AT THE FEET OF JESUS
HURRY!! OUR CHRIST-CENTERED YOUTH MINISTRY IS RECRUITING!

According to data available from the military website militaryhistorynow.com, a momentous event happened in Pelham Manor, New York just after America’s declaration of war against Germany in 1917. A 40-year-old veteran magazine illustrator composed a drawing for the United States Army‘s recruitment campaign that has used been used to colourfully introduce this material. As can be seen above, the drawing featured a stern-faced Uncle Sam pointing outward with his right index finger, his eyes glaring directly at the viewer. Even though the original caption below in bold red and blue capital letters read: “I Want YOU for U.S. Army”; we’ve however edited it to appropriately read: ‘I WANT YOU AT THE FEET OF JESUS’. So just how was this simple poster powerful then and even till now?

Well history informs us that immediately after the initial draft, four million copies of the poster were quickly printed and plastered onto walls and signposts from Maine to California. Within weeks, just about every American citizen had seen it. Now if a simple poster could go viral within weeks to recruit men not for a feast of pleasure but rather for a war of death, what then is it that the US Army got right that we in Transformational Youth Ministry can also get right? It is therefore the aim of this writing to attempt to draft a Christ-centred curriculum and mission strategy that mobilizes youth for Transformational Youth Ministry by designing Christo-centric and needs sensitive curriculum for teaching youth, addressing contemporary youth issues and Crafting missional strategy for youth engagement.

2. The Key Elements in the Transformational Youth Ministry Curriculum and Mission Strategy

According to Sirett, C. (2011) Curriculum in its broadest meaning includes every activity, experience and all the content information that is planned for learners in a teaching session. Curriculum in its narrow meaning refers to the printed lesson outline and materials, purchased or self-designed from which the teacher teaches. According to Oyugi, P.M. (2018), there are four key things that must be considered when designing a winning Youth Ministry strategy. Analysed, these include: Biblical value formation, addressing worldview and identity crisis, establishing a sound theological basis and a proper structure. In view of this, how do we navigate through transformational teaching in youth ministry?

2.1  The Spirit and the Word

Foundationally, the Word of God according to Oyugi is the basis for the Transformational Youth Ministry. Therefore the first element to consider in the curriculum is God’s Word as inspired by the Holy Spirit. He declares: The key to sustaining the mission of the church on earth is a structured and strategized youth ministry based on the biblical principles founded on the Holy Scriptures. Every mission oriented church should have a well structured and strategized youth ministry that exemplifies the life of Jesus Christ. Cole, Cameron and Jon Nielson (2016) concludes: a slick youth program is no substitute for a youth pastor who unapologetically teaches the Bible

Therefore the primary call is to model the entire Ministry as per the Word as the Spirit provides illumination.  This modelling should be done through anointed teaching, application and practice of the Word during: Bible Studies, retreats, service projects and mission trips. However since all these are not happening in a vacuum: how then do we address the contemporary youth issues especially what most of them currently face in order to see them transformed?

2.2 Current Issues

A transformational youth curriculum cannot forget or ignore issues that they may face in their daily lives since it has a great effect on their spirituality. Therefore opportunities for the youth to discuss these issues and incorporate their faith into them must be created. A good way to do this is to periodically incorporate issues into the typical youth group gatherings by offering gatherings focused on issues. Examples can include dating, social media, drugs and alcohol, peer pressure, etc. Now how do we handle their relationships?

2.3 Social (especially Relationships)

Transformational Youth Ministry must contain a strong and healthy social setting because Jesus’s own ministry approach was very social in nature. He would meet people where they were at and engage them through things as simple as meals in order to build relationship and ultimately teach them. Thus the parents and where possible the wider family must never ever be left out during these ministry sessions! Examples of social events are game nights, movie nights, sports, bonfires, etc. How about their overall spiritual life?

2.4 Spiritual

Probably the most important aspect of Transformational Youth Ministry is leading teenagers into a relationship with Christ through an encounter with the Holy Spirit. Anointed spiritual elements should, to a great measure, be a part of any ministry experience. According to Foster. R.J. (1978), there’re Inward Disciplines namely: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study. Again, there’re outward Disciplines namely: Simplicity, Solitude, Submission and Service. Finally there’re corporate Disciplines namely: Confession, Worship, Guidance and Celebration. This is how to stir up the spiritual aspects of the Transformational journey. How then do we activate them for the call ahead?

2.5  Service (especially the Great Commission)

According to Matthew 28:18-20, the Gospel message is a charge to go out and serve. Offering activities geared toward service gives Youths a practical way to incorporate their faith. Examples can include service projects, mission trips, or visiting nursing homes or orphanages. How then do we handle these practical matters of preparing the transformational youth to handle these practical aspects of the Great Commission?

3.  Work Plan Mobilization Strategy

In order to put these things into practice, we will have to begin with a year plan. How will it look like?

3.1  Suggested Theme

Example: AT THE FEET OF JESUS!

3.2  Suggested Meeting Time

Example: Every Sunday 9:30 AM once a week or every other week or twice a month, or once a month.

3.3  Creating a focus for each semester

A bi-annual breaking of the theme into: At the Feet of Jesus through the Word (Theory Lessons) and Missioning from the Feet of Jesus by the Spirit’s Power (Practical Lessons)

3.4   Mapping out the year

Itemizing each month of the year to clearly capture the two focus elements of: Word at the Feet of Jesus Sessions and Mission by the Spirit’s Power Sessions

4.  The Meeting Outlines and Contents

Here we simply roll out the schedule per unit after mapping the year. Following is the breakdown of every month as guided by Sirret.

January – Word at the Feet of Jesus Sessions & Mission by the Spirit’s Power Sessions