Bachelor of Science: Youth Ministry

Statistics indicate that the average age at which people accept Christ as their Savior is sixteen. Youth Ministries graduates will be prepared to minister to adolescents at this critical life stage when the possibilities for evangelism and discipleship are so great. The Youth Ministries major is designed to give students the skills necessary for effective ministry to youth as well as an understanding of the broader context of youth ministry within the Church and the Christian family.

OBJECTIVES

Students who complete the Youth Ministries curriculum will meet the objectives of the Division of Bible and Ministry, as well as the following objectives specific to this major.

Division Objectives: students will

Understand the need for, meaning, and practice of a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the Bible and essential Christian doctrine, the ability to accurately interpret Scripture, and an increasingly coherent Christian worldview that enables them to apply biblical principles to questions of ethics, compassion, and all other life situations. Exhibit a lifestyle that is characterized by simplicity, integrity, responsibility, and order which reflects concern for the social implications of the gospel and lends credibility to Christian testimony. Demonstrate the basic knowledge and ability required to minister to others in their own cultural group and across cultural boundaries, utilizing appropriate technology and relevant forms of both written and verbal communication. Demonstrate perseverance and commitment, and the ability to work productively both independently and in teams. Develop the skills and understanding necessary for personal Bible study, prayer, and devotional life which can sustain and empower one’s personal life and ministry to others. Demonstrate the ability to find, process, and apply information that is relevant to one’s Christian life and ministry through the exercise of both critical and creative thinking.

Specific Program Objectives: students will

• Understand family relationships and biblical principles for ministry to families.
• Effectively relate to youth, parents, congregation, and church leadership.
• Demonstrate the skills to minister to youth as exhibited by their ability to
• Address administrative issues peculiar to ministry with youth in the local church environment.
• Relate and communicate within the context of youth culture while challenging young people to transcend their culture and live for Christ.
• Recognize and adjust to various ministry environments.
• Speak effectively to youth.
• Meet the objectives of the Division of General Studies.

At Barclay College, we praise God for our students who are on a mission to not only gain an education but to strengthen their Christ-centered, biblically based faith by learning the way of effective Christian living in service and leadership. Barclay College bases its existence in a rich history of evangelical Friends tradition. Barclay College is an evangelical Friends school which accepts and embraces persons with evangelical Christian beliefs from a variety of denominational backgrounds. The mission of Barclay College is to prepare students in a Bible-centered environment for effective Christian life, service, and leadership. Barclay College is a Christian institution of higher education that challenges students to explore, understand, and acquire the skills necessary to respond to the call of God upon their lives. To help accomplish this, Barclay College strives for academic and spiritual excellence by providing an environment that encourages higher levels of inquiry and learning. Critical thinking, the exchange of ideas, and disciplined Bible-based study are emphasized to assist each student in developing a personalized Christian worldview and equipping them to serve effectively in the areas of service in which they feel God's direction for their lives. Barclay College actively recruits all Christians who desire to prepare for their vocations in a climate that is rigorously academic and committed to serving Jesus Christ. The College believes that spiritual growth is accelerated when one lives and studies in a community that includes a diversity of theological and cultural perspectives. As a four-year institution of higher learning, Barclay College's mission is broader than that of a trade school or training institute. Students broaden their cultural understanding by studying a wide range of general studies in addition to their specific areas of interest. Since Barclay is a Bible college, students learn to study the Bible and to integrate biblical truth into every discipline. Barclay College offers students preparation for several careers through its bachelor's programs. In some fields, the bachelor's degree has been designed to prepare one for graduate study. The College also offers Associate degrees designed to give students a basic introduction to college education, the Bible, and general studies.