Winter 2020/Fuller Online

YF519

Powell

YF519: ADOLESCENT FAITH LONGEVITY (4 Units: 160 Hours). Kara Powell.

DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to help students understand the dynamics of long-term faith development among adolescents. This course will weave together theological reflection and social science research in a Practical Theology approach that will primarily focus on 3 contexts: the adolescent’s family, the youth ministry, and the overall congregation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated (1) an understanding of the cultural and developmental factors that often thwart adolescent faith longevity; (2) the ability to develop a youth ministry plan undergirded by a practical theology corrective response to those obstacles; and (3) the framework required to center youth ministry philosophy and praxis in a long-term vision for teenagers’ faith trajectories.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: Electives fulfill MAT PLO4 "Students will have demonstrated academic capacities appropriate to an area of focus in a theological discipline or to interdisciplinary theological study." and MAICS PLO4 "Students will have demonstrated capacities to pursue vocations that engage the mission of God globally."

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: 1,400 total pages required

Allen, Holly Catterton, and Ross, Christine Lawton. Intergenerational Christian Formation. IVP Academic, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830839810, Pub Price $28.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [330 pages assigned].

Clydesdale, Tim. The First Year Out: Understanding American Teens After High School. University of Chicago Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0226110660, Pub. Price $28.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [239 pages assigned].

Dean, Kenda. Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church. Oxford University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0195314847, Pub. Price $26.95. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [264 pages assigned].

Joiner, Reggie. Think Orange: Imagine the Impact When Church and Family Collide. David C Cook, 2009. ISBN: 978-1434764836, Pub. Price $21.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [272 pages assigned].

Wimberly, Anne E. Streaty, and Farmer, Sarah Frances. Raising Hope: 4 Paths to Courageous Living for Black Youth. United Methodist General Board of Higher Education, 2017. ISBN: 978-0938162346, Pub. Price $24.99 [270 pages assigned].

Both of the following resources, available from the Fuller Youth Institutehere:

Fuller Youth Institute. Understanding and Relating to Latina/o Youth: A Toolkit for Bilingual and Intergenerational Conversations. Fuller Youth Institute, 2017. Pub. Price $9.00 [21 pages in English, 21 pages in Spanish].

Fuller Youth Institute. Understanding and Relating to Asian-American Youth: A Toolkit for Intergenerational Conversations. Fuller Youth Institute, 2018. Pub. Price $9.00 [21 pages in English] (will be available December 2018).

RECOMMENDED READING:

Baxter, Jeff. Together: Adults and Teenagers Transforming the Church. Zondervan Publishing, 2011. ISBN: 978-0310578741. [192 pages].

Cervantes, Carmen. Hispanic Young People and the Church's Pastoral Response (Prophets of Hope, Vol 1). Saint Mary’s Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0884893257. [291 pages].

Chuang, DJ. Asian American Youth Ministry. L2 Foundation, 2009. ISBN: 978-1411693401. [158 pages].

Clark, Chap. Hurt 2.0: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers. Baker Academic, 2011. ISBN: 978-0801039416. [288 pages].

Garland, Diana R. Family Ministry: A Comprehensive Guide. IVP Academic, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830839711. [656 pages].

Johnson-Mondragon, Ken. Pathways of Hope and Faith Among Hispanic Teens: Pastoral Reflections and Strategies Inspired by the National Study of Youth and Religion. Saint Mary’s Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0980029307. [408 pages].

Keay, Fraser. Youth Ministry Across the Continents: Eleven Youth Pastors from Ten Countries on the Key Building Blocks for Effective Youth Work Leadership in the Local Church. First Half Leadership, 2016. ISBN: 978-0995472907. [212 pages].

Powell, Kara E, Griffin, Brad M., and Crawford, Cheryl A. Sticky Faith, Youth Worker Edition: Practical Ideas to Nurture Long-Term Faith in Teenagers. Zondervan Publishing, 2011. ISBN: 978-0310889243. [224 pages].

Powell, Kara, Mulder, Jake, and Griffin, Brad. Growing Young: Six Essential Strategies to Help Young People Discover and Love Your Church. Baker Books, 2016. ISBN: 978-0801019258. [336 pages].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 1,400 pages of required reading [75 hours].
  2. DLAs: 10 hours of interviews with adolescents, their parents and/or youth leaders (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [10 hours].
  3. Participation in online course content including weekly video lectures, slide presentations, and other media. [20 hours].
  4. 200-250 word weekly forum posts (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, and 3] [10 hours].
  5. 100-200 word weekly forum responses (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, and 3] [10 hours].
  6. Completion of two 3-page reflection papers based on assigned readings (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 and #3]. [9 hours].
  7. A final 12-15 page project describing a youth ministry geared toward adolescent faith longevity that encompasses theological, ecclesial, relational, and missional components (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [26 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.

FINAL EXAMINATION: No.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.