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 on the Internet 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. Baker Academic, 2004.

Kallenberg, Brad J. Live to Tell: Evangelism for a Postmodern Age. Brazos Press, 2002.

Peace, Richard. Conversion in the New Testament. Eerdmans, 1999 (pp. 1-125, 285-346).

Van Gelder, Craig, ed. Confident Witness--Changing World: Rediscovering the Gospel in North America. Eerdmans, 1999.

Read an additional 500 pages from the recommended reading list.

Arias, M., and Johnson, A. The Great Commission: Models for Evangelism. Nashville: Abingdon, 1992.

Brueggemann, Walter. Biblical Perspectives on Evangelism: Living in a Three-Storied Universe. Nashville: Abingdon, 1993.

Chafer, L. S. True Evangelism: Winning Souls by Prayer. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975.

Dockery, David S., ed. The Challenge of Postmodernism: An Evangelical Engagement. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1997.

Guder, Darrell. The Missional Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.

Hauerwas, Stanley. With the Grain of the Universe: The Church's Witness and Natural Theology. The Gifford Lectures delivered at the University of St. Andrews in 2001. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2001.

Klaiber, Walter. Call and Response: Biblical Foundations of a Theology of Evangelism. Nashville: Abingdon, 1997.

Kreider, Alan. The Change of Conversion and the Origin of Christendom. Chicago: Trinity Press, 1999.

McLaren, Brian. A Generous Orthodoxy. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.

Okholm, Dennis, ed. The Gospel in Black and White: Theological Resources for Racial Reconciliation. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1997.

Packer, J. I. Evangelism and Sovereignty. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1961.

Pipher, M. Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls. New York: Ballantine, 1994.

Posterski, Donald. Reinventing Evangelism. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1989.

Richardson, Rick. Evangelism Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People Experience the Good News. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Rudnick, Milton. Speaking the Gospel Through the Ages: A History of Evangelism. Concordia Press: 1984.

Salter, Darius. American Evangelism: Its Theology and Practice. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1984.

Schultze, Q., et al. Dancing in the Dark. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991.

Stott, John. Christian Mission in the Modern World. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1978.

Strommen, M. Five Cries of Youth. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1974.

Wuthnow, Robert. After Heaven: Spirituality in America Since the 1950s. University of California Press, 1998.

The final grade for the course will be assessed from the following assignments:

1. Weekly threaded discussions (20%)

2. Four 2-page response papers, accompanied by quote sheets (20%)

3. Final project (includes project proposal, reflection paper, and final paper) (40%)

4. Final exam (20%)