|
Australian Christian Resources |
|---|
Ministry to Adolescents Program (MAP)
A relational and educational ministry program for young people age 12-14 in which Christian adults listen to young people and speak God's word to the real-life situations of young people.
Images of travel, map-reading, road signs, etc are used throughout the Ministry to Adolescents Program because they are indicative of the changes and movement that define the life of young adolescents.
The over-riding message throughout the Ministry to Adolescents Program is that
* God understands what it's like on the road of adolescence,
* God cares about people on the road of adolescence,
* God can help people on the road of adolescence
and that
MAP leaders also care, are willing to listen and understand, and have experiences and a message (a faith and a Saviour) to share.
MAP is a flexible, modular program, leaders can choose among eight general themes that are significant in the lives of young people. The MODULES are:
* Identity
* Faith
* Family
* Road Map (Bible overview)
* Friends
* Jesus
* Issues
* Choices
MAP modules can be use in any combination and in any order.
Within each of these modules, there are six separate TOPICS. We recommend that the topics be used in the order in which they are presented.
Each of the topics is approached in the same three STEPS:
1. Start with the young people's lives ("Surveying the situation')
2. Discover what God says and does in relation to this aspect of their lives ("Consulting God's road map')
3. Encourage young people to respond to what God says and does ("Moving on').
We recommend that the three steps be used for every topic and in every session.
For each MAP module there is a Leader's Guide full of a wide range of ideas for each of the steps. These ideas allow leaders and young people to spend as long as they choose on any topic, eg
* one group might choose to spend one hour on a given topic, using just three or four of the suggested activity ideas
* another group might spend several one-hour sessions, or a weekend camp on the same topic, using a combination of up to 25 suggested activities.
The flexibility built into MAP permits a congregation to use the resource in an informal club-like ministry or in a more formal teaching (or Confirmation*) setting. The range of ideas allows a group to place a special emphasis on relation-developing activities or discovery-based learning about Bible passages or Luther's Small Catechism.
The range of MAP activity suggestions encourages and assists with a team ministry to young people in which several people can use their special gifts.
For each MAP module there is also an issue of "On the Road', a magazine-format resource for the young people. The attractive, colourful 48 page magazine is full of stories, articles, activities, cartoons and activities that support what is done in MAP sessions.
People considering MAP or beginning a MAP ministry program will want to study the Introductory Manual, which looks at such issues as:
*Understanding the changes taking place in young adolescents
*The MAP approach to ministry
*MAP and baptism
*MAP and confirmation
*MAP and outreach
*MAP: a team ministry
*MAP and parents
*MAP and mentors
*MAP leaders
*Bible and catechism
*MAP modules
*MAP program models
*Using MAP modules
*MAP in small or isolated groups
*A MAP launch
