Creating Vocational Curriculums for Youth Ministries: Challenges and Opportunities

Authors

Chris Keeton, Hernando Church of ChristFollow

Abstract

This essay reflects on the creation of a vocational curriculum produced by the author's doctoral project. The goal is to explore the value in vocational reflection among teenagers in youth groups, and to offer an example of how youth ministries may implement extended and holistic teaching programs regarding the theology of vocation.

This essay begins with an assessment of the ministry context. Second, It reviews templates for vocational curricula used on some college campuses and how the author implemented those strategies into the project. Two key strategies were a common curriculum and a mentoring environment. Such templates were found in the Programs for the Exploration of Vocation and the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education. Third, this essay examines particular opportunities present for youth ministries regarding vocation.

Author Bio

Chris Keeton is married to Cassidy (Porter) Keeton (2014). They have two sons: Benjamin and Matthew. Chris received a B.A. (Bible) from Heritage Christian University (2005), a M.A. (New Testament) from Freed-Hardeman University (2009), a M.Div. from Harding School of Theology (2011), and a D.Min from Lipscomb University (2020). He has been the youth minister for the Hernando Church of Christ in Hernando, MS since 2012.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Keeton, Chris (2020) "Creating Vocational Curriculums for Youth Ministries: Challenges and Opportunities," Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry: Vol. 6: Iss. 2, Article 1.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/discernment/vol6/iss2/1