General Baptist Convention of New Jersey, Inc.
A Christian Education Training Program of the Congress Of Christian Education
Summer Assembly 2009
Overview of Young People's Summer Training Program of the Congress of
Christian Education
sanctioned by
the General Baptist Convention of
New Jersey, Inc.
The most important work of our Congress of Christian Education is to educate the members in Missions, Christian Education, and Evangelism. We do this by sponsoring specialty workshops, conferences, seminars and training sessions. Our work would not be complete if we did not aggressively train our young people in these same areas.
Young People's Summer Assembly, hereafter referred to as Summer Assembly, is designed to do just that. We seek to disciple our teenagers through the Summer Assembly Program in an academic atmosphere. This program is sanctioned by the Convention and is operated under the umbrella of the Congress of Christian Education. The Director carries out the Summer Assembly Program. The Convention President according to the General Baptist Convention of New Jersey, Inc. Constitution appoints the Director annually.
The summer training is a week-long process stretched over a four-year period. Students are assembled on a college campus to escape their day-to-day concerns and to promote an atmosphere of total focus. This also gives the student the opportunity to experience life on a college campus.
The curriculum is designed to prepare the student for Christian maturity and Christian leadership. The student is also encouraged to develop a more intimate relationship with Christ. Our core classes are taken from the course curriculum of the National Baptist Sunday School Publishing Board. These classes are eligible for National Certification.
The classes will help the students become proficient in sharing their faith through the Word, particularly in the book of Romans. They will learn our Baptist Doctrine and know what drives our churches, associations and conventions. Some classes will challenge the students to defend his/her faith. Some classes will explore worship, still others will teach the student to better understand themselves and others.
Aside from providing classes in leadership and word literacy the student will have an opportunity to participate in "Peer Ministry." Classes are not only offered that will give them practical ministry knowledge, but also classes that can be applied to their own personal walk with Jesus Christ.
It is our hope that at the end of the program the students will go back to their churches ready to provide capable and mature leadership through peer ministry as well as having developed a deeper personal relationship with Christ. Summer Assembly is held annually the first week after the second Sunday in July. The week begins on Sunday evening and culminates on Friday evening with the closing exercise.
Vision and Mission Statement
It is our vision and mandate that the young people of our Convention churches who have shown promise of strong leadership skills and knowledge of God's Words will transition into a capable mature leader skilled in the Word and prepared for Christian service.
Purpose and Goals of Summer Assembly
The program is designed to give participants an opportunity to participate in leader development situations and stimulate discussions relating to contemporary issues.
To help the student develop increased Bible literacy
To enable youth to better understand themselves and to tolerate others.
To utilize the music and arts of religion to the advantage of Christian Education.
To encourage the participant to form a more intimate relationship with The God of the Word.
Objectives
To help the participant know Christ.
To help the participant become adept at peer ministry.
To lead the participant in the development of their leadership potential.