| The project, Equipping And Empowering A Youth Cell Group For Effectively Developing Relationship And Fostering Faith, was undertaken at Porters Chapel United Methodist Church in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Candidate James P. Biedenharn and the committee attempted to develop a new approach in the church youth ministry and to quantitatively measure their success in so doing. The project proceeded under the basic premise of Christian theology that scripture and the message it contains are foundational to faith development. The objective of the project was two-fold. First it was to generate a method that adapted to the manner in which postmodern youth learn and grow. This objective would enable them to be present in the current cultural environment as Christian disciples. The second objective was a change in the content of material taught. The basis for this objective was that presentation of Christian teaching using technical methodology would more likely engage our young people and, in turn, teach them more effectively. The goal of the project was to maximize participation, increase relationship, and build faith. A scientific test was administered in an attempt to quantitatively measure facilitate the process of identity formation and to determine whether the youth had been introduced through the project to a more meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. |
