ABOUT YPT
YOUTH MINISTRY IS
THEOLOGICAL MINISTRY.
You can do it. We can help.
Youth Pastor Theologian develops resources and training to fuel theological renewal in youth ministry, so that teenagers might be formed as lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.
The mission of youth ministry is not to make teenage disciples, but adult disciples whose faith took root during their teen years.
If we want to see this become a reality, then it’ll certainly require more than theology lessons… but not less. That will require youth workers who are equipped to confidently engage youth in discussions about what it means to be Christian. And yet, youth workers are often among the least theologically-trained leaders in the church.
YPT is filling that gap by providing theologically rich resources and trainings, so that youth workers can call youth into a faith that’s big enough to grow into.
OUR VISION
YPT is promoting more than “Youth Ministry + Theology.”
We are advocating for a theological way of thinking about youth discipleship, which we call Theological Youth Ministry.
OUR CONVICTIONS
1.
The Bible is the Curriculum
teenagers needs God’s Word more than your opinion, so teach it with depth and clarity.
What Theological Youth Ministry looks like
2.
Three Branches of Discipleship
disciple the whole person through Christian Doctrine (Head), Christian Spirituality (Heart), and Christian Living (Hands).
3.
Volunteers as Theologians-in-Training
every youth leader should seek biblical depth in order to faithfully disciple students through real life.
4.
The Church is our Context
enfold youth into the life of the church so they don’t graduate and become spiritual nomads.
5.
Co-Disciple Alongside Parents
parents are more than drivers and providers of food; we will remember they are disciple-makers.
6.
The Goal is Lifelong Faith
our mission is not to make teenage disciples, but adult disciples whose faith took root during their teen years.
Where we stand
This is the foundation of every YPT resource and training. Every writer and speaker affirms these convictions in common.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
YPT joyfully affirms the Lausanne Covenant.
WE AFFIRM
The Historic Christian Creeds
WE AFFIRM
Biblical Inerrancy
WE AFFIRM
Historic Christian Sexuality
WE AFFIRM
Christian Particularism
Mike McGarry
Founder and Director
Mike started Youth Pastor Theologian while serving as a full-time youth pastor because he’s experienced the need for theologically-deep resources and training in youth ministry. He was a youth pastor for 18 years and has become a volunteer youth worker now that YPT is his full-time ministry. Mike and his wife, Tracy, have two teenagers and live in MA. They are members at South Shore Baptist Church in Hingham, MA, where Mike previously served as Youth Pastor and currently serves as an elder. He is an ordained pastor and earned his B.A. from Gordon College, and his M.Div. and D.Min. (in “Ministry to Emerging Generations”) from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Mike is the author of three books for youth leaders (Theological Youth Ministry, forthcoming in 2027 through New Growth Press; Lead Them to Jesus, 2021 through New Growth Press; A Biblical Theology of Youth Ministry, 2019 through Randall House Academic), and two books for teenagers (Iconic, 2025 through New Growth Press; Discover, 2023 through New Growth Press). He also contributed to God With You: A 52-Week Devotional Through the Whole Bible for Teenagers (2026 by Zondervan), and Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry (2017 by Crossway).
He is available to speak at conferences and retreats.
John Gardner
YPT PODCAST CO-HOST
TEACHING WORKSHOP CO-LEADER
John is the Youth Pastor at Grace Church in Longmont, CO since 2021 and has served in youth ministry since 2009. John and his wife Jackie have been married for 15 years and love spending time trying out new food, exploring the national parks, and playing board games. He earned his M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and his D.Min. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Expository Preaching (with an emphasis on preaching to teenagers). John plays board games religiously, golfs casually, and trains for marathons hypothetically.
WHO KEEPS US ACCOUNTABLE?
Board of Directors: providing oversight and accountability for YPT’s finances, direction, and doctrine
Chairman: Mr. Keith Strauss
Treasurer: Mr. David Stott
Secretary: Rev. Dr. Jason Engle
Mrs. Suzanne King
Rev. Dr. Graham Stanton
YPT Currently operates through a fiscal sponsorship under Friends of the Great Commission. We are in-process of receiving our 501(c)3 status as an independent nonprofit organization.
ACCOUNTABILITY
GET INVOLVED
Join the work of theological renewal
Subscribe
Get new articles by email and our free ebook, Youth Ministry is Theological Ministry.
Bring YPT to you
Host a Teaching Workshop for your volunteers, or invite Mike to speak at your church, retreat, or conference.
Partner with YPT
Your gifts help us create resources and training for youth workers around the world. We can’t do this alone.