LE3 .A278 2004

2004

Thomson, Larry

Acadia University

Doctor of Ministry

D.Min.

Ministry

Acadia Divinity College

At-risk youth living in the slums of East Asian cities usually do not reach their full potential in life. They are born into a situation affected by the disadvantages associated with poverty that include malnutrition, poor sanitation, understimulation, social deprivation, violence and immorality. Added to these are the more often hidden elements of oppression found in physical and sexual abuse, a restrictive role within the family, a prejudiced attitude of others outside their experience, and a spiritual darkness found within. Hope and meaning are realized when the at-risk youth discover a new identity found in a personal relationship with God and are able to live this out in the context of integral ministry within their community. The youth experience empowerment that brings about transformation. When the at-risk youth experience personal change they develop an interest in becoming involved in transformation in the community. This involvement brings an increase in self-esteem as the youth learn to use their new gifts and skills so as to impact positively the community. Involvement in the integral ministry of Christian community development has brought a sense of hope and meaning to the lives of many at-risk youth. In this development project the youth have been encouraged to live out their Christian lives by using their gifts, including those of service, teaching, encouragement and leadership in the existing programs established within the community. This thesis records the impact on the lives of some of these at-risk youth that are involved in the integral ministry of Christian community development within several urban poor areas of the Philippines. In this model for development, the Filipino youth are encouraged to be part of the decision-making process of community development within their area, and some become involved in running the project in the 'outreach areas' where the work with at-risk youth in community development is being established. The result of this emphasis on integral ministry in community development and concern for the plight of the poor in other slum areas, has led to the formation of a new 'mission of the poor with the poor'. This initial integral ministry model involving at-risk youth was found in the Jordan Project, an OMF/CIDA project that was run in the Philippines from 1996 to 2002. Now this project has been transformed, and has become an indigenous Filipino organization called 'Bukang Liwayway' (Dawn for the Poor). Many of the leaders and community workers who have been involved in the integral ministry in several Filipino slum communities and in the formation of Bukang Liwayway were formerly at-risk youth.

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