Andrews

University
Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary




Philosophy of Youth and Young Adult Ministry




A Project
Presented in Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Course
DSRE564 Advanced Youth and Young Adult Ministry

By
Amberdawn Cheatham
4/23/14

To be an effective youth leader it is imperative that one has a personal

philosophy that dictates their actions in the ministry. My philosophy is based upon
a realization and acceptance of the history of my field of study and service,
identification and critical evaluation of my theological and leadership frameworks,
as well as a vision for future based on professional competencies, research, and
goals. In the following sections I will explain my personal philosophy and my role
within this important and crucial ministry.
History of Youth Ministry
Youth ministry formed as a response to the industrial revolution the mid-19th
Century. When the societal model moved from families working and living on a
farm to a model where young people left home to find work, youth were no longer
active in their close knit church communities. Church leaders found that young
people were going to work in the cities and during their time off, Sundays, spent
their time exploring the city. As time progressed and youth were no longer
responding to the adult model of ministry it became necessary for churches to
implement a model that taught youth how to read the bible and realize that they
were sinners and needed to be forgiven.
Eventually, Sunday Schools were opened up to teach unchurched youth
about the bible. Teachers soon after began to function independently and formed
interdenominational groups such as the YMCA and YWCA in the 1850s. In 1881
Francis Clark, a known pioneer of youth ministry, started the Christian Endeavor
Society with the mindset that the responsibility of youth ministry was to prepare

youth for a higher calling of service to society. Not just to fill them with theology.
By 1887 there was a combined number of 50,000 members in 700 societies across
33 states. In an effort to maintain the participation of youth in the church
community individual denominations began to form their own societies.
By the 1940s, young men were returning home from war with life
experiences and an increased understanding of theology. Youth committees were
formed and young people were moved into the leadership of the churches. Shortly
after Para-churches were formed and youth rallies and crusades began to sweep
USA. In the 1960s campus ministries were formed as a result of youth feeling like
their needs for theological understanding were not being met. The need for large
organizations began to diminish and youth moved to models such as Friday evening
fellowships. During the 1980s youth leaders embraced a fellowship group model
that focused on caring and meeting people (Wikepedia).
Specifically within the Adventist church there was a focus on building up
youth ministry as well. The Adventist church was no exception to the idea that
ministry should be focused on the Adult spiritual growth process. Similar to other
denominations the Seventh-day Adventist Church felt the need to respond to the
needs of youth post war youth and began forming their youth focused organizations.
According to the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Youth
Department, in response to the need, organizations such as Youth Department for
Missionary Volunteers and Pathfinders were formed as a way to assist youth in
learning the necessary knowledge and skills to become missionaries for Christ.

Youth Congresses were also held in various countries to spark the interest of youth
to be engaged in the World Church and proclaim the gospel to all lands(General
Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist Youth Department, 2005).
Current State of Youth Ministry
Currently, youth are not seeing the importance of transitioning into adult
church and as a result churches are now critically analyzing their models of ministry
to further involve young people. More youth pastors are seeing the importance of
making youth ministry a life long career.
Although ministry seems to have evolved to a more peer centered and
service center model, which is familiar to todays youth, I believe that many
churches still need to continue to critically evaluate their model of ministry to
understand the perspective of young people. Specifically within the Adventist
church I believe that there is still a thirst for understanding and experiencing God.
In a church that is heavily focused on doctrine I believe that it is easy for youth to
get lost in the shuffle. I believe that there is a need within the Seventh-day Adventist
church for youth leaders to make a authentic connection with youth that draws
them to understand God and His word as well as their calling for service of Him.

My Role in Youth Ministry

When I think about my role within youth ministry I believe that God has
called me to mentor youth in the areas of spiritual growth and leadership through
local church leadership, campus chaplaincy, and conference level leadership. I have
always enjoyed connecting with young people from the age of 12. In my past work
experience I have spent several years working with young people and helping them
find their niche as leaders and as a result I have witnessed the brokenness of their
lives resulting from a fractured or nonexistent relationship with God.
Throughout my time working with college aged youth, God has continued to
nurture my passion for helping youth notice God through my mentoring
relationships with them. It is my hope that as I move forward in ministry that I am
able to continue to mentor youth and help them develop lasting relationships with
God as they move forward to adulthood. I hope that as a result of my mentorship
that God will work through me to reach young people and call them to be disciples
for Him.
I also believe that God has called me to use my skills in leadership, leadership
development, and event coordination to implement programs and change at the
conference level of our denomination. I have experienced and know the value of
having shared life changing group experiences. I would like the opportunity to
coordinate conferences that help large groups of young people develop leadership
skills and stronger relationships with fellow believers, searching unbelievers, and
ultimately God. I would also like to facilitate workshops and trainings for youth
leaders that help them better serve the youth of their community inside and outside

