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Peer Ministry Leadership

Leadership Training

Campus / Young Adult Peer Ministry

WELCOMING – CARING – HELPING

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 continuing and building on the work that Barbara began.

We provide the training and the resources, you adapt Peer Ministry for your group’s ministry.

OPTIONS

OPTION #1: We send a trainer to you

We send a trainer to work with one or more groups. This is still our favorite way to work as we get to be with people heart-to-heart and person-to person.

  • Normally six to eight hours.
  • Can be split between two days  
  • Normal group sizes range from 12–45 people. 
  • Cost: $1,900
    • plus trainer travel, lodging and incidentals

Let’s connect and explore possibilities

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OPTION #2: Video and live facilitator coaching for you

You facilitate and lead your group. We recommend the coaching because…

“You can’t teach Peer Ministry from a manual, you teach it from how you livegfhtry”

Let’s imagine you and I are sitting in my office and you asked, “Can you walk me through this session?” I would say, “Let me tell you all about it.” These video clips will have that personal vibe. I get to share a bit of my wisdom, experiences, suggestions and enthusiasm on each of the twelve sessions.

In addition to session by session instruction I also get to share…

  • A solid overview of Peer Ministry
  • The skills needed for facilitating Peer Ministry sessions
  • Thoughts on what young adults get to do with the skills they learn.

BONUS: At least two phone or Zoom coaching sessions.

We will…

  • talk through your group and plan how your young adults will use this training. 
  • help you strategize the practical applications for what your people can do with the skills they acquire.

Click to learn more about this option in the

SKILL STORE

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RESULTS

A 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.

STYLE OF TRAINING

Peer Ministry training 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.

WHY FACILITATOR TRAINING?

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. 

WHAT LEADERS AND PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING

LEADERS SAY

  • “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 SAY

  • “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.

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Peer Ministry Leadership

PML works with all denominations. The theology is Christian, and flows from the Good Samaritan Story, with an emphases on relational caring, welcoming and affirming skills. PML is a good fit for many denominations and adapts well for various settings.
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