Youth Ministry Handbook and Leadership Training Manual

1 Y o u t h M i n i s t r y H a n d b o o k a n d L e a d e r s h i p T r a i n i n g M a n u a lYo u t h Mi n i s t r i e s De p a r tMe n tGeneral ConferenCe of seventh -DaY DaY aDventistsYouth Ministries DepartmentGeneral Conference of seventh -day AdventistsCopyright 2000, 2005. All rights : adventist Youth LogoThis Handbook was prepared and revised by the General Conference Youth Ministries DepartmentDesigned by Frank StrackPrinted by the College Press, LLC iiiPrefaceYouTh Ministry in The seventh -DAY adventist church has gone through several phases, always evolving into a more specialized Ministry to an important segment of the church s population. This evolution has taken the church from the early beginnings when Youth work was blended with Sabbath School to this day when Youth Ministry is divided into clearly defined areas of interest, but pursues the same levels of Ministry to Youth are active in Youth Ministry today:Adventurer Ministry To reach and help children 6-9 years oldPathfinder Ministry To reach, help, and train Youth 10-15 years oldSenior Youth Ministry To work with Youth and young adults 16-30 years oldFormer manuals have had a mixture of all three ministries.

2 However, this Manual is designed specifically for senior Youth leaders, and instructions regarding Pathfinder or Adventurer ministries have been omitted. For more information about those minis-tries, contact your local conference/mission is a Handbook for guiding the AY Society, or any type of senior Youth organization in the local congregation, and is also the Training Manual for adventist Youth the Master Guide and the adventist Youth Leader Training Courses serve as the foundation for Youth Leadership on the local church level, this Handbook deals primarily with the development of adventist Senior Youth Leadership . obviously, the general principles discussed here are also applicable to both Master Guides and senior Youth leaders.

3 In addition to the principles contained herein, those receiving Training as Master Guides should study material in the area of Pathfinder, Sabbath School, and Children s Ministries in the introduction, implementation and elimination of the past church Ministries Department, Youth Ministry has experienced dramatic changes and challenges, in some churches, our Youth were neglected, even before and to the point of closing the Adven-tist Youth Society, and consequently Youth involvement and Youth witnessing in those churches. The result has been devastating, and urgent action is needed to provide the solution in a visionary and responsible way, and to lead our Youth in the right direction.

4 This Handbook is designed to address Youth Ministry in accordance with these changes, face the challenges in a positive way and give Youth leaders a how-to guide for the Youth organization in the local church . Certainly, it will satisfy a great need and will be a useful tool for the implementation and strengthening of the adventist Senior Youth Ministry around the material is not the work of one person, but a combination of contributions from many persons from all the world divisions. We express thanks to the hundreds of Youth leaders around the world who have made this Manual possible, and especially to the South Pacific Division Youth Ministry resource Committee that provided several chap-ters and have contributed extensively to the Ministries DepartmentGeneral Conference of seventh -day AdventistsvContentsPreface.

5 IiiAn explanation of the Seven Modules ..viihow to use This Manual ..xiintroduction ..xiiiORGANIZATION MODULE .. 1 Chapter 1 our Genesis ..5 Chapter 2 Development of adventist Youth Society ..11 Chapter 3 ideals of adventist Youth ..15 Chapter 4 officers of the AY Society ..19 Chapter 5 Membership ..31 Chapter 6 AY Society Programs ..35 Chapter 7 AY Society Activities ..49 Chapter 8 Personalized Planning for the Local church ..51 Chapter 9 Senior Youth Training for Service ..57 Leadership MODULE .. 61 Chapter 1 in the Steps of the Master ..63 Chapter 2 Psychology of the Christian Leader ..71 Chapter 3 Leadership Theories, Styles and Functions ..75 Chapter 4 When You are the Chairperson.

6 83 Chapter 5 how God Prepares his leaders ..93 COMMITMENT MODULE .. 97 Chapter 1 Youth upreach ..99 Chapter 2 Commitment Celebration ..100 Chapter 3 Bible Conferences ..113 Chapter 4 Gold and Silver Awards ..117viDISCIPLESHIP MODULE .. 119 Chapter 1 Youth , the Crisis Age ..123 Chapter 2 Adolescent Developmental Stages andSome implications for Youth Ministry ..127 Chapter 3 Basic Personality Desires ..129 Chapter 4 Common Problems of Youth .. 133 Chapter 5 Youth Ministry in a Contemporary Society ..137 Chapter 6 how to help the Youth ..141 Chapter 7 Counseling with Youth ..145 Chapter 8 Ministering to Young Singles ..157 WITNESSING MODULE .. 159 Chapter 1 Youth and evangelism ..161 Chapter 2 Planning for Mission.

7 165 Chapter 3 adventist Youth Service ..179 Chapter 4 Campus Ministry ..183 Chapter 5 reporting Missionary Activities ..186 Chapter 6 The environment ..189 WORSHIP MODULE .. 191 Chapter 1 What is Worship? ..193 Chapter 2 Growing in nurture ..197 Chapter 3 Celebrating in Worship ..203 FELLOWSHIP MODULE .. 209 Chapter 1 Meeting Fellowship needs ..211 Chapter 2 recreation ..241 Chapter 3 Social Programs ..245 EMPOWERING Youth MODULE .. 253 introduction ..257 Chapter 1 Salvation and Service for all Ages ..259 Chapter 2 Salvation and Service outcomes ..263 Chapter 3 Discipleship Strategies ..269 Chapter 4 Leadership Strategies ..277 Chapter 5 Mission/Service Strategies ..281 Chapter 6 evangelism Strategies.

8 285viiAn Explanation of the Eight ModulesEight Modules are incorporated in this Youth Ministry Handbook and Leadership Training Manual , each dealing with a different aspect of senior Youth The organization Module presents the history and organization of Youth Ministry in the seventh -day adventist strong emphasis is on Youth Ministry based in the local church , and not a Ministry based on conference-organized activities. re-sponsibilities of the leaders at the local church level are also cov-ered in this content of this module will help the local church in its Ministry to young people, and will aid the local conference/mission person responsible for Youth affairs in developing a Training program for local church Youth This module incorporates aspects of Training and actual practice of those activities required for senior Leadership , and includes both philosophical base and practical practices.

9 Emphasis is placed on qualities of idea Leadership , the psychology of Leadership , Leadership styles and functions, and practical matters such as how to chair a committee or business The Commitment Module primarily revolves around those activi-ties and programs that are devotional in nature, and that provide for special affirmation and celebration of Prayer or Weeks of Spiritual Emphasis are outlined, in which a seven-day period of time is selected for a concentrated thrust of personal relationships with the Lord through fellowship, intense scriptural study and communion. Also featured are Bible Confer-ences with ideas and helps for church and school Youth n E x p l a n at i o n o f t h e E i g h t M o d u l e sviiiAnother devotional feature, the Morning Watch, is targeted for in-dividual or family time at the beginning of each day.

10 Commitment Celebration is a time of reaffirmation of a Youth s continuing faith and confidence in God, the celebration of his or her baptism, which may have taken place recently or at some time in the module is dedicated to strengthening the spiritual life of Youth and Youth leaders as they participate in the devotional features of adventist Youth This module deals with how to help Youth become disciples and stay committed to that way of life. extensive presentation on the psychological aspect of Youth Leadership is given. Growth and nur-ture group leaders specializing in the spiritual well-being of their members will find resources in this module to accomplish all that might be desired whether in Youth or family situations.