of the church. Ellen White Says in Messages to Young People, With such an army of
workers, as our youth, properly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a
crucified, risen, and soon coming saviour might be carried to the whole world.
(White, 1930).
I believe that within our church there is a wealth of knowledge surrounding
youth ministry and church leadership, however there is a lack of sharing and
communication. I believe that God is developing me to be able to be used effectively
for His ministry and to share this knowledge He has given me for the growth of His
kingdom.
Theological Framework
My theological framework is a detailed outline on the theological building blocks of
my ministry. This framework will guide my practice in ministry and serve as
foundation for actualizing my goals. However, like any other element of my ministry
my framework will develop and expand as the Lord reveals more of his plan for me
over time. This framework in the context of youth ministry represents what I
believe about God, how I apply His word to my life and how in turn I transfer and
implement it in my ministry.
The theological framework below highlights 6 building blocks for youth
ministry, namely: God, Scripture, Sin, Humanity, and the Local Church. Within each
topic are my foundational beliefs, personal implications/life practices, implications
for my ministry and areas for further study.

Topic: God
Theological Foundations Belief
1. God is Love-1 John 4:8
2. God is I AM-Genesis 314
3. God is the Trinity- Genesis 1:26, Matt. 29:19

Personal Implications (Life Practices)

Because I believe God is Love, I should demonstrate love in my interactions

with others.

Because I believe God is I Am, I believe that He is ever present and shows
himself in many ways and I should always acknowledge Him and His
presence honoring him always and engaging in personal study and time with
Him.

Because I believe God is the trinity, I believe that God created relationships
and uses the relationship of the trinity to teach us about Him and the
relationships that we should have with others.

Ministry Applications (Ministry Practices)
Because I believe that God is love and that I should demonstrate love in all my
interactions with others, as a youth ministry leader I will be sure to use acts of

Kindness as a ministry in itself. Love will be the foundation of all of my actions as it

was in Gods motives for creating man and orchestrating the plan of salvation.

Because I believe God is I am, ever present, and shows Himself in many ways I
believe that I should always act and recognize that I am in his presence through
personal study and time with him. As a youth ministry leader I will spend time in
personal study and devotion to God to learn his plans for my life and ministry.

Because I believe God is the trinity and created relationships thus using them to
teach about Him and how we should build loving and dependent relationships with
others, as a youth ministry leader I will spend time helping others see Gods who
God is through the many relationships we have with others. I will make it a priority
to build loving and healthy relationships with those in my ministry.

Areas I would like to study further:

What process can I develop from scripture to help young people see God as a
father?

Topic: Scripture
Theological Foundations Belief
1. All Scripture is from God
2. Scripture Helps us understand Gods character
3. Scripture if provided by God to give direction


Personal Implications

Because I believe All Scripture is from God and is Gods Holy Word, I will hold
it above all other things as truth

Because I believe scripture helps us understand God, I will devote more time
to getting to know God through scripture

Because I believe scripture provides direction, I will look to th scripture to

provide direction for difficult questions in my life and to provide a basis for
staying in the will of God.

Ministry Application
Because I believe scripture all scripture comes from God I will use it as the
foundation of my ministry with youth.

Because I believe that scripture helps us understand the character of God I will use
scripture to help young people learn more about God and how he is able to fill
several voids in our lives

Because Scripture provides direction I will utilize in scripture in my ministry to help
young people find answers concerning difficult questions they may have.


Areas I would like to study further:

Divine inspiration

The Process for how the bible was put together

How to introduce Scripture to young people in an exciting way

Topic: Sin
Theological Foundations Belief
1. I believe that our very being is sinful: Psalm 51:5
2. I believe sin is rebellion against the law of God: 1 John 3:4
3. I believe sin is only overcome through Christ: Romans 8:37

Personal Implications (Life Practices)

Because I believe that I am sinful, I will need to be aware of sinful patterns in

my life and work with God to be able to overcome sinful behaviors.

