together -Jan 2016
SIM NZ quarterly magazine #148
SIM NZ quarterly magazine #148
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do earn a degree are not guaranteed good jobs. Unemployed graduates are<br />
susceptible to ills such as depression, substance abuse or gangs. The evangelical<br />
church in Peru is in an ideal place to reach out to youth, but only a few of<br />
the many churches have a trained youth pastor. Existing youth programmes<br />
are usually run by lay leaders who lead miniature church services.<br />
Future leaders<br />
As churches recognise the need to train youth leaders, SIM is ready to<br />
come alongside. As mission partners, instead of leading one youth group, we<br />
want to train youth leaders and empower the Church to care for their young<br />
people. The first step is developing disciples of Christ like Gaby, who will later<br />
become leaders in the church, so I adapted the Jesus Focused Youth Ministry<br />
programme from Barry St. Clair’s Reach Out Ministries. This programme<br />
focuses on six areas: developing a deep relationship with Jesus Christ, praying<br />
with passion, developing leaders, discipling students, encouraging outreach<br />
activities in churches and<br />
encouraging outreach activities<br />
outside churches.<br />
Through the programme<br />
more than 700 youth<br />
leaders from 40 churches<br />
have been trained throughout<br />
Peru. Four of these<br />
have become Eagle Leaders,<br />
working with me to<br />
provide leadership training<br />
workshops for the local<br />
churches. One of them<br />
says “Youth ministry is all about one-on-one discipleship,<br />
helping youth discover who they are in Christ and<br />
then building a lasting relationship that will guide them<br />
through life’s struggles.” Mike develops youth ministries<br />
in some of the poorer parts of Lima, Peru’s capital.<br />
Other leaders include Pedro, a new pastor who is<br />
helping the Presbyterian Church develop youth work;<br />
Daniel, a pastor and director of a Bible institute, helps<br />
pastors in his city better meet the needs of youth; and<br />
Diego, an educator who works directly with young people,<br />
helping them discover their identity in Christ.<br />
– Cynthia Sundman<br />
Pray<br />
For the many<br />
youth leaders<br />
whom God has<br />
changed and is<br />
using to help<br />
meet the needs<br />
of Peru’s young<br />
people.<br />
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