Youth/Collegiate Christian Education: 12 Essentials for Effective Church Ministry to Students and Their Families

This book is composed of 12 Essentials for doing quality Christian education for the youth through collegiate student age groups. It begins with a biblical and theological foundation, gives information about the context for ministry to students and their families, and helps persons understand what these age group are like and how spiritual formation takes place. Guidelines are also given for helping vocational age group minister and volunteer leaders in gaining support from the pastor, other staff, and the congregation. A key chapter relates to quality teaching -- the often overlooked aspect of ministry in emerging churches today - much more that fellowship and "just hanging out." Ideas are also given for creatively conducting activities to attract students and their families. Guidelines are also given for providing state of the art facilities and equipment needed for a good learning environment. Also addressed are the all-important skills for securing, developing, motivating, and ministering to a core group of caring leaders and teachers. To round out the skills needed for effective student ministry, is that of developing a viable system for communicating to students and their parents, volunteer workers, and the congregation. Finally, a chapter is provided on using wholesome motivation and servant leadership as a means of guiding and inspiring teachers and leaders and parents. A mood of excitement for working for students with a strong commitment to quality work is an underlying goal. Writers are encouraged to be practical and to give illustrations to communicate the principles and values involved in teaching and ministry. The target audiences will be ministry students in universities and seminaries, pastors and staff leaders in local congregations, and persons who lead small groups in Sunday School Bible teaching will be in the focus of writers. The idea of "12 Essentials for Effective Church Ministry to Students, Their Families" is newsworthy and somewhat unique.This book will be used for training ministry students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It will be a resource for students anticipate serving on the paid vocational church staff. In addition, it is designed to be used by church leaders to train volunteer teachers and workers to conduct Bible teaching and learning for this age group. Also, it provides guidelines for reaching and ministering to youth and collegiate students and their families. While it is written from the perspective of persons of the Baptist faith tradition, it will be useful for training ministers and lay volunteers teachers in other Evangelical traditions.