Because I believe that sin is rebellion against the law of God I believe that I
mist consistently ask the lord to reveal my sinful behaviors to me and
familiarize myself with the law of God.

Because I believe the only way to overcome sin is through Christ, I must
believe and accept that Christ died for the forgiveness of my sins. I must not

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dwell on my sins but confess my sins to God and accept that my sins are
forgiven.

Ministry Applications (Ministry Practices)
Because I believe that we are sinful beings and it is in our nature to be sinful, I will
help my youth identify sinful patterns in their lives and the many ways that they
manifest themselves. I will be humble and work to never place myself above the
youth in my church and model what it means to be devoted to denying the flesh.

Because I believe sin is rebellion against Gods law, I will help youth understand the
importance of knowing and keeping Gods law. I will work to help youth see the law
of God not as rules or bars, but pathways towards freedom and truth.

Because I believe that we overcome sin through Christ, I will through the use of
scripture help youth understand the process of forgiveness of sins. I will work hard
to help youth understand that while we do not deserve forgiveness of our sins,
Christ loved us enough to die so that we may be forgiven. I will help youth
understand that their sins are chains that can be broken through acceptance of
Christ and his sacrifice.

Areas I would like to study further:

Sin of the mind

Leviticus law vs. Mosaic Law

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Rebutting temptation with Scripture

Topic: Salvation
Theological Foundations Belief
1. I believe that we are saved by grace through faith Ephesians 3:8
2. I believe that salvation was meant for all and is freely given- 1 Timothy 2: 3-4
3. Salvation is a gift from God that we cannot earn- Isaiah 64: 6


Personal Implications (Life Practices)

Because I believe that we are saved by grace through faith, I believe that
there is nothing that I can do to earn salvation. I cannot trust that I am saved
because I keep the Ten Commandments.

Because I believe that salvation is for all and freely given, I must commit my
time to missionary work to reach those who have not yet heard the message
of salvation.

Because I believe salvation is a gift from God that we cannot earn I believe
that there is no one more righteous than another. I must remember to come
reduce myself to a position of service and realize that I am no better than my
brother.

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Ministry Applications (Ministry Practices)

Because I believe that we are saved by grace through faith in my ministry I will help
my youth understand that they must believe that they are saved.

Because I believe that salvation is for all and freely given, I will help youth that feel
that they are hopeless understand that Christ has died for their sins. When a young
person feels like they are past saving I will use stories in the bible where Christ
forgave those who others deemed not worthy of saving.

Because I believe that salvation is Gift that we cannot earn, I will model to my young
people the importance of being humble. I will make sure that I do not exalt myself
over them because of my understanding of the law or the bible. I stress the
importance that salvation is given to all in equal portions and the first shall be last,
and the last shall be first.

Areas I would like to study further:

The process of salvation

Easy ways to explain salvation to youth

Topic: Humanity
Theological Foundations Belief
1. I believe we are made in the image of God -Acts 17:28

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2. I believe that humanity is dependent on God for life because he is our

creator-Job 12:10
3. Humanity was not created to be alone-Genesis 2:18

Personal Implications (Life Practices)

Because I believe that we are created in the image of God, I believe that we
have some of his characteristics because we are his offspring. I must love
myself and the way that God created me because in hating myself, I then, hate
the God who made me.

Because I believe that humanity is dependent upon God because he is our

creator, I will have faith that God loves me and will provide for me. I will not
get wrapped up in being self-sufficient and independent but will rather
depend on the structures that God has provided for survival.

Because I believe that humanity was not created to be alone, I will be sure
that I do not isolate myself from the community around me. I will work to
create healthy relationships with God, Friends, and family realizing that I was
created to be a support to others.

Ministry Applications (Ministry Practices)
Because I believe that we are created in his image, in my work with young people I
will help them identify characteristics of God in the people around them and to be

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content with their physical image. I will stress and model respect for others to
ensure that we are respecting each other and God.

Because I believe that God is our creator and we are dependent upon him for
survival I will help young people learn what it means to have faith in God to provide
for us physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

Because I believe that humanity was not created to be alone, I will be sure to build
relationships with young people in my church. I will create a community that is
both safe and welcoming to ensure that youth have a network of support.

