First Year Missionary Program Objectives
Radical discipleship for college
students wanting to follow Jesus' model
Program Objectives
The First Year Missionary program is a college-age discipleship
program in a cross-cultural environment. Primary objectives are
developing participants’ intimacy, purpose and discipleship.
Intimacy
There is a real lack of intimacy in a lot of Christians today.
FYMs seek to develop this:
With God. In seeking intimacy with the Father,
we are pursuing a relationship that truly is personal. Those who
are intimate understand what is important to one another. They
honor one another. They have conversations with one another. One
of the problems in our society is that we are fragmented and prone
to an ADD kind of spirituality – we rarely really experience
spiritual intimacy. The fruit of intimacy with God and others
is inevitably strong character.
With self. Many people do not understand or
appreciate themselves. Consequently, they are insecure. Unsure
as to their strengths and weaknesses, they’re defensive
about critique and never learn to focus their energies in areas
of strength. FYMs learn to understand and become comfortable with
how God made them. Through a process of assessment, regular feedback
and affirmation, they gain self-confidence and acquire competencies
in their areas of strength.
With others. FYMs learn how to depend on God and to
be interdependent with others. The fruit of this interdependence is
koinonea. Koinonea is the Greek word for the special spiritual fellowship
that Christians enjoy. Many of us have never experienced what for first
century Christians was a foundational element of their faith. FYMs experience
koinonea as they live in community with one another.
Divine Purpose
It’s important for followers of Christ to have a deep sense of
purpose. Over the course of a year, FYMs grow in understanding of several
levels of purpose:
God’s. God desires to retake and restore lost
territory in people’s lives. We need to embrace God’s overarching
purpose to build His Kingdom.
Our own. God’s purpose for each of us is to
follow and serve Him. Even more specifically, He has equipped each one
of us differently for specific types of service. Those who learn to
work from their gifts minister with boldness and power, and bear great
fruit in their ministry.
Our team’s. A team is a group committed to a
common goal. As we embrace the shared objective of building the Kingdom,
we grow in unity.
Discipleship
Effective growth – our own, as well as others’ – all
comes down to discipleship. As an FYM, you will learn about and walk
out Jesus’ model of discipleship:
Personally. If we want to build the Lord’s Kingdom,
we must be committed to grow as His disciples. We can’t show others
the way to walk unless we can model it for them. FYMs are challenged
to grow as disciples continually.
In ministry. Students also learn how to disciple others…
and do it! In the process, they acquire an experiential understanding
of the Great Commission.
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