180° Symposium
Andrews University – Hybrid (In-person and virtual)
Created and Hosted by CYE
Sponsored by NAD Youth and Young Adult Ministries
AdventSource
The 180 Symposium addresses current issues facing youth ministries while seeking to generate principles for effective and healthy change through moderated discussion between administrators, academics, and practitioners in youth ministry.
You are invited to be part of the 180° Symposium! This is our invitation for you to be part of it, either by presenting a paper on one aspect of the topic (see Be a Writer), or being part of the “think tank” that looks at this topic from either an academicians perspective, an administrators perspective, or a practitioners perspective—three different focus groups.
Topic: FOLLOWING JESUS
Subtitle: Discipling Young People
In Old Testament times, families passed on the faith with the support of the community, including the annual practices of feasts and festivals in addition to the weekly Sabbath. Young boys went to school to learn Torah. Those who completed the various rounds of study could become a direct follower of a rabbi with the hope of one day becoming a rabbi himself. Most dropped out along the way and returned home to follow in the craft of their father—farmer, herdsman, fisherman, tailor, carpenter.
When Jesus came to earth, he functioned as an independent rabbi with his own group of followers he called disciples. Rather than keeping them in classes for years, he sent them out to announce the kingdom of God was “at hand” (near/close). Since that time, those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and also as their lord began a journey of living for Jesus.
After Christ’s ascension to heaven, the Holy Spirit has continued this, making it possible for people in any part of the world to “follow Jesus” although somewhat invisibly. Mentors and role models have stepped in to teach or exemplify how to follow Jesus as a disciple. Instead of a year, of 3 ½ years like Christ’s disciples, or four-to-five years to get a college degree, those who follow Jesus are expected to do this for the rest of their lives.
If you grow up “following Jesus” today, what does that look like, especially as you change and mature along the way? What remains the same and what should a person expect to change for a 12-year-old compared to a five-year-old? What about a 15-year-old compared to a 25-year-old? Does discipleship affect maturity or does maturity affect discipleship?
Do young children who demonstrate obedience exemplify discipleship, or do those who challenge existing systems operate more like Jesus did? When vocational options seem plentiful and young people experiment with potential “callings,” should that be attributed to identity development or discipling? Should a young person choose to become a pastor because their pastor modeled this well? If a theology major changes their field of study, would that be a denial of discipling or another chapter in the process? With all of the many changes (physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual) from birth to thirty (the age Jesus officially began his ministry), what is “discipling young people”?