Archive - Center for YM RSS Feed

Youth Ministry Degrees

June 25, 2008 in Center for YM, Youth Ministry with 0 Comments

Josh and Danny have written some stuff about youth ministry education, and since it’s something that is close to my own heart (I’m a youth ministry professor), I felt the urge to write about the subject.

Josh brings up some great points about business principles that are used in youth ministry. Management, Budget and finances, public speaking, and other business practices are important in youth ministry.

He says that many of these things may not be included in a typical youth ministry degree, but I know they are included (at least partially) in the youth ministry degree program I teach at the Mexican Baptist Theological Seminary (and in the Master’s in Youth Ministry program in Cuba). I also know many professors and directors of youth ministry programs throughout the world whose programs include many of those principles.

Now, I know that Josh isn’t bashing youth ministry degrees, and I’m not against business degrees. I walked into a Christian bookstore the other day and told Janell that there wasn’t really anything in there on my list of books to read because most of the books on my wishlist are about business, marketing, or culture. But that might be because I feel I need to “self-educate” in those areas. Or maybe it’s because those are areas I feel need attention in ministry. Diversity is key.

Danny talks about the benefits of his psychology degree, and I agree that it helps to understand why people do what they do as we minister to them. He makes a great suggestion to serve in a church while going to school. I agree. That’s why most good youth ministry programs require that you serve in youth ministry alongside an experienced youth worker who will mentor you and share with you everyday experiences as we strive to disciple young people.

Overall, I believe in youth ministry education. My youth ministry degree has served me time and time again in real-life ministry as I walk alongside young people. I have also seen results of youth ministry training programs in the lives of my own students. Let’s not throw out the options for youth ministry degrees.

Business principles, psychology, Biblical and theological studies, and even missions courses are all essential for youth workers. The key to education is to realize that it’s never finished. You can’t say, “I’ve finished my degree so I can stop learning.” Good youth workers will always seek ways to keep improving themselves. Good youth ministry programs at seminaries and Bible colleges are always seeking to improve and adapt curriculum to stay up to date with the needs of youth workers.

What do you think?

(Photo by: My New Winter Coat)

The Last Three Years – Part 2

June 19, 2008 in Center for YM, features, Global Youth Ministry, Latin America, YMI with 2 Comments

In part 1 of this series, I talked about a little part of the graduation last week. It was the result of 3 long, hard years of work.

Today, I wanted to write about some of the results that we’ve seen because of the Master’s in Youth Ministry program that we completed (in part) last week. All of this is what is happening in youth ministry in the country of Cuba and beyond.

It’s just a small slice of what is happening, but I hope it gives you an idea of what this incredible team is doing.

What can you do with a Master’s degree in youth ministry?

  • One student has seen his youth group triple in size since he started taking the courses in the program.
  • One student says that the training from the program is the backbone of what they are doing in youth ministry for his entire denomination.
  • One student has seen his youth group grow at a record pace, both in numbers and in depth.
  • One student is using the principles he learned to begin a ministry to university students.
  • One student feels that God wants him to be a full time youth pastor and plans to seek a youth ministry position as soon as he fulfills his obligations as a senior pastor.

What can you do as a youth ministry trainer?

  • There is a Center for Youth Ministry in 3 different seminaries throughout the country. There’s another one that will be started in another seminary this year.
  • There is talk about starting a program at another Bible institute in Pinar del Rio in the western part of the country.
  • In the Eastern Baptist Convention, they have begun to train trainers. There are 22 students preparing to be professors of youth ministry.
  • Many of the students have expressed interest in carrying the vision to other nations by training in other countries, using the same modular format that was used with them.
  • One of the students has begun a “national network of youth workers,” uniting youth workers throughout the country.

There are many other things that have happened to all of us on a personal level. In the next part of this series, I hope to write about how I have changed as a result of being a part of this incredible journey.


Picture: The team on top of the seminary

The Last Three Years – Part 1

June 17, 2008 in Center for YM, features, Global Youth Ministry, Latin America with 3 Comments

The last three years of my life have been invested in a project that has grown very dear to my heart. Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to see thirteen of my favorite people in the world graduate with a Master’s Degree in youth ministry.

It has been a long journey. Personally, it has been an exhausting three years, traveling each January and June, arranging for visas, charter tickets, domestic tickets, raising awareness, translating, planning, preparing, and teaching classes. I personally taught 6 and a half of the 12 courses for the Master’s program in youth ministry.

For the students, it was 3 years of reading, pre-class assignments, post-class assignments, weeks away from family, amidst personal and professional struggles. Every student involved in the program is also involved in full time ministry, leaving little time for anything else.

But the culminating moment came on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, when they called the name of 13 of my friends, associates, and students to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas from the Santa Clara Seminary, or the Baptist Seminary of Havana, or the Baptist Seminary in Santiago, or from New Pines Seminary. To see the look of accomplishment and joy on their faces gave me an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and joy.

The investment of three years has more than paid off. We are seeing a mighty work of God in Latin America, and I’m humbled to be part of it.

In part 2 of this series, I’ll write about what these students are doing with their degrees. It’s amazing.
Click a thumbnail to see a larger version.

