Youth Ministry

EM 5540    Foundations of Youth Ministry

Course Description

An exploration of biblical, educational, and philosophical foundations for youth ministry. Current youth culture and developmental needs of adolescents will be examined in light of these foundations. Students will be required to develop a personal theory of ministering to youth through biblical education, personal evangelism, and relational discipleship. This course is cross-listed with CM 175 in Trinity College. Additional assignments required for master’s-level students. Two hours.

Course Objectives

At the completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. State and defend a biblical basis for the axioms and models presented in class

2. Explain and apply the fifteen axioms of youth ministry presented in class

3. Identify the major models of youth ministry and explain the major features and most productive usage of each model

4. Engage a student with whom he/she is not acquainted in a conversation outside of a church setting

5. Describe in behavioral terms a discipled student

6. Design a strategy for ministry to youth in a context of the student’s choosing

7. Demonstrate skills in leading students in social learning experiences

Course Text

Dunn, R, and M Senter (Eds). Reaching a Generation for Christ. 1997.

EM 5541   Youth Ministry Strategies

Course Description

An examination of principles and procedures in specific parachurch or church based youth ministries. Biblical and theological foundations for understanding the adolescent and building a philosophy of evangelism. Methodologies for contacting students, personal evangelism, outreach in groups, discipling and counseling.

Course Objectives

At the completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify the strategies that are transferable from the ministry of Christ to contemporary youth ministry;

2. State and defend an ecclesiology of youth ministry;

3. Respond to the spiritual needs of adolescents in a Postmodern world;

4. Collect and interpret information from the youth culture in general and a specific youth sub-culture;

5. Identify the distinctive ministry strategies of Sonlife, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Young Life, Youth for Christ, and selected churches;

6. Contextualize the concept of purpose driven youth ministry into specific youth ministry situation.

Course Texts

1. Dunn. Shaping the Spiritual Life of Students. IVP, 2001.

2. Rahn and Linhart. Contagious Faith. Group, 2000.

3. Senter. Four Views of Youth Ministry and the Church. YS/Zondervan, 2001

4. Strommen and Hardel. Passing On the Faith. St. Mary's Press, 2000.

5. Sweet. AquaChurch. Group, 1999.

EM 6530   Child and Adolescent Counseling

See Children’s Ministry Emphasis.

EM 6740   Seminar: Youth Culture

Course Description

An investigation of individual needs and problems in the adolescent subculture with attention given to developing ministry responses from a Christian perspective. Three hours.

Course Objectives

Not available

Course Texts

Not available

EM 7860   Social and Cultural Exegesis

See Leadership Emphasis.

Updated to 2008-09 Catalog