Guiding and mentoring young people today requires time, love, wisdom, patience, and prayer—but the rewards are definitely worth the effort!
Even though many Christians are content to live their lives privately while less advantaged youth and children are abandoned to a harsh and callous culture, those who invest in the lives of young people can make a difference for eternity. If you have a burden for the next generation, Maranatha’s youth ministries program is designed for you.
Course requirements include a Bible core as well as a ministry component that includes theology, technology in ministry, counseling, church administration and finance, and courses specifically related to youth ministry.
Suggested Schedule
This is the suggested class list for the Youth Ministries major. You may also want to look over the details for our Pastoral Studies major.
Year 1
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Life 1 | 1 | New Testament Survey | 2 |
| Old Testament Survey | 2 | Ministry Component | 2 |
| Ministry Component | 2 | English Composition 2 | 3 |
| English Composition 1 | 3 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 2 |
| The Modern World | 3 | General Pyschology | 3 |
| Music Appreciation | 2 | Science Elective | 3 |
| Math Elective | 3 |
Year 2
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Life 2 | 1 | Gospel Requirement | 2 |
| Baptist Heritage | 3 | Ministry Elective | 2 |
| Introduction to Biblical Counseling | 3 | Ministry Component | 2 |
| First Aid & Safety | 2 | Biblical Interpretation | 3 |
| Ministry Elective | 2 | Minor | 3 |
| Ministry Component | 2 | American Studies Elective | 3 |
| Minor | 3 |
Year 3
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Life 3 | 1 | Ministry Component | 2 |
| Theology 1 | 3 | Theology 2 | 3 |
| Secondary & Middle School Teaching Methods | 2 | Bible Elective | 2 |
| Ministry Component | 2 | The Christian Home | 2 |
| Homiletics 2 | 2 | Ministry Elective | 2 |
| Minor | 3 | Homiletics 3 | 2 |
| Literature Elective | 3 | Minor | 3 |
Summer
Summer | Credits |
|---|---|
| Internship | 2 |
Year 4
Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theology 4 | 2 | Ministry Component | 2 |
| Philosophy & Practice of Childrens Ministry | 3 | Theology 3 | 2 |
| Christian Camping | 2 | Pastoral Epistles | 2 |
| Ministry Elective | 2 | Bible Elective | 2 |
| Ministry Component | 2 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | Minor | 3 |
| Ethics | 2 | Apologetics | 2 |
Career Options
- Youth work
- Youth pastor
- Children’s pastor
- Director of youth social work program
- Director of after-school program
- Camp work
- Child evangelism
- Juvenile detention worker
- Sunday school curriculum director/writer
Alumni
Eric Hall (’10) was an intern at First Baptist Church of Litchfield, MI, for three months following his college graduation. When that internship was completed, Pastor Brent Stille (’90) hired Hall as youth pastor. “I’ve learned a lot and grown a lot personally,” Hall said. “I’ve really enjoyed it. It has been fun to get to know the teenagers and their families through activities and fellowship.” Hall is working through a book study with a new convert, a young man invited to a youth rally by one of the First Baptist teens. “ This experience has confirmed to me that I would like to work with youth fulltime and long-term,” Hall said.