Just a Quick Note

June 10, 2008 in Center for YM, Global Youth Ministry, Latin America with 2 Comments

I’m writing this note from the office of the Center for Youth Ministry at the Baptist Seminary in Santa Clara, Cuba. We’ve had a great time with the team here, and we’ll be finishing up tomorrow morning with classes.

Everyone’s family is coming in for graduation that takes place tomorrow night. It is the graduation for the entire seminary, and the graduating class of 13 Master’s Degree students in youth ministry will be the largest group graduating.

It’s been 3 years of hard work, but it’s been great. I’ll write more later, but I wanted to let you know what’s going on.

Reflections on Starting

May 26, 2008 in Center for YM, features, Global Youth Ministry, Missions, Personal Growth with 0 Comments

Four years ago, we started a youth ministry program at the Mexico Baptist Theological Seminary. Last Saturday, the first graduate received his Bachelor’s in Youth Ministry from our program.

It has been the work of pioneers. We are doing something that is not being done by many people. We were some of the first people to do this in Latin America.

So here I am, four and a half years after getting to Mexico, reflecting on the beginning of this “formal youth ministry training program.”

What does it take to start a youth ministry education program?

Teamwork – I haven’t been the only one involved. Boyce College, Youth Ministry International, and a host of other people have been a part of this. It would be better if I had more of a team on the ground here in Mexico, but I’m certainly grateful for those who have formed part of our team these last four years.

In the future: I will form a team first. In order to be successful (and less stressed), you need to have a group who shares your vision, living and working with you daily.

Connections – The more you can connect with people in the country, the better off you will be. There is ministry happening, and it’s important to find out who’s doing what. More in-country connections would have helped us greatly. The in-country people don’t have to be directly involved in your ministry, but they do need to know what you’re doing and be willing to back you up and talk up your program.

In the future: I will reach out much faster to the other organizations that are already in the country or city, sharing the vision and seeing how we can form alliances to be more effective.

Perception – Perception is reality. You must be sure you are partnering with the right people. Sometimes, we have suffered because of the perception, or reputation, of our seminary (regardless of if this perception is correct or not). You must be aware of the perceptions of others.

In the future: I will work harder to create a better perception for the overall seminary/school and the youth ministry program.

Investment – It takes a great investment of time, money, and effort to get something of this magnitude off the ground. You have to know that it will be difficult, both financially and personally, to achieve anything worthwhile. Be willing to invest greatly in the dream.

In the future: I will measure the amount of work it takes to get something done, and I won’t let that stop me from achieving success. I think we’ve done a good job, and there are always things that could be done better (fundraising, team building, etc).

Vision – You must remain faithful to your vision. Helen Keller once said, “The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but no vision.” You must not let what you see allow you to waiver from the vision. Despite the obstacles and barriers, stay true to the vision. Be dedicated to what you do, and you will see results.

In the future: I will share the vision more with others. I want people to buy into what we are doing. It’s important for our success that others see the big picture.

We’ve certainly not done everything right. I’ve learned a lot about leadership and ministry in the last 5 years. It has been worth it, and I’m looking forward to what is in store for the future.

(Images by: Ali K)

Youth Ministry Certification

May 25, 2008 in Center for YM, Global Youth Ministry, Latin America, Seminary, YMI, Youth Ministry with 0 Comments

Youth Ministry International offers certification for youth workers who have demonstrated certain qualifications for ministry. In fact, there are 52 essential qualities for a certified youth worker. We basically see these qualities as our goals for the students in the Centers for Youth Ministry throughout the world.

The essential qualities fall under 5 categories: skills, character, knowledge, programming, and academic and experiential training. Receiving the certification also allows the youth worker to conduct training and seminars on behalf of Youth Ministry International.

Almost one year ago, on May 27, 2007, YMI certified the first youth worker in the Ukraine. Today, we gave Huberto his youth ministry certification. He is the first Latin American youth worker that Youth Ministry International has certified, and it was an honor to be able to give him his certificate at his church this morning.

I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in his church and community now that he’s finished his seminary degree (of course, I am encouraging him to continue his education, but he’s finished for now). He should have more time to dedicate to the ministry, and he’s already doing a great job.

I could see today how great of a relationship he has with his students, and I could tell that they were looking for him for counsel. It was great to see him in action.

Interns

May 22, 2008 in Center for YM with 0 Comments

Jon and Nicolle arrived Tuesday to Mexico City. They stayed with us Tuesday night, and we took them to Cuernavaca on Wednesday. Jon will be doing his internship for Huntington University here in Mexico City.

Jon is a youth ministry major with a music minor, and Nicolle is an elementary education major and a Spanish minor. He’ll be studying in the same language school that we studied at for the next month, and then they will move up to Mexico City to help Huberto with the youth ministry at his church.

The benefit for us of having Jon and Nicolle working with Huberto is that we are trying to establish some model youth ministries in the city so our students at the seminary will have places to see the philosophy of youth ministry in action. We want them to have the opportunity to work in churches that are putting into practice what they are learning in the classroom.

I’m excited to have Jon and Nicolle here, and I know their ministry is going to help extend the reach of the Center for Youth Ministry here in Mexico City.

Page 10 of 28« First...«89101112»20...Last »