The International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry is a not-for-profit global organisation. 

Our aim is to support and develop the professionalisation of youth ministry around the world.  In particular, we focus on furthering the academic study and research of youth and youth ministry, the formal teaching and training of youth ministry (at universities, seminaries, denominations, parachurch organisations, local ministries, or wherever else it may occur), and all those involved in career youth ministry and in the growth and development of youth ministry as a recognised profession. Our goal is to raise the profile of youth ministry as a calling, career and/or professional enterprise, and to encourage the reflection on youth ministry and academic discipline that will support youth ministry at this level.

The activities of the Association include:

• To provide an international network of interaction, information and resources.
• To publish an academic journal (two editions per year of The Journal of Youth and Theology).
• To raise the standard and awareness of youth ministry as a professional and academic discipline.
• Promoting inter-disciplinary research into youth ministry.
• Organising conferences on the study of youth ministry (an international conference is held in every second January.  National conferences are organised by members in participating countries).
• A closed email discussion list.
• Sharing of resources developed by members, and promoting youth ministry courses run by members.
• Raising funds to sponsor those who may not be able to afford to participate in the activities of the Association.

There are many organisations around the world who focus on "how to" do youth ministry. But these "how to's" do not easily translate across cultural borders. Neither would they last long - there are not many youth culture "how's" that would last longer than one year. The IASYM focuses on the "what" and "why" of youth ministry.

• We are completely ecumenical.
• We are fully international. While this may not be entirely true right now - we are a largely English-based Association at the moment - we are looking to expand into multiple languages and across all cultures.

There are many different organisations around the world who cater for the support and training of youth ministry practitioners (youth pastors, youth workers, youth leaders, etc), but very few that cater for the people who train and support these practitioners. This is one of the key motivating factors behind the formation of IASYM. This Association is not primarily geared for those actually "doing" youth ministry, but rather for those who do research into youth ministry, youth culture, trends and other areas that will assist practitioners, for those who train people involved in youth work and youth ministry, and for those who think about the future of youth ministry and are involved in developing resources that will further the aims of youth practictioners in the future. 

At present, most of the Association's work is done in English.  We wish to develop our international reach, by extending the number of languages we work in.  This presents a wonderful challenge to our organisation, but one that we are excited to take up.  If you can assist us in the development of the Association in other international languages (such as French, Spanish, Korean, Portuguese, Mandarin, Arabic, or any other language), please contact the Administrator, Jack Gabig, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

To join the Association, fill in the application form at http://www.iasym.org/join-us.html.