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.

Fisher, Roger and John Richardson. Getting It Done: How to Lead When You're Not in Charge. HarperInformation, 1999

Jones, Tony. Postmodern Youth Ministry: Exploring Cultural Shift, Creating Holistic Connections, Cultivating Authentic Community. 2001.

Rowat, Wade G. Jr. Adolescents in Crisis: A Guidebook for Parents, Teachers, Ministers, and Counselors. Knox Press, 2001.

Swensen, Richard. Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives. NavPress Publishing Group, 1995.

Independent Research.

1. Perform a self-assessment and write a 5-7 page synthesis paper that addresses what you discover about yourself.

2. Interview six young people, six parents and a significant leader in your ministry setting (Head Pastor, Principal, etc), submit a 5-7 page analysis/reflection paper regarding the information you gained from those interviews.

3. Research an area of communication concern that these interviews uncover.

4. From your research, prepare and present a 15-20 minute informative speech on the topic.

5. Gather two pages of quotes from each of your readings and briefly interact with each quotes' significance for your ministry.

6. Final Exam covering all five texts.

None.

Elective.

Yes.