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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (March 5, 2013) — Dr. Curtis Booher, associate professor of Christian ministries at Milligan College, will teach a weeklong, graduate-level course on student ministry as theological work from May 20-24, at Emmanuel Christian Seminary. Registration for the course is now under way.
The class, titled “Digging Deep Wells,” will explore several key areas where theology should be shaping how leaders minister to teens. It will draw upon both theological and practical reflection to provide a framework for the shape of student ministry in the midst of a changing culture.
The class is available for three graduate credit hours from Emmanuel or for audit. It will meet at Emmanuel’s Thompson Center from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., daily. The fee is $250 for children, student and family ministers; the audit rate is $100.
“It is time to change the perception of youth ministry as a glorified baby-sitting service,” Booher said. “It is time to realize that young people long to be taken seriously and are thirsty for meaningful lives.”
The topics he will cover include helping teens to develop a faith that sticks after high school, creating authentic communities in the age of social media, using the power of story in ministry, and helping teens understand and navigate life in a consumer culture.
“This class will help close the gap between youth ministry and theology for those who are ministering to this generation,” Booher said. “It proclaims that deep theological reflection not only belongs in youth ministry, but at its very center.”
During the class, Dr. Chap Clark and Steven James will make special appearances.
Clark, a well-known practitioner, adolescent and family scholar and author, has more than 30 years of experience in direct ministry. He has held several positions with Young Life, Denver Seminary, Youth Specialties and several churches. Most recently, he published “Hurt 2.0: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers” and co-authored “Sticky Faith: Everyday Ideas to Build Lasting Faith in Your Kids” with Dr. Kara Powell.
James is a critically acclaimed author who has written more than 30 books spanning the genres of psychological thrillers, dramas, young adult fantasy and more. He earned a master’s degree in storytelling from East Tennessee State University in 1997 and is an active member of International Thriller Writers, The Authors Guild, Mystery Writers of America and International Association of Crime Writers.
For more information about the class, visit www.ecs.edu. To learn more about Milligan, visit www.milligan.edu.