Western Seminary

Portland, Oregon

“Developing a Theological Model for 21st Century Youth Ministry”

YMS 502  Fall Semester, 2003

2 Credit Hours

Ron Marrs, Professor

 

Program Purpose

The purpose of the Youth Ministry Program is to equip men and women for effective ministry to youth both in the United States and around the world.  The program is designed to produce youth workers who are biblically and theologically sound, experts in youth culture and development, skilled in communicating to youth, loyal team players, and people of integrity who are committed to Christ-like transformation in themselves and in others.

 

Course description

In this course a variety of models of youth ministry will be presented that are being used in the 21st century in the United States.  The characteristics of a teenager who is in a healthy spiritual transformation process will be discussed along with the characteristics of the adult agents of transformation in the teenager’s life.  Various models of youth ministry will be examined:  urban/rural, church/parachurch, small/medium/large groups, cross-cultural, and youth-at-risk.

 

Course Objectives

By the end of the course you:

 

1.  Will have a basic understanding of evangelical youth ministry history.

 

2.  Will be aware of a range of youth ministry models operating today.

 

3.  Will know the essential skills required to exegete youth culture and do practical theology in youth ministry

 

4.  Will know the foundational components of a youth ministry model.

 

5.  Will develop a personal model of youth ministry based on sound historical, biblical, theological and philosophical foundations.

 

6.  Will demonstrate creativity by developing a presentation that summarizes your model of youth ministry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

p. 2

 

           

Textbooks

            Dean, Kendra Creasy, Chap Clark, and Dave Rahn. Starting Right. Grand Rapids:

                        Zondervan, 2001.

 

            Borgman, Dean. When Kumbaya is Not Enough.  Peabody: Hendrickson, 1997.

 

            Senter, Mark.  Four Views of Youth Ministry and the Church.  Grand Rapids: 

                        Zondervan, 2001.


Recommended Books (not required for purchase,  will be on reserve)

            Boshers, Bo. Student Ministry for the 21st Century. Grand Rapids: Zondervan,

                        1997.

 

            Dunn, Richard and Mark Senter. Reaching a Generation for Christ. Chicago: 

                        Moody, 1997.

 

            Fields, Doug. Purpose Driven Youth Ministry. Grand Rapids:  Zondervan, 1998.

 

            Jones, Tony. Postmodern Youth Ministry.  Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001.

 

Reading Assignments                            Due by class indicated  Points possible: 270

 

There will be assigned reading in the textbooks and the Bible for nearly every class period.  You will be asked at the beginning of class to write down what percent of the reading you did for that day.  A total of 30 points will be possible each day and the percentage of reading will determine how many points are received.  Reading 100% leads to 30 points, 90 % to 27 points and so on.  After the day of class, 24 points can be received upon completion of the reading but the student is responsible to communicate this to the professor.

 

Scriptures will be assigned the class period before they are due. 

           

In ministry you will be asked to read before many meetings and you will ask others to read.  It is important to develop some system of accountability for such meetings in order to maximize time in those meetings.  The accountability in this class will be a personal report of the percentage of the material read.  Certainly it is an “honor system.”

 

Length of time to read the material was approximated using the Western Seminary workload standards that suggests 30 pages per hour be read for mastery.  Mastery in this course means that you are able to come to the class and interact about the material.  You will not have a written quiz but you will be asked to react to what you have read.  You must consider whether you agree or disagree with the material.  You must be able to explain what the author said.

p. 3

Assignments

1.  List of organizations             Due Sept. 12                            Points possible:  30

 

            Make a list of 10 Christian youth organizations.  Preferably these are organizations that you have knowledge of or relationship with that you would commend to others.  The list can include organizations that you would like to learn more about.  Write a 1-2 sentence description of the organization and list their web page address or other contact information if they don’t have a web-site.

 

2.  Student interview                             Due: Sept. 26                           Points possible: 200

 

            2.1  Choose a student in the area of ministry you are choosing to focus your model on.  (See Assignment #3)

            2.2  Ask the student to pick a favorite thirty minute sit-com or animated TV show for analysis.

            2.3  Watch the show and videotape it.

            2.4  Critique both the show and the commercials.

 

                        Questions to ask about the show

                        1.  Was the show funny to you?  Why or why not?

                        2.  Do you think other students your age would like this show? 

                                    Why or why not?

                        3.  What did you think about how the people treated each other?

                                   

                        Questions to ask about the commercials

                        1. What was the product?

                        2.  What was the appeal?   In other words, what reason did they give why

                                    you should buy the product?

                        3. Did the commercial make you want to buy the product?

 

            2.5  Have the student watch the show and write down responses to the questions

                        above.

 

            2.6  Ask the student to tell you their responses.  Just listen.  Ask them to explain

                        something if you don’t understand but don’t dialogue. 

