Youth Ministry Program Program Youth Ministry
BIBLICALLY REFORMED YOUTH MINISTRY: A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH Biblical - We seek to understand ministry in the context of the biblical narrative. In scripture we encounter God in the person of Jesus Christ, and discover who we are in relation to Him. As we minster to young people, we use the Bible to prophetically see the world "rightly" from the perspective of Christ's death and resurrection, helping them recognize the stories competing for their allegiance as we call them into discipleship to Jesus Christ. Reformed - We seek to understand youth ministry in the context of a specific tradition rooted in the Reformed confessions, while at the same time maintaining an ecumenical appreciation for the perspectives of other Christian traditions. Our students come from a variety of Christian traditions, creating an environment of engagement and dialogue as we work to understand the nature and context of ministering to young people in the 21st century. Congregational - We seek to emphasize a congregational approach to youth ministry. While the role of youth pastor/director is extremely important, the responsibility of ministering to young people does not belong to them alone. Youth programs must work towards enfolding young people into the life of the congregation, equipping members of the congregation to walk alongside the youth in discipleship to Jesus Christ. Relevant - We seek to help our students understand the cultural context in which young people live. In order to minister to any group of people, we must be able to "speak the language". This does not mean uncritically accommodating to aspects of culture, rather it means coming to understand the movements within culture that influence the identity of young people. If you or someone in your youth group is interested in learning more about the youth ministry program at Dordt College please contact Mr. Jason Lief at: jlief@dordt.edu or by calling 712722-6329.