Further Study:

Creationism

Character of God

Interpersonal Relationships

What the bible says about self esteem

Topic: The Local Church
Theological Foundations Belief
1. I believe that the local church is the body of Christ- 1 Corinthians 12:27
2. I believe that local church has the obligation to care for the members of its
community Deuteronomy 15-7-11

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3. I believe that the local church should be active in the community outside of
their churches -1 Timothy 2: 1-2

Personal Implications (Life Practices)

Because I believe that the local church is the body of Christ, I believe that I
must earnestly seek the Lord to reveal my role in whatever church I am a
member of. I must work hard to follow the direction of the Lord and do my
part in sharing the Gospel.

God tasked churches of the Bible to care for the fatherless and widows,
because I believe that we are Gods modern day church I should provide
support to those in need of help.

Because I believe that the local church should be active in the outside
community, I will be make myself aware of political and social issues from
schools or other organizations that impact me and my church family.

Ministry Applications (Ministry Practices)
Because I believe that the local church is the body of Christ and is used to do His
will, I should help the young people in my church identify what role they play in the
church body. I will utilize talent inventories and become familiar with the interest
of the youth to be sure that they are able to contribute to the church body and
outreach efforts.

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Because I believe that as a member of the local church I have an obligation to care
for the members of my community, in my ministry I will not only minister to the
spiritual needs of my youth I will also minister to physical needs that may exist as
well.

Because I believe that the church should keep a pulse on issues impacting the local
communities, in my ministry I will be sure to liaison with schools and local
community leaders to solve issues impacting youth.

Areas I would like to study further:

Missionary work for building membership

Integrating newly converted youth into the church

Leadership Framework:
I understand that ministry is not an independent task and I believe that God
has called me to a position of leadership in the area of youth ministry. Consequently,
I have developed a leadership framework that will guide the way I lead my own
ministry.
Currently in the ministry I believe that I am at the beginning of my process
with Christ to grow as a youth minister. Like Peter and the other disciples, Christ
called them out of their line of work to minister for Him. While Peter and Andrew

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were yet casting their nets in the water, Jesus commissioned them to follow him and
he will make them Fishers of Men, the men immediately dropped their nets and
followed Christ. They did not have all the skills they needed to minister but as they
walked with Christ, he would open their eyes to how to draw people into
relationship with God.
Throughout Jesus ministry you see Him using everyday stories and
experiences of the people he walked with and before to help them understand how
to minister and form relationships with God. I believe that this is what Christ is
doing for me. Currently, I am at the point where I have dropped my net. I have all
experiences from my past that Christ will use to draw me into a relationship with
him and help others, specifically youth, experience God.
My experience in Seminary is limited, consequently, I do not have very much
academic theology or theory to base my work in besides what God has provided me
through my relationship with Him. Currently, I am still growing in the area of
developing my framework of leadership from the perspective of church leadership
and look forward to building my library of resources to assist me with moving
forward in the ministry. I believe that God requires a sincere connection with Him
that allows me to stay connected to His vision for the ministries He desires that I
participate in.
Due to my undergraduate study of leadership and my work in higher
education administration Kouzes and Posners Model of Leadership defined in their
book The Leadership Challenge influences much of my leadership style and theory

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when working with youth ministry. Although this model comes from a secular
model for business it has been applied in several settings including engagement of
college-aged youth to prepare them for leadership. I believe this model can also be
used to prepare youth for ministry and for me as I look forward to becoming a youth
leader. The following section describes how I integrate theology and theory to be an
effective youth leader.
I believe that the five exemplary practices, as outlined by Kouzes and Posner,
have contributed to successful leadership in my past. However, when applying the
direction from God to these practices I believe it will enhance my ministry as an
intentional youth leader in the future. The five exemplary practices are as follows:
1. Model the way
2. Inspire a Shared Vision
3. Challenge the Process
4. Enable Others to Act
5. Encourage the Heart
Model the Way:
Modeling the way, according to Kouzes and Posner, entails creating a
standard of excellence that all people should be governed by as it relates to your
organization. This creates a level playing field for all people involved in your
organization, mission, or cause (Kouzes and Posner, 2007). As it relates to young
people, I currently govern myself in this way.

