In this Unit, you will think through the foundations of what Christian youth work is all about. What are you trying to achieve with your young people? How does it differ from secular youth work? What can you learn from the approach of others? What does your local community and organisation think about young people and what you are trying to achieve with them? These are all questions that get addressed in this Unit.

Effective Christian Youth Work will inevitably require a basic understanding of the Scriptures; to teach and to nurture young people and also to build a biblical framework for youth work practice. This Module provides a basic introduction to the New Testament: its history and key themes. Students will be encouraged to develop a deeper understanding of the New Testament and apply some of the key themes to their own youth work practice.

Relationships and Boundaries

All Christian Youth Work is carried out in the context of the Church. The Youth Work may be linked to a specific Church, or a separate Youth Work Project may be sponsored in some way by local Christians. It may be that the Youth Work is outside an immediate Church context but the workers and leaders are Chriatians. Whatever the context, Christian youth workers need to understand what the Church actually is and how their ministry relates to the Church. This Module explores Biblical ideas of Church: What Jesus taught about the nature of the Church, how the Gospels writers understood the emerging Church community, what the Book of Acts teaches about the early Church and how Paul and the other New Testament writers developed ideas of what Church is. Students will be encouraged to understand the many models and images of 'Church' in the Bible and analyse the context of their own youth work in the light of that learning.

In this Unit, you will explore the principles of mission and evangelism - and how they differ. You will think through how mission and evangelism has been carried out in your own community as well as how mission and evangelism could make an impact on a global level. You will also consider principles from both the Old Testament and the New Testament for mission and evangelism.

Foundational to effective Christian youth work is the desire to lead young people to Christ and see them devote themselves to a life of discipleship. This Unit considers what discipleship is and what a life of discipleship might entail. Biblical ideas and theological ideas are explored and students are encouraged to reflect on their own ministry with one young person in particular, thinking through how that young person is being nurtured as a disciple of Jesus Christ.