Diploma in Youth Ministry

MM670: Mission Within Youth Culture

Aim

To appreciate the cultural uniqueness of youth culture and to identify strategies for appropriate and effective mission to young people.

Content Outline

a. Youth Culture: Explore cultural characteristics and trends affecting young people with particular reference to worldview, beliefs, values and behaviour. Use these insights to develop strategies to disciple young people.

Assessments

Assessment 1: Research Assignment (2,000 words): Conduct research into the culture of one particular group of young people whom you are involved in ministry to. Present a description of this culture including specific reference to personal interactions in ministry with this group. Present a ministry strategy for guiding this group to faith in Jesus Christ by outlining specific strategies that have been used in the past; assessing the effectiveness of these strategies and suggesting alternative or additional strategies based on your research.

Assessment 2: Written Assignment(1,000 words): Present a critique of the content of a form of Christian communication prepared by someone other than the student. It may be a sermon, a training session, or a small group Bible study. The critique must: present a brief summary of the content used, including aims, and must analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the content with particular reference to relevant “laws” of communication outlined in the workbook. Explain how you would adapt the content to achieve the same aims but to be made more suitable to young people in a particular context of the student’s choosing (i.e. preaching, Bible study, training event).

Assessment 3: Practical Project(1,000 words): Take a piece of interactive Christian communication you have presented to a selected age group within a particular context. It may be a sermon/message, a teaching/training session, or a small group Bible study/discussion. Write an self assessment which must demonstrate the student’s ability to prepare and present information with reference to the relevant “laws” of communication. Identify areas for improvement in both preparation and presentation.

Mode of Delivery

Distance study. On site option available in Auckland and Christchurch semester 2, 2009. Click here for details.