DESCRIPTION: This course gives an overview of contemporary culture, especially as it affects youth ministry, and provides foundational and historical youth ministry concepts, models, and philosophies. In addition, a broad spectrum of ministry programs and issues will be addressed, such as "the changing family," recruitment and care of volunteers, organizing a ministry program, missions and service, outreach to adolescents, camping, etc.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) understand cultural trends that influence and affect adolescents and their families; (2) develop a comprehensive theology and philosophy of youth ministry and know how to obtain and use tools to implement these; (3) understand the different ministry needs of early, middle, and late adolescents, especially in relation to families; (4) create multi-generational relational programs and curriculum that enable discipleship and Christian nurture within a theologically driven framework of congregational ownership and assimilation.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: From a human perspective, the future of the church rests in the hands of the next generation. How those in power pass on the Christian faith to children and adolescents will determine the shape of the church for years to come. Understanding the nature of human and spiritual development, how to read a culture, how to solicit support and adult ownership and how to develop programs and models that reach an adolescent subculture will honor God by preparing them for service in the kingdom.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet weekly for three-hour sessions of lectures, class discussion, and presentations by guest experts. Each student will complete a detailed final project.

REQUIRED READING:

Clark, Chap. Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers. Baker Academic, 2004.

Clark, Chap, Kendra Dean & Dave Rahn. Starting Right: A Practical Theology of Youth Ministry. Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2001.

Fields, Doug. Purpose Driven Youth Ministry. Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 1998 (390 pages).

Yaconelli, Mark. Growing Souls: Experiments in Contemplative Youth Ministry. Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2007 (288 pages).

250 pages of recommended reading (or other reading approved by the professor).

Lambert, Dan. Teaching That Makes a Difference: How to Teach for Holistic Impact. Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2004.

Mueller, Walter. Understanding Today's Youth Culture. Rev. ed. Tyndale, 1998 (260 pages).

Nichols, Sharon L. & Thomas L. Good. America's Teenagers--Myths and Realities: Media Images, Schooling, and the Social Costs of Careless Indifferences. Lawrence Erlbaum, 2004.

Olson, G., D. Elliot & M. Work. Youth Ministry Management Tools. Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2000.

Rice, W. Junior High Ministry. Rev. ed. Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 1998.

Robbins, Duffy. This Way to Youth Ministry: An Introduction to the Adventure. Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2004.

Stevenson, D. & Barbara L. Schneider. The Ambitious Generation: America's Teenagers, Motivated but Directionless. Yale University Press, 1999.