Organizing Youth Ministries – YOUT 520

Course Description

This course is a careful analysis of methods, curriculum, staffing, promotion and facilities of the total youth program.

Prerequisite

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

The purpose of this course is to equip the student with a theological and administrative understanding of youth ministry. Knowledge and skills gained from this course can effect successful ministry to teenagers, families, and the church.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

The student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be 400 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 200 words. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E)

Pastoral Executive Summary Paper Assignments (2)

The student will write two 6 – 8-page Pastoral Executive Summaries. Each paper will include a summary, critique, and application based on a book that could be given to a senior pastor or immediate supervisor. This is a way to pass on the knowledge learned from the text to a pastor or immediate supervisor. (CLOs: A, C)

This 4 - 6 page paper will help you explore your view of spiritual formation in teenagers and the role parents play in spiritual formation, helping you answer these questions (minimum of 5 sources required):

• Do you have a clear picture of what a ‘growing teenage disciple’ looks like?
• Do you know what you are aiming to reproduce in your ministry?
• Do you have a plan on how to encourage parents in their role of spiritual discipleship in the home?
• Do you have a plan on how to include parents in your ministry?

(CLOs: B, E)

This 4 - 6 page paper will help you explore your thoughts on teaching teenagers the Word of God, your strategy for teaching to different spiritual levels and knowing what a ‘win’ looks like in teaching teenagers. (minimum of 5 sources required)

The paper will include these sections:

1. Introduction
2. Discuss your philosophy of teaching teenagers (pedagogy or andragogy). How and why does it apply.
3. Discuss role of Scripture, teacher, creativity, excellence in teaching teenagers
4. Discuss how the setting, one-on-one, small groups, and large group guides your teaching and we need to change our style to fit the setting.
5. Include insights from Stanley’s textbook about knowing the “win” and other insights
6. Conclusion

(CLOs: A, B, C)

This 5 - 10 page paper is designed to help you explore your philosophy of programming and a year’s calendar of curriculum topics (plan out your whole year, week by week, of teaching topics for each level you are in charge of – ex. Middle school and High school) and budget. (minimum 3 sources required) (CLOs: A, B, D)