The Senior Youth Leader (SYL) curriculum is for individuals (approved by the church board) who wish to take Senior Youth Ministry to the next level using Biblical principles and contemporary methods. After completion of the SYL such individuals may be called upon to lead the Ambassador Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, and Public Campus Ministry at the local church.
Both the Master Guide (Junior Youth) and the Senior Youth Leader (Senior Youth) curriculums have some similar requirements and prerequisites. Candidates can attend some lessons together though each curriculum will dictate the emphasis (junior or senior) thus affecting specialization. Those who already completed the Master Guide program may be exempted from some SYL requirements. The diagram below shows the Youth Ministries structure. Please remember that the SYL and MG are not new levels of the department, they are leadership curriculums for Senior Youth and Junior Youth respectively that complement the structure.
Loving the Lord Jesus, I promise to take an active part in the youth ministry of the church, doing what I can to help others and to finish the work of the Gospel in all the world.
Download Senior Youth Leader Requirement Card Revised 2018
"A Leadership Curriculum
for Ambassador and
Young Adult Leaders."
The Senior Youth Leader curriculum must be completed in a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years.
Those completing the Senior Youth Leader curriculum must do so under the supervision of the Conference/Mission Youth Ministries Director or his/her designated Pastor or Qualified Youth Ministries Leader.
Seminars should be at least 60 minutes in length. All the seminar facilitators must be approved by the Conference/Mission Youth Director or his/her designee.
It would be advantageous for a Senior Youth Leader candidate to have a working knowledge of both Ambassadors and Young Adults Ministries.
Choose only one type of filing, Digital (recording) or Paper (writing).
1. Be a baptized member in regular standing of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
2. Have a written recommendation from your local Church Board.
3. Be at least 16 years of age to start the Senior Youth Leader Curriculum
4. Be an active staff member/supporter of an Ambassador or Young Adults Ministry.
5. Complete the 10 Hour Senior Youth Seminars and be involved for a minimum of one year.
a) Discover your Spiritual Gift by taking the test found on youth.adventist.org. (Attach filled survey)
b) After studying the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy teachings on Spiritual Gifts, write a brief Summary (250 words) of how your gifts can most effectively be used in Youth Ministry.
2. Read or listen (www.egwwritings.org) to the book Steps to Christ and submit a summary (250 words), focusing on the reading and the benefits.
3. Complete the devotional guide Encounter Series I, Christ the Way, or complete another year long Bible reading plan that covers the four Gospels and submit a summary from your reading.
4. Complete Reading or listening to the book Desire of Ages and submit a summary.
5. Do ONE of the following;
a. Keep a devotional journal for a minimum of six months, summarizing what you learned in your devotional time and outlining how you are growing in your faith (Attach devotional and summary).
b. Complete the Steps to Discipleship personal spirituality curriculum.
c. Summarize, critique and evaluate (500 words) the eWeek of Prayer of the current year. (Facebook: GC Youth Ministries)
To Watch and Listen to the 2020 Embrace Series e-Week of Prayer, Click here.
6. Read and give a summary of each of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs.
1. Do the following:
a. In view of Colossians 1:16, develop your own life vision and mission
Col 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:"
b. Identify three current roles in your life, at least one of which is spiritually oriented, and write three goals or objectives for each.
2. Have and teach the following honors (Attach certificates):
First Aid (A current Red Cross First Aid and Safety Certificate or its equivalent)
3. Read or listen (www.egwwritings.org) to the book Education or Messages to Young People by E. White.
4. Demonstrate your Leadership Skills by doing TWO of the following:
a. Develop and conduct three creative worship sessions for Ambassadors or Young Adults.
b. Participate in a leadership role with your Local Church Youth group in a Conference/Mission sponsored event.
c. Lead Ambassadors through one module to certification.
d. Be an active Ambassador, Young Adult or Sabbath School Staff member for at least one year and attend at least 75% of all staff meetings
e. Be a Literature Evangelist for a minimum of 60 hours in liaison with the Publishing Department of the Local Conference.
5. Participate in a personal physical fitness plan by completing ONE of the following:
a. The physical components of the AY Silver Award. If you already have the AY Silver Award, then move on to the AY Gold Award.
b. A college physical fitness program.(Or any other like local AY program such as morning watch etc)
c. A personal physical fitness program based on a fitness book of your choice or a workout program in consultation with your Conference/Mission Youth Ministries Director or the designated Pastor/Qualified Youth Ministries Leader.
1. Participate in Small Groups dialogue (for 30 minutes on each topic) and submit a Reaction Paper (1000 words) or Recording (20 minutes) on 10 of the following topics: Indicate dates when each topic was covered.
a. Church’s Relationship to Government
b. Music and Worship
c. Sex and Romance
d. Care for the Environment
e. Dating and Marriage
f. Service and Volunteering
g. Ethics
h. Health and Temperance
i. Social Justice
j. Religious Freedom
k. Youth Evangelism
l. Violence and Peace
m. Christian Dress
n. Gossip and Profanity
o. AIDS/Cancer
p. Recreation and Amusement
q. Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans-sexual (LGBT)
r. Unemployment and Entrepreneurship
s. Prejudice and Racism/Discrimination
t. Morality
u. Human Rights
v. Money Consumerism
2. Complete a two-page (500 words minimum) research paper about a standard temperament analysis program and complete the affiliated temperament inventory (Module 4, Ambassadors).
3. Attend a Union or Conference Wide training on Safety Planning and Insurance.
1. Know and understand the 10 iCOR values. http://icor.church. Write a summary.
2. Do TWO of the following:
a. Teach the Sabbath School lesson to a group of Senior Youth for a minimum of one quarter within one year.
b. Participate fully in the Youth Initiatives of Global Church or the Higher Organization (Global Youth Day, Youth Week of Prayer, Youth Commitment Day, Home Coming Sabbath, etc.)
3. Do ONE of the following:
a. Plan and direct/co-direct a weekend church or campus Senior Youth retreat or a Spiritual Emphasis week for youth. Where necessary subdivide the group.
b. Plan and direct at least two Senior Youth recreational activities covering a total time span for at least six hours. Where necessary subdivide the group.
4. Write and Pass Church Heritage Exam (75% Pass required) using Church Heritage Manual
5. Enhance your knowledge of Church Heritage by completing TWO of the following:
a. Read a book called The AY Story.
b. Write or record the history of a local church in consultation with the Conference/Mission Youth Ministries Director or Designated Pastor/Qualified Youth Ministries Leader.
1. Identify 10 needs in your community
Develop a plan on how to be relevant for your community
2. Choose any TWO from the following, endeavoring to lead one or more people to Christ:
a. Identify one young person who has stopped attending church and establish a relationship with him/her
b. Prepare and run GYD. Be sure to make follow up after Global Youth Day
c. Organize or present sermons for an evangelistic campaign (public evangelism, minimum 2 weeks).
d. Engage in Personal Evangelism through Friendship Ministry, Small Group Ministry, etc.
e. Serve as an Adventist Youth Task Force volunteer for 6 months
f. Serve as a Student Missionary or OYIM volunteer for 6 months
g. Give a series of Christ-Centered Bible studies covering at least fifteen major doctrines.
h. Direct or co-direct a community Better Living or Youth Alive for a minimum of ten days.
Attend a 10-hour conference-sponsored Youth Society Seminar addressing the following areas of youth ministry:
1. The Youth Leader as a Spiritual Leader, Mentor and Friend
2. Understanding the History, Philosophy, Vision, Objectives and Structure of Adventist Youth Ministry
3. Developing a Purpose Driven Model for Youth Ministry in the Local Church
4. Mentoring, Ownership and Empowerment in Youth Ministry
5. Comprehensive Evangelism
6. The Need for Specialized Youth Ministry
7. Creative Youth Ministry (to include programming)
8. Maximizing the Opportunities Offered by Social Media While Circumventing Its Hazards
9. Spiritual Giftedness and Service
10. Understanding the Youth
Stewardship (Optional: Read the book Counsels on Stewardship here)
First Aid (A current Red Cross First Aid and Safety Certificate or its equivalent)
Read or listen (www.egwwritings.org) to the book Steps to Christ and submit a summary (250 words), focusing on the reading and the benefits. (Download Book Summary - Steps to Christ)
Complete Reading or listening to the book Desire of Ages and submit a summary. (Download Book Summary - Desire of Ages)
Read or listen (www.egwwritings.org) to the book Education (Download Book Summary - Education) or Messages to Young People by E. White.
Discover your Spiritual Gift by taking the test found on youth.adventist.org. (Attach filled survey)
After studying the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy teachings on Spiritual Gifts, write a brief Summary (250 words) of how your gifts can most effectively be used in Youth Ministry.
Complete the devotional guide Encounter Series I, Christ the Way, or complete another year long Bible reading plan that covers the four Gospels and submit a summary from your reading.
Read and give a summary of each of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs.
Participate in Small Groups dialogue (for 30 minutes on each topic) and submit a Reaction Paper (1000 words) or Recording (20 minutes) on 10 of the given topics (You and Youth)
Know and understand the 10 iCOR values. http://icor.church. Write a summary.
Identify 10 needs in your community - Develop a plan on how to be relevant for your community
