Youth Ministry

YMIN 612 — Foundations of Youth Ministry. 3 hours.

The student will be exposed to the broad issues facing youth ministry today. This will be accomplished by using a two-fold approach: 1) seeking to understand the landscape of youth ministry by looking at adolescent development and secular culture; and 2) navigating this terrain by developing a blueprint for local church ministry. This blueprint will include the beginning of the development of a master plan for youth ministry, which focuses on the study of adolescent spirituality and discipleship, a team-based approach to ministry, and the development of a Biblical theology as the compass for youth ministry.

YMIN 614 — Postmodernity, Youth Ministry and the Emerging Church. 3 hours.

Explores the cultural implications of postmodernism on the church, with a look at its effects on youth ministry in particular. How the emerging church movement is affecting the church, with particular attention to how it is shaping youth ministry, is discussed.

YMIN 620 — Youth Ministry and the Wilderness as Renewal. 3 hours.

Explores the value and rationale for youth ministry in the context of wilderness camping. Special emphasis will be placed on the logistics of group camping in the wilderness setting, and how to plan and execute such a trip with the emphasis on the experience itself. Course participants will learn ways of using the wilderness experience for group building, leadership development and personal spiritual growth while on the trip. The course will involve a one-week wilderness experience occurring in May and October. Limit: 10 students per trip. Additional fees apply.

YMIN 630 — Developmental Theories and Adolescents. 3 hours.

The works of traditional learning theorists Piaget, Kohlberg, Erickson, and Fowler are explored, with particular attention to the topic of adolescent development, and the effects of these theories on the approach to ministry regarding the emotional, mental, and spiritual development of students.

YMIN 645 — Family Systems and Implications for Local Church Ministry. 3 hours.

An in-depth look at the familial systems in place in society, and how the church can prepare to respond to the changing face of the family. Questions to address include: how have the changing constructions of family, marriage, and relationships affected systems inside and outside the church? How can the church continue to minister within the systems in place? What does a ministry to families look like in the church? How can the church partner with the family to minister to its students?

YMIN 650 — Spiritual Development of Students. 3 hours.

Learners will develop a holistic approach to the spiritual formation of their students. They will seek to answer the following questions: What are the formative components to the spiritual development of students? What do students understand about God, sin, humanity, salvation, and the church? How do we help to shape the spiritual lives of students? How do teaching practices fit into the scope of youth ministry? How is youth ministry preparing them for life as a member of the kingdom of God and the Church?

YMIN 670A — Mentored Ministry I. 3 hours.

Scheduled during the second year of the two-year course cycle, the student is placed in a mentoring relationship with a seasoned youth minister for each of the two semesters while completing the course work on a modular format. It is intended to help with the transitional issues related to the first year in ministry, develop a life-long appreciation for the mentoring relationship, and to help in the development, research, and presentation of the Master's Project.

YMIN 670B — Mentored Ministry II. 3 hours.

A continuation of YMIN 670A, Mentored Ministry I.

YMIN 691 — Integrated Seminar/Project Presentation. 3 hours.

The concluding course for the Master of Arts in Youth Ministry. The student will present a project that integrates theory and application to the local ministry setting. The seminar will also include reading, discussion and reflection on the projects presented by other students and their application to our ministry setting.