About US
Youth Ministry Consultants is a ministry committed to helping churches, parents, leaders and volunteers share Jesus to the next generation with clarity and passion. We simply believe that there are 3 circles of influence when it comes to passing faith onto the next generation: Parents—Churches—and Caring adults who invest in children and teenagers. Our job is to help these circles be more intentional and effective in their crucial role.
In today’s distracting world, it is essential that these influences go beyond good intentions. A phrase we say all the time is: “Hope is not a Strategy”. It’s nice to hope for things, but in today’s world, we must be increasingly strategic in our efforts.
We desire to serve any church, ministry or adult who cares about the next generation.
We were founded with the driving passion to serve the smaller, under-resourced church through the Small(er) Church Project. Thanks to the support of faithful donors, coaching and training are available to you no matter your location or budget.
YMC is intentionally multi-denominational
YMC is intentionally multi-denominational. We work with churches from a wide variety of denominations. We focus on the Main Thing–sharing the Good News of Jesus to the next generation and helping adults be more effective in sharing faith. We equip and encourage adults to build healthy, caring relationships that provide a bridge to their ministry to children and youth.
MEET OUR TEAM
Rebecca Jacobson
Executive Director
Rebecca Jacobson is a passionate advocate for the next generation and the people who lead them. With almost two decades of experience in youth ministry, Rebecca has served in churches of all sizes, always with a focus on equipping leaders to do transformative, Christ-centered work with young people.
She’s a trusted coach, a gifted communicator, and a steady presence for leaders navigating the joys and challenges of next-gen ministry. Whether she’s developing curriculum, leading a training, or connecting with a leader over coffee, Rebecca’s heart is always the same: to help ministry leaders feel confident, capable, and never alone.
Tiger McLuen
President and Founder
Tiger McLuen has spent his life equipping those who lead the next generation. After 15 years in youth ministry, he led Youth Leadership for nearly 30 years, training leaders through graduate programs and practical workshops with a focus on healthy, sustainable ministry.
Now with Youth Ministry Consultants, Tiger coaches leaders, trains volunteers and professionals, and speaks to churches, parents, and students nationwide. He brings wisdom, practical insight, and humor, with a deep commitment to helping every leader feel supported and equipped.
Sue Mathis
Director of Training
Sue has spent over 25 years investing in children, youth, families, and the leaders who serve them, with a passion for developing healthy, sustainable ministry across diverse church contexts.
She serves as Director of Training with Youth Ministry Consultants, creating practical, relational training for ministry leaders, and leads Family Ministry at Campus Church in Norcross, Georgia. Through both local church leadership and national training, Sue offers steady encouragement and practical wisdom, helping leaders feel equipped, supported, and confident.
Aym McGrew
Director of CYMCP
Over 30 years ago, Aym McGrew began a lifelong commitment to investing in young people and their leaders. With an M.A. in Youth Ministry, Aym has served in churches of all sizes and across children’s, youth, and college ministries, as well as alongside nonprofit partners.
A trained Spiritual Director, Aym helps individuals and groups notice and respond to God’s work in everyday life. Today, Aym serves as CYMCP Program Director with Youth Ministry Consultants while also leading ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater, MN and supporting churches through staffing transitions.
Megan Pederson
Director of SYM | Small Youth Ministry
Megan has over 15 years of experience in youth ministry, serving in a variety of contexts from church plants to established congregations, in both small and large churches.
She leads Small Youth Ministry, equipping leaders in smaller churches with practical resources, community, and coaching, grounded in the belief that effective ministry is built on faithful, relational investment.
Megan is passionate about training and empowering adults to engage in transformational ministry with students, no matter the size of their church.
Nicole Smalley
Small(er) Church Project Manager
Nicole Smalley brings nearly 20 years of youth ministry experience and a deep joy for walking alongside students. From elementary to high school, she creates spaces of belonging and is especially gifted at leading meaningful experiences like camps and retreats where faith comes alive.
She’s a natural initiator who loves turning ideas into reality. Outside of ministry, she’s a wife, mom of two, and foster parent, passionate about creating environments, at home and in ministry, where people feel known, have fun, and grow into who God is calling them to be.