YBL Dates are June 9-18, 2025
Become the leader God has called you to be. Youth Becoming Leaders welcomes high school students who are devoted to Christ, hold leadership positions in their communities, excel academically, and strive to understand God’s plan for their future to an immersive educational experience on the campus of Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky!
Each summer for 10 days, YBL participants reside in university dormitories, dine in the campus dining hall, and engage in studies within Asbury classrooms. They will also have full access to the University’s comprehensive student resources.
At YBL, you will experience:
Experience a dynamic environment for growth, learning, and exploration!
Youth Becoming Leaders
(859) 858-5393
ybl@asbury.edu
You’ll need to complete a three-step application process by March 10, 2025. Students who enroll at Asbury are eligible to receive $1,000 per year in scholarships and three academic elective credits to be applied toward the general liberal arts degree completion.
* The program includes a post-event curriculum where students collaborate with mentors on a ministry project. Mentors receive a workbook and attend two Zoom trainings: one before the program and one on its final day.
Application Mentor Reference Scripture Video Submission
YBL will inform you of Acceptance Status
Confirm your Participation
Pre-Assessment Personality Inventory Results Challenge Course Permission Form Parent Permission Form Payment (Deposit of at least $250)
Payment for YBL is based on a Sliding Scale.
We offer the following suggestions to support you as you discern how your family can best balance the financial cost of participating in YBL with the needs of your family. We understand that costs are rising, but we continue to witness how God is transforming young people’s lives and communities through YBL, and we believe YBL is worth the investment in your student.
The following are merely guideposts. Your family can choose any amount that falls between these categories, and we offer payment plan options for any category. We encourage you to reach out to your local church about scholarship opportunities, and we have fundraising ideas to assist you in asking for prayer and financial support from family and friends. We know that there are some families for whom $999 would be a burden on your household. If that is the case for your family, please let us know because we never want money to be a barrier to a student’s participation in YBL.
The standard registration rate for YBL is $999. Please see the information and resources described in the guideposts above.
Consider paying this amount if doing so would not create a hardship for your household. You might choose this rate if you are able to meet your basic needs regularly and have some expendable income, can travel every couple of years without burden, and may have some debt but are able to pay it regularly.
The real cost of YBL is $4,000 per student. This figure is derived strictly from the operating costs of the residential program itself, including dorm space, food, transportation, books, faculty, and summer staff.
Consider choosing any amount between the standard rate and the at-cost rate if your family is able to cover not only your student’s standard rate, but also funding to contribute to the actual cost of YBL.
We regularly have conversations with students who are concerned about their ability to participate in YBL due to the financial resources of their family. If you have the financial means and ability to support YBL participants beyond your student, consider choosing any amount over $4000 to cover the actual cost for one young person to attend the YBL Institute, contribute to YBL’s ongoing overhead for the program such as administration and yearlong personnel (which are not included in the at cost rate), and most importantly, provide funding to support scholarships for more YBL participants.
YBL Financial Support Info
More Info for Parents
Loved YBL so much you are ready to play it back again? YBL is launching Leadership Fellows in 2025. This program is designed for students who have already attended YBL and wish to continue their leadership development. During the program, these students will continue to gain knowledge and guidance as leaders alongside counselors and first-year YBL students. These returning students will experience:
To apply for this opportunity, students will complete the YBL application form, which includes an additional section of questions for Leadership Fellows, submit the Scripture memorization video for this year’s theme verses, and identify a mentor from their home church or community. (Students are more than welcome to continue working with the mentor they chose during their first year of YBL.)
Students will also develop a ministry project, which can be a new component for their already existing ministry project or a new project altogether. Leadership Fellows students will arrive early on June 8th at 3 pm.
We want Youth Becoming Leaders to be an experience that launches students into a lifetime of leadership and discipleship. As a mentor, you serve a critical role in helping students integrate YBL and everyday life.
Youth Becoming Leaders is run by Asbury University faculty and students from the School of Christian Studies in partnership with Asbury Theological Seminary faculty, Youth for Christ staff, local ministry leaders, and a host of expert guests. 2025 Schedule, Speakers, and Instructor will be announced soon! Stay tuned!
We believe high school students can be Christ-like leaders in the church today and in the future. By supporting YBL, you help equip students for service and leadership through Christian community, leadership projects, and mentor relationships.