DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to help students understand and analyze the development of effective youth ministries. This course focuses on how communication plays a key role in four primary youth ministry contexts: evangelism, small group discipleship, instructional teaching, and biblical preaching to an adolescent audience.

Effective youth ministry focuses on two customer groups: 1) the youth, including their parents, schedules, friends, hobbies, etc. and 2) volunteer youth leaders, who need to receive direction and leadership. This course will focus on effective communication in both arenas.

This course is comprised of both lecture and practicum components. Initial class meetings involve lecture and class discussion, while subsequent class meetings will integrate small group activities, teaching, and preaching exercises presented primarily by the students. This course will meet once each week for a three-hour session.

Davis, Ken. How to Speak to Youth and Keep Them Awake at the Same Time. Zondervan, 1996.

Ford, Leighton. The Power of Story. NavPress, 1994.

Hendricks, Howard. Teaching to Change Lives. Multnomah, 1987.

Lowry, Eugene L. The Homiletical Plot. John Knox Press, 1980.

McNabb, Bill and Steven Mabry. Teaching the Bible Creatively. Zondervan, 1990.

Nash, Tom. The Christian Communicator's Handbook. Victor Books, 1995.

1. Interview six young people and submit a six-page analysis/reflection paper.

2. Develop an original 12 week topical series, that you could share with volunteer youth leaders to provide a sense of direction and to offer them the opportunity to participate.

3. Working with an assigned small group, develop a one hour youth session, which you will present to the class who will be acting as your youth. The class will then discuss the effectiveness of the session.

4. Final Exam covering all six texts.

None.

Elective.

Yes.