DESCRIPTION: This course seeks to understand the unique and critical issues
impacting the social, intellectual, and spiritual development of children and
teens growing up in under-resourced urban communities. It will also engage
students to construct a theology of youth development that views urban youth as
people who can become agents of transformation in their own communities and
true participants in a broader world community. Practical dimensions of the
class will include evaluating various urban youth ministries and designing
viable and effective ministry programs that can be integrated into
neighborhood-based churches or para-church ministries.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students participating in this course
will (1) develop a methodology for assessing and understanding the social,
economic, political, and cultural distinctiveness of a place of ministry; (2)
learn to assess the potential impact of poverty, sustained violence, nihilism,
and inferior educational opportunities on the development of urban children and
teens; (3) learn to critique existing models of urban ministry and understand
the theological underpinnings that guide and influence their ministry practice;
(4) design ministry models and programs that will enhance the social,
intellectual, and spiritual development of young people from under-resourced
communities--such as after-school programs, leadership development programs,
micro-enterprise businesses, alternative educational opportunities; (5)
research potential funding sources and develop viable funding proposals.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: There are numerous churches and ministry organizations
in under-resourced urban communities that have lost their ability to reach
neighborhood youth or lack the resources to create dynamic programs that
confront the most pressing social issues influencing the development of young
people in their community. The body of Christ forfeits the opportunity to
significantly equip and empower a generation of intelligent, passionate,
biblically-grounded young leaders when it fails to engage in the task of
thinking and envisioning creative ministries that capture the hearts and minds
of disenfranchised young people.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet daily for four-hour sessions. Lectures,
class discussion, evaluation of church and para-church urban ministry models,
and peer-led presentations.
REQUIRED READING: