Youth Ministry as a Practical Theology: Making a Case for Youth Ministry as an Academic Discipline

Traditionally Youth Ministry is seen as an appendix to Christian Education. Many still do not even consider it to be an academic discipline within it's own right. Nel's conviction is that ministering to youth is the broader field and should be researched, studied and taught as such. The new well established paradigm of what Practical Theology is opens up new possibilities to explore and make a case for Youth Ministry as a sub-discipline within Practical Theology. Of such a sub-discipline Christian Education is a vital part. Youth Ministry however is more than Christian Education. It includes research of the present governing theories as well as the praxis. Only a Practical Theological approach to this field and ministry will bring about scientifically sound new theories arid a new praxis whereby and where in parents, churches and other agencies will be empowered to minister to the millions of children and young people around the world