, Empowering a Team
- Managing Crisis and Conflict
Retreats
Youth Leaders will participate in three separate three day retreats at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky.
Testimonial
Forged gave me the tools to not just be able to GIVE as a youth leader, but also to learn how to rest and refresh and feed my own soul. Many times, youth leaders become burnt out, as I have felt from time to time. If we keep giving and giving and not filling ourselves up, we literally have nothing to give. . . . Often, as youth leaders, we don’t take the time to work on our personal spiritual life and I think Forged really encouraged us to do just that.
– Sarah Stillson
Youth Worker, Pasadena Tabernacle
2022-2024 Cohort
Leadership
Tony Akers
Tony graduated with a MA in Christian Education from Asbury Seminary in 1994. Since that time, he has served multiple churches and environments, primarily in the areas of youth ministry and discipleship. In 2004 Tony began consulting churches and coaching youth pastors alongside his work in the local church. Tony is committed to helping students on the margins and supporting the ministry staff and volunteers who lead them.
Caleigh Smith
Caleigh has been pursuing God’s call to youth ministry since she was in middle school. She is a Michigander at heart now working in Kentucky as an Adjunct Professor in the Christian Studies and Philosophy Department at Asbury University. Caleigh received a BA in Youth Ministry from Asbury University and an MA in Youth Ministry from Austin Seminary. Caleigh serves on the advisory board for Youth Becoming Leaders: High School Christian Leadership and Global Transformations Institute and is passionate about training both staff and volunteers in the field of youth ministry.
Dr. Brian Hull
Brian has been involved in local church youth ministry for over 20 years, and now works as an associate professor of Youth Ministry at Asbury University, studying youth ministry best practices and leadership.from may sides. Brian has created many training opportunities for youth and youth leaders at local, regional, national, and international levels as well as helping to coordinate youth ministry networks, currently as president-elect for the National Association of Youth Ministry Educators.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”
Proverbs 27:17 NIV