DESCRIPTION:

The purpose of this course is to teach students the roles and responsibility of Christian leadership in any context, but especially youth ministry. Issues discussed are: the meaning of being a Christian leader; how to develop a volunteer leadership program, how to recruit, initiate, train, nurture and care for volunteer leadership, the necessity for encouraging people in their giftedness, even if that may mean helping them to move on from youth ministry, and how to lead, equip and best utilize interns and paid staff.

The New Testament makes clear that leadership is the recognition that God works through every individual as their gifts are encouraged and exercised. Leading a ministry team, however, is not for many a natural talent, and even the most experienced of leaders have a hard time allowing for the free expression of the giftedness of others. The student will learn how to care for people in a way that allows the Spirit to move in and through a community of Christian men and women.

COURSE FORMAT:

Lectures, class discussion, and presentations by various guest experts will make up the weekly class time. Each student will complete a detailed final project. The class will meet twice weekly for ninety-minute sessions.

Christie, L. How to Recruit and Train Volunteers. Zondervan, 1992.

Elliott, D. and G. Olson, eds. Breaking the Gender Barrier in Youth Ministry. Victor, 1995.

Nouwen, H. J. M. In the Name of Jesus. Crossroads, 1990.

Smith, T. 8 Habits of an Effective Youth Worker. Victor, 1995.

Borthwick, P. Organizing Your Youth Ministry. Zondervan, 1988.

Johnston, R. Developing Student Leaders. Zondervan, 1992.

Larson, C. E. and F. LaFasto. Teamwork: What must go right, what can go wrong. Sage, 1989.

1. Write a personal philosophy of Christian leadership paper which incorporates Henri Nouwen's philosophy of Christian leadership.

2. Create a one-page case study dealing with volunteers and bring six copies to class on the day assigned.

3. Design a volunteer leadership program, including but not limited to, recruitment, initiation, training, fellowship and nurture opportunities, regular training times, camp counselor training, and evaluation.

4. Complete two quizzes on the lectures and readings.

5. Complete a midterm exam.

None.

Required course for M.Div./M.A. Youth Ministries concentration.

None.