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When I think about modeling the way, I believe that as a Christian we have it
much easier than those outside of our network. In the ministry God is the ultimate
leader and thus our standards for excellence are clearly defined. My job is simply to
stay in close connection with the Boss to ensure that those following after me
understand what is expected of those that love the Lord. Guiding principles from
Gods word that help me to model the way are the following text:

I am the Lord your God...You should have no other Gods before me-
Exodus 20: 2,3

Judge not, that you be not judged- Matthew 7

Seek Ye first the kingdom of God Matthew 6:33

Gods word provides light for the way we should behave and the path that we
should take. However it is only through a true connection with God that we are able
to fully understand the direction for our lives.
When considering those I will be leading I understand that within my team I
must model the importance of staying connected to God and truly seeking his
direction for our ministry. I believe that it is very important to engage in daily study
and prayer with God and to develop an awareness of who He is and His will for our
own personal lives. God calls us first to be in relationship with Him and this is what
we are calling others to do. Not only must I model this for my team but I must also
model this for the youth I seek to help experience God. I am sure that many of the
youth I have been called to minister to struggle to know, believe, or understand God

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and his purpose for their lives. It is important that I first understand and try to
make connections with Him in order to create opportunities for young people to do
the same.
Also I believe another element that is important in this area of leadership is
modeling the way of how we treat others. I believe that regardless of socioeconomic
status, race, religion, sexual orientation or all of the other dividing elements of
humankind all men should be treated alike. Christ came that all men should be
saved and for this reason all men should be treated with respect and provided with
an opportunity to hear the gospel.
Personal Evaluation:
When evaluating where I am currently as it relates to my theory surrounding
leadership and modeling the way. I am working on building a routine of study and
prayer that allows me to seek the wisdom of God for my ministry and personal life. I
believe this is most important as I seek a closer relationship with God and building a
character acceptable to Him. When considering respect of others I do believe that I
possess a respect for all people. However, I believe that as a whole we tailor our
messages to suit those of a lower socioeconomic status. I think this is due to our
misinterpretation of scripture when it comes to the ministry of Christ. I believe that
in the future, I will be sure to consider how I view members of the more affluent
section of our society.
Inspire a Shared Vision

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As leaders we have a goal for the direction we would like for our
organization to move towards. A vision is nothing unless those you work along side
share it. When I apply this concept to my work within youth ministry I find that we
have an Ultimate Goal provided by the great commission, Matthew 28:16-20.
However, narrowing the commission down to my role as youth leader I believe all
participating in my ministry should be invested in the shared goals we set as a
ministry team. There is no point in moving in a direction for the advancement of a
ministry without having the backing of those in your ministry.
Personal Evaluation:
I believe that this element of my leadership is constantly evolving. While the
ultimate goal of the great commission will never change, I will constantly be
reevaluating my vision based on the direction from God. Currently, my vision is not
clearly defined. With more prayer and devotion I believe I will arrive at a more solid
plan for my ministry.
Challenge the Process
Those who are chosen to lead must also be willing to challenge the status quo
and encourage change for those they wish to serve. This means being the one to
take risk, seize opportunities, and taking responsibilities for failure (Kouzes and
Posner, 2007). When thinking of my role as a youth minister I am prepared to
always think of innovative solutions to ministry.

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In a changing society the church must hold fast to fundamental beliefs based
on the teaching of Christ, but be willing to find new approaches to teaching these
beliefs to young people. When looking at the example set by Christ, He used
approaches to ministry that were quite different than the status quo set by the
Pharisees and Sadducees of His time. While Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes
sought to preserve the old ways of living, Jesus revolutionized the thought processes
of His followers to lead them into the new covenant with God. Thinking about our
churches current state, I believe that we seek to preserve traditions of the church
for tradition sake not realizing that the practices are no longer relevant and are
even damaging to those needing to be redeemed to Christ. Christ says when
questioned about why the Pharisees fast, but his disciples do not. Neither is new
wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spoiled and the
skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are
preserved(Matthew 9:12). The old ways of our church worked for a time and for
some, however, when reaching new generation we must be open to new ways of
reaching them.
Personal Evaluation:
Currently, I believe this is an area I need to develop in. I am trying to
understand the ways of our religion as it pertains to ministry. I believe to accurately
challenge a process you must first understand and evaluate the existing process.
As I spend these next few years in study, I will work to understand the most
current best practices in youth ministry. In my study I will critically evaluate and

