Youth ministry school

Impulse

We train young people and youth leaders, help them develop their skills, build teams and grow a healthy youth ministry.

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Knowledge. Practice. Community.

Impulse is an educational project that brings together biblical theology, practical tools, the experience of people in ministry and a community of those who care about growing youth ministry.

Our programme is built around six key themes: leadership, team, Scripture, ministry, resources and spiritual renewal.

  • 6 training sessions
  • 1 academic year
  • 16+ age of participants
  • 50–70 participants planned per session

Impulse began as a one-year school of youth ministry. The first course consisted of six thematic sessions that combined theory, practical tasks, discussions and time together.

In the new season the school moves to stand-alone one-day sessions. Participants can choose the topics that matter to them and join at any point, whether or not they have taken part before.

A participant in glasses takes notes during a lecture

About the school

We invest in people who invest in ministry.

Youth ministry is more than organising meetings, conferences and camps. It is consistent work with young people that takes not only willingness and enthusiasm but also knowledge, skills, responsibility and spiritual maturity.

That is what Impulse is for.

We create a learning environment where participants can explore the biblical principles of ministry, develop leadership and teamwork skills, learn to manage resources, share experience and find solutions to practical challenges.

We do not aim to create a single model of youth ministry for every church. Our goal is to help each participant understand their own context better, see the opportunities and make responsible decisions on their own.

  • Our vision

    We want to see churches where youth ministry is led by mature, responsible and competent people: leaders who can work with Scripture, build healthy teams, use resources well and help young people grow in faith.

  • Our mission

    To create opportunities for young people and youth leaders to learn and grow by combining biblical theology, practical skills, mentoring and the sharing of experience.

Bohdan Novakov, head of Impulse, smiling in a checked shirtBohdan NovakovHead of the Impulse school of youth ministry

A word from the head of the school

“I am convinced that one of the greatest needs of today’s church is mature and competent people. Not just active ones, not just charismatic ones, and not just those who can put on a good event, but people who can think, take responsibility, work with others and keep growing.

That is why we started Impulse. We want youth leaders not just to receive ready-made answers or copy someone else’s experience, but to learn to analyse their own context, make decisions and build a healthy ministry.

It matters to us that learning does not end with the last lecture: that knowledge turns into practice, new acquaintances into cooperation, and the experience gained helps people grow ministry in their own churches.”

Programme

Six questions that help make sense of youth ministry

We built the school’s programme around six fundamental questions. Each is devoted to one area of ministry and covers the skills needed to develop it.

  1. 01Registration open

    Who? The leader

    €40

    Leadership starts with who you are.

    The session covers personal leadership, calling, spiritual maturity, self-discipline and developing skills.

    Session questions

    Who is a leader? How is leadership different from a position or status? How are character, values and skills formed? Why does managing your own life come before being responsible for others?

  2. 02

    With whom? The team

    Healthy ministry is built together.

    The session covers teamwork skills, delegation, horizontal and vertical communication, organising shared work and shaping a team culture.

    Session questions

    How do you build a team, share responsibility and help people grow? How do you build trust and communication? What do you do with conflicts and differing expectations?

  3. 03

    Where? Scripture

    The Bible as the foundation of our thinking and ministry.

    The session covers the basics of hermeneutics and exegesis, working with the biblical text and laying a theological foundation for youth ministry.

    Session questions

    How do we read and interpret Scripture well? Why does context matter? How do we tell biblical principles apart from theological conclusions and church traditions?

  4. 04

    What? Ministry

    From one-off events to consistent work with young people.

    The session covers planning, organising and developing youth ministry, working with different age groups, discipleship and building a coherent strategy.

    Session questions

    What is youth ministry for? How do you set goals, explore the needs of young people and build a programme? How do you evaluate the results of your own work?

  5. 05

    How? Resources

    Responsible stewardship of what has been entrusted to us.

    The session covers administration, financial literacy, fundraising, project management and using resources effectively.

    Session questions

    How do you plan and use money, time, people and material resources? How do you find partners, draw up a budget and manage projects?

  6. 06

    Where from? Spiritual renewal

    Spiritual health as an essential part of ministry.

    The session covers personal and team spiritual renewal, prayer, rest, spiritual practices and a healthy rhythm of life.

    Session questions

    How do you keep your spiritual life going under constant responsibility? How do you recognise burnout, make time to recover and help your team grow spiritually?

Join the training

Every session is a chance to gain new knowledge, ask questions, meet others in ministry and find practical tools for growth.

Registration open

Who? — The leader

The session covers personal leadership, calling, spiritual maturity, self-discipline and developing skills.

Date
Fee
€40
Register
Three young people talking and laughing by a staircase

Who is it for?

Impulse is open to young people aged 16 and over, whether or not they have leadership experience.

The programme will be especially useful for youth and teen leaders, members of ministry teams, mentors, organisers of youth events and anyone who wants to grow and take part in the life of their church.

We also invite whole teams: learning together not only brings knowledge but also shapes a shared vision and approach to ministry.

Learning process

One session, one complete topic

The new Impulse format lets participants choose what to study. Each session stands on its own, so you do not need to have attended earlier ones. Learning takes one day and combines several ways of working.

  • Lectures and seminars

    Structured knowledge, biblical principles, practical approaches and the teachers’ experience.

  • Discussions and panels

    A chance to ask questions, consider different views and look for answers together.

  • Practical tasks

    Analysing real situations, working as a team and applying what you have learned.

  • Community and networking

    Meeting participants from different churches, sharing experience and creating opportunities to work together.

A speaker with a microphone talks in front of a screen in a hall

Teachers

Taught by people who combine knowledge and experience

We invite pastors, theologians, youth leaders and specialists from different fields to teach at Impulse.

It matters to us that our teachers not only know the theory but also have experience putting it into practice, are open to dialogue and help participants find solutions in their own context.

A man and a moved woman stand side by side at the school graduation

From our graduates

Learning that continues in ministry

During the first course Impulse became a meeting place for youth leaders, who could learn together, discuss challenges, rethink their approach to ministry and find like-minded people.

We want the results of learning to be measured not only by the number of sessions held but by how participants use what they have gained in their own churches.

Nearest events

Join the nearest meetings, ministries and conferences.

Photos

A young woman in a grey hoodie plays an acoustic guitar and sings on stage
A white T-shirt printed “believe live communicate” hanging on a hanger
A young man speaks at a lectern on a stage with an I’M PULSE banner
A hand with a red pen writes in an open notebook
On a white table: an open Bible, a Bible in a camouflage cover with a cross and a cup of coffee
People raise their hands in a dimly lit hall during a time of prayer
Young people seen from behind in a dimly lit hall during worship
A collage of black-and-white photos with an I’M PULSE card pinned in the middle
A woman sings into a microphone on stage, a second singer beside her
Two young women pray together, holding hands with their heads bowed
A young woman plays the violin with other participants standing behind her
A young man writes in a notebook next to an open Bible, other participants sitting behind him

Life at Impulse

Here we share news about the sessions, how the project is growing, participants’ experience and new opportunities for youth ministry.