Taak en rol van die vrywillige jeugwerker in die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk

Abstract

The background for this study is a survey undertaken by a cluster of congregations in the Wonderboom area of Pretoria, which revealed that their youth ministries are becoming increasingly ineffective. This worldwide trend is related to the reality that traditional program-based approaches to youth ministry not longer reach modern young people.

This study proposes that a choice be made for a relationship based youth ministry that focuses on the communication of faith through the building of relationships of trust between adult mentors and the youth. Churches and the youth would benefit from choosing a relationship-based youth ministry.

A relational approach demands enough volunteer youth workers who are qualified to work with contemporary adolescents. The study therefore proposes guidelines for the recruitment, selection, training and utilisation of volunteer youth workers, as well as for the implementation of a relational youth ministry in the Dutch Reformed Church.

Die agtergrond tot hierdie studie is 'n ondersoek van die Ring van Wonderboom wat bevind het dat gemeentes in die Ring se jeugbedieninge toenemend minder effeklief raak. Die wereldwye tendens hou daarmee verband dat kerke se tradisionele, programgerigte benaderings nie meer daarin slaag om die hedendaagse jeug le bereik nie. Die studie stel voor dal daar eerder gekies moet word vir 'n verhoudingsgerigte jeugbediening wal daarop ingestel is om geloof te kommunikeer deur diepgaande vertrouensverhoudings tussen die jeug en volwasse mentors daar le stel. Die keuse vir 'n verhoudingsgerigte jeugbediening hou besliste voordele vir die kerke en die jeug in. Die benadering vereis genoeg vrywillige jeugwerkers wat geskool en gemotiveerd is om met die hedendaagse jeug te werk. Die studie gee daarom riglyne vir die werwing, keuring, skoling en aanwending van vrywillige jeugwerkers, asook vir die implementering van 'n verhoudingsgerigte jeugbediening in die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk.