Youth Department

Introduction

The Youth Ministry Discipleship road map will provides direction and an intentional focus on where current leadership believes God is leading the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Youth Ministry in November 2016 – November 15 2019. The plan outlines the conference mission, vision and values. The plan then outlines three key strategies followed by a list of key objectives.

The intent of the plan is to provide a pathway of informed actions towards identified goals that will grow the church and establish long term strength and viability.

Process

The developing of the Discipleship road Map 2016 - 2020 built upon the focus of the Healthy Adventist Youth Ministry by 2020. The process involved the Advisory Committee and Leadership Teams praying, engaging in planning sessions and consulting with church members.

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18–20, The Message.

Vision

- Be a Spirit filled church, always growing, excelling and leading in all aspects of our ministry

Values

- The Seventh-day Adventist Church highly values the BIBLE, PEOPLE and UNITY among the body of Christ. We believe that every person is deserving of respect and dignity because of the infinite value God has placed on them. Through God’s grace, every person is gifted and needed for the diverse activities of the church We believe that every person is deserving of respect and dignity because of the infinite value that God has placed upon them. Through God’s grace every person is gifted for and needed in the diverse activities of the Church family.

We respect the diversity, individuality, and the freedom that come from being a worldwide body of believers. We also value unity - a family of faith engaged in representing the reign of God in our world through ethical conduct, mutual regard, and loving service. Our faithfulness to God involves commitment to and support of His body, the church.

Purposes and Objectives

It is the goal of youth ministry to use human relationships in the home, church, and school to draw our youth into a closer relational experience with their Creator. In this way our youth can grow up in the proper stages of development to become mature Christians – socially, physically, mentally and spiritually. Here are the major objectives:

A Three-fold Purpose

1. The youth are to work for other youth. “Young men and women, God calls upon you to work, work for Him…You can do a work that those who minister in work and doctrine cannot do. You can reach a class whom the minister cannot affect.” (Messages to Young People, p.207)
2.  The Youth are to help the church and “those who profess to be Sabbath keepers.” “Will the young men and young women who really love Jesus organize themselves as workers, not only for those who profess to be Sabbath Keepers, but those who are not of our faith?” (Signs of the Times, May 29, 1893 [underlined supplied])
3.  Adventist youth are to work for those not of our faith, to win them to Christ. “Time is short. Workers for Christ are needed everywhere. There should be one hundred earnest, faithful labourers in home and foreign mission fields where now there is one. The highways and the byways are yet unworked.” (Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 488.)

The Adventist Youth Society that works toward these objectives will become the dynamic, spiritual influence in the church that it ought to be. The success of our society depends upon how well it fulfills its purpose and how well its members live out their Pledge.

The A.Y. Aim, Motto and Pledge keep the objectives of the A.Y. Society before the members and the church.

• Its purpose is to facilitate and nurture the harmonious growth and development of young people so that they will become mature Christians, spiritually, mentally, physically and socially. To reach this objective the department is responsible for giving guidance in youth ministry to aid the mission and local churches in sponsoring a strong youth program. This program includes the sponsoring of youth ministry training courses, seminars and congresses, camps, witnessing activities, volunteer service programs, devotional, social, and educational plans. Through Christ as the example, youth ministries endeavours to develop future leaders, while assisting the youth in adopting a Christian lifestyle and a selfless concept of Christian service.

Focus

The primary purpose of Adventist youth ministry is to win, train, commission and hold the youth, ages 4/6-30/45.

To fulfil this purpose, there is need for an active Youth Ministry that must have:

1. An organisation through which it works.

2. Trained leadership to plan and lead in its activities.

3. Materials with which to work.

4. A supporting constituency or a DCC/DYCC.

The PRIMARY FOCUS OF YOUTH MINISTRY IS THE SALVATION OF YOUTH THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. We understand youth ministry to be that work of the church that is conducted for, with, and by young people

Our task is to:

1. Lead youth to understand their individual worth and to discover and develop their spiritual gifts and abilities.

2. Equip and empower youth for a life of service within God’s church and the community.

3. Ensure the integration of youth into all aspects of church life and leadership in order that they might be full participants in the mission of the church

To accomplish our task:

• We will achieve a balanced ministry by incorporating the biblical dynamics of fellowship, nurture, worship, and mission.

• We will be committed to keeping relevant and effective in ministry by relating all ministries to the needs of the youth. It is imperative that we listen to and are informed by their perceptions, concerns, and suggestions. Effective ministry becomes possible in an atmosphere of love, acceptance, and forgiveness.

Objectives

Youth Ministry can fulfill very few of the Goals and the Key focus area within the Mission cooperate plan. 

GOAL 1 PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT.

                  KFA 1 – Adventist Mission

                  KFA 2 - Socio-economic Development

                  KFA 3 - HR capacity building

                   

GOAL 2 RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT 

                   KFA 4 – Service Delivery   

Check our resource for the Implementation plan.