Original Research

Effective Youth Ministry: Embracing a family-orientated approach

Philippa Strong
In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi | Vol 48, No 1 | a1715 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v48i1.1715 | © 2014 Philippa Strong | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 23 August 2013 | Published: 09 September 2014

About the author(s)

Philippa Strong, Faculty of Theology, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa

Abstract

This article embraces the Sola Scriptura approach of the reformed theology. Firstly, the article focuses on the crisis in Youth Ministry, namely its inefficiency in leading young people to Christian maturity. It addressed one of the contributing factors to the crisis: the isolation of youth from the adult world, and particularly from their own parents and the larger church community. From the Sola Scripturaprinciple, a family-orientated approach to effective Youth Ministry is proposed where parents are expected to take responsibility for their children’s spiritual growth. The church should then support parents and families in this process. Different role players in a family-orientated Youth Ministry are identified and some new perceptions regarding their different tasks are proposed.

Effektiewe Jeugbediening: Omhelsing van ’n familie-georiënteerde benadering. Hierdie artikel ondersteun die Sola Scriptura-benadering van die reformatoriese teologie. Aanvanklik fokus die artikel op die huidige krisis in Jeugbediening, naamlik dat Jeugbediening nie effektief toegepas word om jongmense tot volwasse Christenskap te lei nie. Dit bespreek een van die bydraende faktore tot hierdie krisis: die jeug se isolasie van die volwasse wêreld − spesifiek van hulle eie ouers en die groter kerkgemeenskap. Vanuit ’n Sola Scriptura-benadering word ’n familie-geörienteerde benadering tot effektiewe Jeugbediening waar dit van ouers verwag word om verantwoordelikheid vir hulle kinders se geestelike groei te neem, as uitkoms voorgestel. Die kerk behoort dan ouers en families in hierdie proses te ondersteun. Verskillende rolspelers in familie-georiënteerde Jeugbediening word geïdentifiseer en ’n paar nuwe insigte aangaande hulle verskillende take word voorgestel.


Keywords

theology; youth ministry

Metrics

Total abstract views: 4914
Total article views: 8776

 

Crossref Citations

1. Exploring five children’s experiences of charismatic worship activities in kids band rehearsals
Calsey Schroeder, Mignon van Vreden
International Journal of Children's Spirituality  vol: 28  issue: 3-4  first page: 133  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1080/1364436X.2023.2222923