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M.A. in Youth and Family Ministries with a Concentration in Outdoor Leadership

The Heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge... Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
-From Psalm 8 &19

What is a Master of Arts in Youth and Family Ministries with a Concentration in Outdoor Leadership?

Reaching today’s adolescents for Christ and nurturing their spiritual development involves both invigorating and overwhelming challenges. The Master of Arts in Youth and Family Ministries with an Outdoor Leadership concentration is a unique combination of our solid M.A. core of biblical and theological courses with wilderness and adventure experiences, led by experts in outdoor ministry. This concentration helps you reach youth through personal and physical challenges while finding the best possible resources and skills that are biblically faithful, spiritually rich, and personally engaging. And there is no better place than at a world-class seminary located in the Front Range of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains!

Youth and Family Ministry degrees at Denver Seminary fall under the Division of Christian Ministry. To learn more about this division, watch a video from the Division of Christian Ministry or watch a video from the Division of Counseling.

The M.A. in Youth and Family Ministries with a concentration in Outdoor Leadership is excellent preparation for goals such as:

  • Ministry positions with an existing camp or organization

  • Leadership in church-based youth ministries and programs

  • Leadership in parachurch youth programs

  • Ministry with at-risk youth

  • Launching a new ministry focused on wilderness, adventure, and challenge course programming

Structure

In addition to the required M.A. core classes (30 hours), the Master of Arts in Youth and Family Ministries with a concentration in Outdoor Leadership includes 20 hours of classes specific to youth and family ministry and 12 hours in outdoor leadership:

  M.A. in YFM Outdoor Leadership

Course #

Sem Hrs.

 M.A. Core

 

30
 Foundations of Youth and Family Ministries

YFM 501

3
 Leadership in Youth and Family Ministries

YFM 502

3

 Evangelism and Discipleship in Adolescent
 Culture

YFM 601

 2
 Tranformational Communication YFM 602 3
 Models of Youth Ministry

YFM 620

 3
 Moral and Faith Development

YFM 660

 3
 Special Skills (select one):

 

 3

    - The Person and Profession of Youth Ministry1

YFM 650

 (3)

    - Urban Youth and Family Ministry1

 YFM 652 (3)

 Counseling Ministries Concentration:

   12

    - Biblical, Theological, and Philosophical
      Foundations

 OL 501 (3)

    - Outdoor Leadership Organization and
      Management

 OL 503 (2)

    - Outdoor Leadership electives

  (6) 

Total Degree Hours: 

62

1 These courses meet the globalization awareness requirement.

Courses focus on the theology, philosophy, soft-skills and meta-skills of wilderness ministry and adventure programming. Special emphases on the use of wilderness ministry and adventure programming for evangelism, discipleship, leadership development, spiritual formation, and in mission. Courses are taught by Christian ministry leaders who are theologically, experientially, and academically equipped. Courses are academic and experiential, utilizing our classrooms in Littleton and the rivers, lakes, peaks and backcountry wilderness of Colorado and Wyoming. Courses are experiential opportunities enhanced through partner relationships with some of the top Christian organizations in the Rocky Mountain Region.

A sample of elective classes:

Department Faculty

Faculty Highlight

Dr. Ashley Denton is an instructor in outdoor leadership who has over 15 years of ministry experience with Young Life and in outdoor ministry. Dr. Denton is director of both the Wilderness Ministry Institute and Outdoor Leadership International, and is the author of Christian Outdoor Leadership: Theology, Theory and Practice.

Check us out! We may be the right place for your next step in ministry training.


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