                        Don’t tell the student your observations unless they ask you.  If they ask

                        you then you can feel free to engage in a dialogue.  If not, don’t start a

                        dialogue.  When they are done responding thank them for their time. 

                        The purpose of  this interview is to learn how the student responded to the

                        show.  The purpose is not for you to teach them about life using the show

                        as a springboard.

 

            2.7  You are invited to engage the students in a dialogue on a day following the

                        interview if they don’t ask your opinion on the day of the interview.

 

p. 4

 

3.  Create a personal model for youth ministry   Points Possible:  1,000 

 

            Description of Assignment

            You are producing a scholarly model of youth ministry.  This model needs to reflect a knowledge of the history of youth ministry and an awareness of contemporary models of youth ministry.  The model needs to be based on a solid biblical, theological and philosophical foundation.  For this reason you will need to use footnotes and have a bibliography.  The hope of the professor is that this will be capable of editing for use with an audience of students, parents, and church/organizational leadership.

 

            Due Dates

            Sept. 19           Submit a paragraph describing who the target group is for your

                                    model and why you choose that group.

 

            November 14   Draft #1 due.  Make four copies.  Submit three copies.  One is for                                            the professor and two are for students who will be reading your

                                    paper.  Give one copy  to the youth ministry person with whom

                                    you had an interview.

 

            November 21   Draft #1 returned to student with remarks by professor, two

                                    students and the person interviewed.

 

            December 5     Final draft due.  Student should have processed input from others

                                    reading the paper before completing.

 

            December 12   Ten-minute presentation in class based on your models paper.

 

            Components of Model

 

            1.  Description of target group

 

                        1.1  Choose a target group (age level, sub-culture, context, . . . )

 

                        1.2  Describe the target group

 

                        Age

                        Values  (what is important to them)

                        Activities (how do they spend their time)

                        Needs

                        Range of spiritual commitments

 

                        (Detailed adolescent development issues will be handled in YMS 501,                           “Understanding Adolescent Development”)

 

            p. 5

            2.  Vision

                        Develop a vision statement of 10 words or less.

           

            3.  Mission

                        Develop a mission statement of 50 words or less.

 

            4.  Values

                        List up to ten values you hold for youth ministry.

 

            5.  Components of youth ministry

 

                        5.1  Detail a strategy for each of the following components of youth

                                    ministry:

 

                                    Evangelism (pre-evangelism, incarnational ministry)

                                    Follow-up/discipleship/teaching

                                    Shepherding

                                    Service

                                    Leadership

                                    Worship/music

                                    Fellowship/community

                                    Retreats/trips/events

                                    Short term missions

                                    Prayer

 

                        5.2  For each of the components articulate:

 

                                    5.2.1    The biblical purposes (why)

                                    5.2.2    The specific activities(what)

                                    5.2.3    The role and qualifications of adults in this area (paid and

                                                            volunteer) (who)

                                    5.2.4    The role of students in this area (who)

                                    5.2.5    The role of parents in this area (who)

                                    5.2.6    The role of local church/organizational leadership (who)

                                    5.2.7    The use of time, space, facilities (where, how)

                                    5.2.8    The financial demands for this area (how)

                                    5.2.9    A rationale for why you chose this particular strategy

                                                            over other strategies (why)

 

            6. Writing Standards and Recommendations

 

                        Use the standards described in the “Western Seminary Writing Guide” and the MLA standards summarized in the professor’s handout.  A bibliography is required.  Footnote, endnote or in text citations are acceptable.

 

p. 6

 

            Research Methodology

            1.  Students need to use information gathered in the classroom and assigned

                        reading.

            2.  Students need to interview one person in ministry in the area of youth ministry

                        selected.

            3.  Students need to read other sources that specifically address the area of

                        ministry chosen.

 

            Criteria for grading the model project

            1.  The student should produce a biblically-based model

            2.  The student should reflect a good knowledge of the target group.

            3.  The student should reveal knowledge of the existing models from which

                        he/she has chosen.

            4.  The student should reveal knowledge of issues covered in assigned reading

                        and classroom sessions.

 

4.  Class presentation of personal model of youth ministry                                  Points: 500

 

            Prepare a 10 minute presentation of your model of youth ministry that could be presented to a group of students/parents/church or organizational leadership.  The idea is that they would get an overview of your model in 10 minutes.   This is not a verbal report alone.  It should include media like Power Point, video, pictures, etc.  Grading will include creativity in presentation.  Your goal is to capture the attention of the audience while communicating your philosophy of youth ministry.

 

Grading

 

Grades will be based on the total points accumulated.

 

The total points possible is 2,000.

