Kite Center for Ministry — Organization Profile
The Smith and Mary Kite Center for Ministry is a ministry-focused initiative of York University in York, Nebraska. The center exists to equip and empower men and women for ministry and leadership in local churches, with an emphasis on making disciples by supporting and encouraging congregations. Its work is connected to York University’s long-standing relationship with churches and its commitment to Christ-centered education and service.
The center is based in York, Nebraska, and serves churches, ministry leaders, congregations, and ministry families across a wider regional network. One of its stated program areas, the Ministers’ Wives Retreat, describes its region as the Midwest, Rockies, and Great Plains states, and the center’s events also draw participants from multiple states and Canada. Its ministry focus includes local church leadership, small and rural congregations, ministry training, pastoral support, and practical resources for people serving churches.
Kite Center for Ministry operates through conferences, cohorts, resource sharing, church support, and service connections. Its Equip Conference provides worship, teaching, and ministry tracks for church leaders. The Storehouse blog offers articles and practical ministry resources with a small and rural church lens. The center also maintains ministry openings, request-help forms for congregations seeking short-term or specialized ministry support, and volunteer opportunities for preachers, teachers, song leaders, and other ministry workers.
A significant part of the center’s strategy is to connect churches with people and resources they may not easily access on their own. Congregations can request help from trained ministry workers for needs such as preaching, teaching, worship leading, or workshops. Volunteers can offer ministry skills for churches that need support. Additional resources point churches toward partner organizations and ministries that provide training, consulting, interim ministry, women’s ministry resources, and rural and small-town church support.
The center’s work also includes ministry-family care and leadership development. Its Ministers’ Wives Retreat is designed for women who have served as ministers’ wives for at least five years and are in the region. The program is sponsored by the Smith and Mary Kite Center for Ministry at York University, which is a partner of the Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative facilitated by Pepperdine University. Through these efforts, the center seeks to strengthen local churches by supporting both congregational leaders and the people who serve alongside them.
People can engage with Kite Center for Ministry by attending events such as Equip Conference, reading and sharing Storehouse resources, applying for eligible programs, posting or searching ministry openings, requesting help for a congregation, volunteering to serve churches, or giving through York University’s giving platform. Churches and ministry leaders can also contact the center directly for questions about programs, partnerships, and opportunities to support local congregations.
Key Links
- Website: https://www.york.edu/center-for-ministry/index.php
- Cohorts & Programs: https://www.york.edu/center-for-ministry/cohorts-and-programs.php
- The Storehouse: https://www.york.edu/center-for-ministry/storehouse/index.php
- Ministry Openings: https://www.york.edu/about/ministry-openings.php
- Request Help: https://www.york.edu/center-for-ministry/request.php
- Volunteer: https://www.york.edu/center-for-ministry/volunteer.php
- Additional Resources: https://www.york.edu/center-for-ministry/additional-resources.php
- News: https://www.york.edu/center-for-ministry/news.php
- Give: https://yorkcollege.networkforgood.com/projects/55625-york-university
Contact Information
- Email: ce***************@**rk.edu
- Phone: 402-363-5600
- Mailing address: 1125 E 8th St, York, NE 68467
Socials
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YorkUNebraska/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLxYRShHgVKte4W96GdW_-Q
Leadership
- Dr. Scott Laird — Co-Executive Director
- Dr. Anessa Westbrook — Co-Executive Director