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seek for ways to apply them. If they prove ineffective I believe it is my duty to
search for ways that will best reach our youth.
Enable Others to Act
This aspect of the leadership challenge involves creating a mutual feeling of
trust and respect among those you work with. By creating this atmosphere of
mutual trust, as a leader you enable others to become active and contributing
members of your cause (Kouzes and Posner, 2007). When thinking about youth
ministry I realize that this journey is two-fold. My decision to follow Christ and be
obedient is an individual act. No one is able to make this decision for me, however,
when it comes to seeking out others to become a part of the body of Christ I am to
work as a community to spread the Gospel. Each person is given a responsibility.
The bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 as well as Romans 12 that we are all parts of
the body of Christ and are given our gifts and roles by God. I am not to be envious or
to limit the responsibilities of another based on our own understandings.
As a youth leader I understand that there are gifts that God has given to
members of my team and the youth we will lead. All of these gifts are to be used for
the glory of God and the fulfillment of His purpose. I believe that as a leader I must
be willing to mentor and create an atmosphere that encourages mentorship for
those I have been chosen to lead. This will help me continue to follow the model set
aside for ministry in the bible by the disciples. In many cases in the bible, the
disciples spread the Gospel in pairs to be more effective and to ensure that the
spiritual gifts were used in a complimentary fashion.

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Personal Evaluation:
Currently I believe that I understand and employ this practice in all areas of
leadership. I enjoy greatly discovering the talents and gifts of those around me.
Moving forward to become a more effective leader I would like to research the most
used talent identification inventories in the church. I believe that part of the reason
youth leave the church is due to an under utilization of their gifts. This is as a result
of lack of concern for helping youth understand their gifts and talents. Moving
forward in my ministry I would like to utilize talent inventories that enable youth
and members of my team to use their gifts and talents in the best way possible.
Encourage the Heart
According to the leadership challenge Encouraging the Heart revolves around
the celebration of small victories and systems for recognition. Encouragement of
the Heart makes every participant feel like they are important to the process,
organization, or mission (Kouzes and Posner, 2007). I believe that in ministry
leaders suppose that encouraging the heart is automatic; however there are people
that we have been called to serve that do not feel valued by their church or by God.
It is my job as a church leader to help those in my ministry realize God values
them and that He wants to be reunited with them. It should always be stressed to
youth and members of my leadership team that in dedicating their life to service of
God there will always recognition from God through the blessings He provides in
our lives. However, I believe that as a leader it is also important to schedule times of

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recognition for the accomplishments of my team members and youth. There are
times when people go above and beyond the expectations that we set for them out
of the kindness of their hearts and the desire to give God their best. I believe that at
these moments we should recognize them through kind acts and words.
Personal Evaluation:
Currently recognition is not valued enough within the church. I believe that
it is due to the fear of giving a man the praise over God. However, saying Thank
You for dedication to a ministry is acceptable. When I reflect on how much work
others do for the church in addition to their daily jobs this requires great dedication
and sacrifice.
I have not had many opportunities to thank others for their work, but when I
have, I know that it has inspired them to remain active in our ministry. Moving
forward, I would like to plan moments of recognition for members of my team,
youth, and members of our church body that help with the ministry.
Looking Forward to the Future The Next Five Years
As a result of applying my intentional leadership development I hope that
within the next five years I will be a leader that facilitates growth for personal
spirituality and practical ministry, promotes the mentorship model of ministry, and
is highly involved in large-scale initiatives for youth ministry. Professionally, I hope
to be the youth leader or serve on the youth leadership team of my local church as
well as in campus ministry at a public institution. It is my prayer that I will have the

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opportunity to help the youth be involved in ministry and working on developing

their own personal relationship with God.
It is also my hope that I will be establishing a network of fellow youth leaders
within my conference and the North American Division. I would like to have
established a connection with a mentor that has worked at the conference level and
has developed and facilitated training and development workshops for youth and
youth leaders. Not only do I desire to build connections within my denomination, it
is my hope to form a network of believers outside of the Adventist denomination
also.
Lastly, within the next five years I would like to begin developing my own
leadership and development workshops based on personal research and best
practices. My hope is to be seen as a resource for fellow youth and church leaders
inside and outside of the Adventist church.
Professional Development and competencies:
It is my desire to be an effective youth leader that has sound professional skills. I
understand that to achieve my five-year goals and to successfully apply my
theological and leadership framework that I must commit to critical evaluation of
myself and development of key competencies. The key competencies that I believe
are most important in the area of youth leadership are:

