WHAT IF…
…your campus or young adult ministry’s style of Christianity is known for its participants who are always ready to listen, care, and guide rather than a Christianity that needs to change, prove, or even manipulate people’s beliefs?
Peer Ministry is about…
- relationships within your program, but also throughout your participant’s community.
- skills, daily living out Good Samaritan Story lessons with every neighbor.
- loving others as a response for Christ first loving us.
Peer Counseling was the first term used by Barbara Varenhorst when she worked as a school counselor in Palo Alto, CA. After it became a statewide initiative in public schools, churches and campus ministries asked Barbara to work with them, and so she developed Peer Ministry. We have the honor of building on the work that Barbara began.
We provide the training and the resources for you to adapt Peer Ministry for your group.
OPTIONS
- Become an expert Peer Ministry Facilitator
- Learn with adult leaders from various locations and ministries
- Aquire skill to train your participants in-person or via Zoom
- View this PML Facilitator Training flyer
- ADULT FACILITATOR TRAINING via Zoom
- NOV 5, 12 & 19 2020, 2pm-4pm Central
- JAN 14, 21 & 28, 2021, 2pm-4pm Central
- MAR 4, 11 & 18, 2021, 2pm-4pm Central
Sign up link HERE
LEARN MORE
A program culture that expects others and accepts others.
A campus or young adult community where students listen and talk about real life and faith in the midst of everyday life.
As one participant said,
I can do ministry where I am at. I’m busy. I have very little time to fit in one more program. But, wherever I am at, doing whatever I am doing, in any setting, I can listen and care for people.
Peer Ministry training, whether on Zoom or in person, is a highly interactive, learn-by-doing experience. No laser lights or smoke machines. Nor are there any long lectures or boring slide shows.
In many ways, the participants become the curriculum. Each concept is introduced with a creative experience, followed by practicing skills with one or two others. People learn by naming what they are learning.
Skills become even more real as you encourage your group to use them after the training.
One campus brought together 60 students for a day of training, resulting in an ever-widening culture of care on their campus.
People skills have to be first experienced, then used in daily life before they are taught to others. Having a Peer Ministry Leadership trainer work with you will create a solid foundation to build on. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing really well.
LEADERS:
Now we can offer a ministry with a culture of care.
This is our biggest call as a campus center.
Peer Ministry is a key component to our ministry. Students who participate in the program learn helpful leadership skills that they can use both in the ministry and in their vocational calling. Students gain knowledge and confidence while forming deep relationships with one another in the peer ministry program.
As seniors reflect on their time at the University, their participation in the Peer Ministry Program is often a highlight for college.
Peer Ministry describes my experience with our PML trainer through the preparations, program, and now follow-up for campus ministry. He modeled what he taught, listening and helping as we went. Training has upped the interest, competence, and numbers of students ready to serve.
YOUNG ADULTS:
I can do ministry where I am at. I’m busy. I have very little time to fit in one more program. But, wherever I am at, doing whatever I am doing, in any setting, I can listen and care for people.
I met people where I am understood, they are compassionate, understanding, and value relationship.
We are often grappling to help each other out when life is unclear. These skills will be practical in these relationships.
Our group is now better equipped to shape people’s experience of our ministry group.
Friends come to me with concerns. The Peer Ministry tools will help me to help them figure out their own solutions, rather than me just giving advice.
Honing in on listening skills was important. I want to be “that person” who listens for others.
RESOURCES
Peer Ministry Leadership Training Manual
Train your student leadership team. Designed for both high school and young adult groups. Leader’s manual for 12 Peer Ministry Leadership Training sessions.
Peer Ministry Leadership Travel Guides
Three booklets to accompany Peer Ministry Leadership training. Enhance participants’ experience during your training times.
Reflect back, review, and use to continue to learn and practice after your training.
Two formats:
- Ready to print and fold in horizontal half page size
- Full page for digital uses on tables, smartphones and other screens.