 

Reading assignments                             270      (13.5 % of grade)

Assignment #1                            30      (1.5 % of grade)

Assignment #2                          200      (10 % of grade)

Assignment #3                       1,000      (50% of grade)

Assignment #4                          400      (20 % of grade)

Attendance and participation                 100      (5 % of grade)

 

                        Total point                2,000

 

 

 

 

 

p. 7

            Grading Scale:

                        A+       1980-2000      

                        A         1900-1979

                        A-        1880-1899

                        B+       1820-1879

                        B          1760-1819

                        B-        1720-1759

                        C+       1680-1719

                        C         1620-1679

                        C-        1580-1619

                        D+       1540-1579

                        D         1480-1539

                        D-        1400-1479

 

Incompletes  

According to Western Seminary policy, in cases of serious illness or family emergency an instructor may grant an incomplete providing a maximum extension of six weeks to finish the semester's work. Incompletes are not granted for reasons of a student’s inability to manage their time.  The granting of an incomplete does not remove the penalties for late work.

 

Attendance and participation

It is expected that the students will be in attendance for all class sessions to benefit from the lecture, discussion, and visual presentations.  It is expected that students will participate in the sessions.  While sickness or family emergency may keep a student from an occasional class, anyone regularly tardy or absent can expect this to be reflected in his/her semester grade.  Attendance and participation will count for 5% of your grade.

 

Late work

Assignments are to be handed to the professor at the beginning of the class period on the date they are due.   A late penalty will be assessed for work that is late. The late penalty is 10% of the possible points for each day it is late.  Communication in ministry is of utmost importance so be sure to be in communication with the professor as soon as you know an assignment is going to be late.

 

Contact information

Office phone: 503-517-1887                            Home phone: 503-287-8101

Wk e-mail: rmarrs@westernseminary.edu

Hm e-mail: ronbeckymarrs@comcast.net

 

Office Hours

I will generally be on campus Monday through Friday, 8:30  am – 5 pm.  I would prefer that you make an appointment directly with me if you want a long conversation.  However, you can come to my office at any time to communicate.  You are my priority.  If I am busy, I will make arrangements to have you come back at another time.

 

p. 8

Schedule

 

Date                        Session Topic                                       Assignment Due                  Time Expected to                                                                                                                                                                  complete assignment

 

Sept. 5                    Intro to course

                                Why youth ministry?

 

Sept. 12                  History of youth ministry                   Assignment #1                     1 hour

                                Overview of models                             Reading: 

                                                                                                1.  Dean, thru Ch. 1              1 hour

                                                                                                2.  Dean, Ch. 4                       .5 hour

                                                                                                3.  Senter articles                  1.5 hours

 

Sept. 19                  Practical Theology                               Submit a paragraph describing

                                                                                                who the target group is for your

                                                                                                model and why you chose

                                                                                                that group.                                           

                                Exegeting youth culture                      Reading:

                                                                                                1.  Dean, Chs. 2, 3 1.5 hours

                                                                                                2.  Borgman, thru p. 61        2 hours

 

Sept. 26                  Reports from student interview         Assignment #2                     3 hours

                                Exegeting youth culture                      Reading:

                                                                                                Borgman, Ch. 7                     1 hour

 

Oct. 3                      Evangelism (pre-evangelism,             Reading:

                                 incarnational ministry)                       1.  Dean, Chs.  6, 7                1.5 hours               

                                Followup/discipleship/teaching        2.  Dean, Ch. 23                     1 hours

                                                                                                3.  Scripture assigned          1 hour

 

Oct. 10                    Shepherding                                         Reading:               

                                Service                                                   1.  Dean, Ch. 10                     .5 hour

                                Leadership                                            2.  Scripture assigned          1 hour

                               

Oct. 17                    Worship/music                                     Reading:

                                Fellowship/community                        1.  Scripture assigned          1 hour

                                                                                                2.  Dean, Ch. 12                     .5 hour

 

Oct. 24                    Retreats, trips, events                         Reading:

                                Short term missions                             1.  Dean, Ch. 25                     1 hour

                                Prayer                                                     2.  Scripture assigned          1 hour

 

Oct. 31                    Guest speaker:                                      No assignments due

                                Rusty Van Deusen,

                                Subjects: Rural youth ministry,

                                Cross cultural youth ministry

 

 

Nov. 7                    Panel to discuss book                         Reading:                               

                                Class interaction with panel               Four Views of Youth           4-5 hours

                                                                                                                Ministry

 

p. 9

 

Date                        Session Topic                                       Assignment Due                  Time Expected to                                                                                                                                                                  complete assignment

 

Nov. 14                  Church/parachurch                              Draft #1 of model due         

                                Volunteer led youth ministry             Reading:

                                Paid staff youth ministry                    Scripture assigned               1 hour

 

Nov. 21                  Resources                                             Readers return                      2 hours

                                Money/fund-raising                            draft #1 with comments

                                Family-based youth ministry

 

Dec. 5                     Practical theology conclusion           no assignment due

 

Dec. 12                   Presentations                                        1.  Model paper due             20 hours total

                                                                                                2.  Student presentations    8 hours total