Facilitating effective planning

Communicating effectively
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Building effective teams

Evaluation and assessment

Coaching and mentoring others

The following section pays specific attention to the above-mentioned competencies

through evaluating my current standing and areas for growth.
Facilitating Effective Planning
When considering effective event planning, I believe that I have strong
abilities to facilitate effective event planning in the area of vision, goal setting, and
implementation. I lack the skill to be able to network with local organizations for
resources. I believe that my weakness is due to a lack of awareness about resources
available to help local churches. Moving forward, I must research well-known
organizations that aid non-profit initiatives and churches. I must also be aware if
the needs of members in my church and local community to direct them to the
appropriate resources and to involve the correct organizations in my planning
process.
Communicating Effectively
In the area of communication I believe that I posses effective communication
skills when it comes to counseling and listening to the needs of young people. I also
believe that I have sufficient skills in the area of audience centered speaking. I am
careful to consider the audience I am speaking with and ensuring that I
communicate my message in a way that it will be best received. I believe that I could

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work harder in the area of communication when it surrounds to conflict resolution.

Often in conflict resolution that involves myself and another person I get
preoccupied with assessing my role in the conflict rather than listening to the other
persons perspective.

Building Effective Team
I believe that I have a good ability to build effective teams. I enjoy learning
about other people and their talents as well as assisting them in finding areas where
they are able to contribute. Moving forward I would like to work more on an
approach shared by Mark Yaconelli in his book Contemplative Youth Ministry:
Practicing the Presence of Jesus. I believe that it is imperative to build a youth
ministry team that is truly dedicated to the youth ministry work. In his book
Yaconelli states that those in ministry must engage in a process of prayer and search
for members truly committed to ministering to and mentoring youth (Yaconelli,
2007). For this reason, I would like to develop a more detailed approach to selecting
a team that involves a three-step process of prayer, discussion, and call acceptance.
This will allow the Lord to work on the hearts of prospective team members as well
provide a genuine answer to the call by others.
Evaluation and Assessment
Assessment is important to the process of any ministry and is often
forgotten. Looking forward I will need to work on more formalized methods for

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assessment though out the process of planning and implementation. I think it is

natural for any individual to assume that the role of assessment is only at the end of
the event or initiative, however to successfully serve I know that I must assess
throughout the process to avoid implementing the wrong strategies.
Coaching and Mentoring
My experience with mentoring and coaching is informal and in need of
training. I would like to read more literature and attend more training to assist me
in building the necessary skills for being an effective mentor and coach.

Further Research and Conclusion
In conclusion, I know that it is imperative to follow the direction of the Lord
to guide my ministry. To be familiar with his direction I must constantly challenge
my theoretical and leadership frameworks to ensure that they are in line with the
guidance I have received from the Holy Spirit.
In the future I would like to research best practices of youth ministry within
and outside of the Adventist church. I would also like to do further research in the
area of contemplative youth ministry. Mark Yaconellis book, Growing Souls, is a
book that focuses more on contemplative youth ministry and helping youth build
true, lasting, and deep connections with God. I would also like to read the book
Everlasting Gospel, Ever Changing World by John Pauline and Andy Roots book,

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Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry: From a Strategy of Influence to a Theology of

Incarnation, to address better ways to reach the rising generation. Lastly, I would
like to research cutting edge methods of youth ministry that incorporate popular
culture to reach young people. I know that as a youth minister I must be dedicated
to change and challenge. Moving forward through the power of the Holy Spirit I am
sure that the Lord will guide me into being the servant He requires me to be.




Work Cited

General Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist. Youth Dept., (2005). Getting it
Right: A Power-packed Resource for Adventist Youth Leaders. Hagerstown,
MD.: Review and Herald Publishing Association.
Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2007). The leadership challenge (4th ed.). San
Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Protestant Youth Ministry. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved March 17, 2014, from
http://www.wikipedia.org/
White, E. G. (1930). Messages to young people. Nashville, Tenn.: Southern Pub.
Association.

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Yaconelli, M. (2007). Growing souls: experiments in contemplative youth ministry. El

Cajon, CA: Youth Specialties.

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