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 and encouraging those who work with the next generation. After 15 years in full-time youth ministry, Tiger led Youth Leadership for nearly three decades, where he trained and supported youth and family ministry leaders through master’s-level programs and hands-on, practical workshops. His heart has always been to make ministry healthier, more sustainable, and more impactful—especially for those on the frontlines in local churches.

Now through Youth Ministry Consultants, Tiger continues to coach emerging leaders, train both volunteers and professionals, and speak to churches, parents, and teenagers around the country.

Tiger brings deep wisdom, practical insight, and a good dose of humor to everything he does—and he remains committed to making sure every ministry leader feels seen, supported, and equipped for the road ahead.

Sue Mathis

Director of Training

Sue has spent over 25 years investing in children, youth, families, and the leaders who serve them. She brings a deep passion for equipping next-generation ministry leaders and has worked alongside leaders from a wide range of church contexts and denominations, helping them develop healthy leadership and sustainable ministries.

Sue serves as Director of Training with Youth Ministry Consultants, designing and facilitating practical, relational training experiences for children’s, youth, and family ministry leaders. She also leads Family Ministry at Campus Church in Norcross, Georgia, overseeing children’s and student ministries and coordinating training for parents and volunteers. 

Through her work in both local church and national training environments, Sue offers steady encouragement and practical wisdom to leaders, helping them feel equipped, supported, and confident as they lead faithfully and sustainably.

Aym McGrew

Director of CYMCP

Over 30 years ago, Aym McGrew embarked on a life-long commitment to invest in young people and their leaders. Following an M.A. in Youth Ministry, Aym has been on staff in small to mega churches—in children’s, middle school, high school and college-age ministries as well as with non-profits who come alongside students and leaders in children’s and youth ministry. As a trained Spiritual Director, Aym provides opportunities for individuals, groups and congregations to notice and respond to God’s invitations in the midst of everyday life. Currently, Aym is multi-careering as Youth Ministry Consultant’s CYMCP Program Director, a retail pharmacy technician and training coach, Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater, MN and as an Interim Youth / Children’s Director through InterServe Ministries helping churches of various denominations navigate staffing transitions.

Megan Pederson

Director of SYM | Small Youth Ministry

Megan has been serving in youth ministry for over 15 years, bringing her passion and experience to a wide range of ministry contexts. From launching ministries in church plants to revitalizing programs in 100-year-old congregations, she has led in both small and large church settings with creativity, humility, and a heart for the next generation.

Megan currently leads Small Youth Ministry, a platform dedicated to equipping and encouraging leaders in smaller church contexts through practical resources, community, and coaching. She believes that effective youth ministry isn’t about flash or budget, but about faithful adults investing relationally in the lives of students.

Known for her thoughtful leadership and deep care for both students and volunteers, Megan is especially passionate about training and empowering adults to engage in transformational ministry with young people—no matter the size of their church. 

Nona Phinn

Director of Communication 

Nona is a dynamic professional with over 15 years of hands-on experience in all aspects of marketing and communications. Skilled in developing and driving integrated marketing initiatives and strategy, delivering and managing engaging content, and achieving goals through compelling customer relationship programs. She has extensive knowledge in leading projects, devising traditional and online marketing and communications plans, while managing complex programs with ease.
 
Her heart for Family and NextGen ministries has led her to unite her passion for storytelling and communications with her calling to serve the Church. She is driven by a deep desire to help organizations connect meaningfully with the people they serve—especially ministries and the families entrusted to them. Nona believes that making the Word accessible, cultivating intentional discipleship rhythms within the home, encouraging children and students, strengthening the bridge between church and family, and thoughtfully translating culture between parents and teens are essential to meeting the needs of this current generation.