Fuller Online
YF503: Winter 2013
Draffin Anagnostis
YF503: YOUTH OUTREACH AND EVANGELISM. (4 units). Sophie Draffin Anagnostis.
DESCRIPTION: This course explores the biblical mandate to “go and make disciples” as it relates to the adolescent subculture. Students will learn how to articulate and pass on to others a biblical, theological and practical understanding of evangelism and outreach. Through readings, lecture, projects, and discussion, students will learn how to design an incarnational ministry program, as well as relational ministry program, that take seriously Christian care and evangelism with unbelieving young people. Issues covered include the content and message of the Gospel as it relates to an age-specific population, contemporary models of youth evangelism, and the partnership and networking of local parishes and the parachurch.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: As a result of this course the student will be able to articulate and pass on the biblical principles that influence outreach and evangelism as well as a biblical and theological view of evangelism and outreach. The student will be given the tools to assess and critique contemporary youth ministry models and develop a biblically sound, culturally relevant, and practically feasible theology of youth outreach and evangelism. Upon this theological base the student will design an incarnational as well as relational ministry program that takes seriously Christian care and evangelism in contemporary adolescent culture. The student will develop an appreciation for the thoughts and motivation of the secular person, and an understanding of how the Spirit works in the lives of those we are trying to reach.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) understand how people respond to persuasion; (2) develop a theology of evangelism, specifically targeted at adolescents; (3) understand how to design and implement relational strategies and programs that enable contextually applied participation in God’s kingdom purposes; and (4) train others in a practical theology of evangelism.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will be conducted online using a 10-week lesson program aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar. Each week students and the instructor will interact with the material examining key themes associated with evangelizing the youth culture through journaling, threaded discussions, and web-based research.
REQUIRED READING:
Clark, Chap. Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers 2.0. Baker Academic, 2004. (288 pages). ISBN: 978-0-8010-2732-1, $ 16.99.
Kallenberg, Brad J. Live to Tell: Evangelism for a Postmodern Age. Brazos Press, 2002. (144 pages). ISBN: 978-1-58743-050-3, $ 16.00.
Peace, Richard. Conversion in the New Testament. Eerdmans, 1999 (pp. 1–125, 285–346). ISBN: 978-0-8028-4235-0, $ 36.00.
Dean, Kenda Creast. Almost Christian: What the Faith of our Teenagers is Telling the American Church. Oxford University Press, 2010. (264 pages). ISBN # 978-0195314847, $13.96.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
The final grade for the course will be assessed from the following assignments:
Weekly threaded discussions (20%)
Four 2-page response papers, accompanied by quote sheets (20%)
Final project (includes project proposal, reflection paper, and final paper) (40%)
Final exam (20%)
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv Core requirement in Evangelism (MIN 3). Required course for Youth, Family and Culture concentration (prior to Winter 2010) in the MDiv and for the MA in Youth, Family and Culture.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Comprehensive Content Exam.