Christian Life Skills (CLS) works primarlily with churches, community groups, and instituions of higher learning, providing opportunities for:
- Mentoring and nurturing Relationships
- Life Skills education based in scripture
- Training for adults and youth
- Family support for improved quality of life
- Networking with churches, community groups and institutions of higher learning to share resources and experiences
- Internships and Field Placements
CLS looks forward to partnering with your church or group to provide the Christian Life-Skills ministry and curriculum to your congregation and community. Below is an overview of CLS. It explains the RATIONALE behind CLS, and how we can partner with you and your church to meet critical needs in your community.
RATIONALE: Why Christian Life Skills?
1. To provide guidance through a rite of passage into responsible Christian living.
Many traditions help our youth identify and celebrate the passage into a new and special stage of life. Here are some experiences you may recognize:
- First communion
- Confirmation
- Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah
- Cotillion
All of these require a period of formal preparation with special guidance and instruction, then the youth is READY to experience the rite of passage.
In the absense of adult guidance and these kinds of experiences, some youth have created their own: stealing cars, shoplifting, experimenting with sex, drugs, alchohol, firearms and other unwholesome and ill-advised behaviors. CHRISTIAN LIFE SKILLS provides clear, specific guidance and specific TRAINING (Proverbs 22:6) that helps to prepare youth for responsible Christian living in a difficult world. Training is available for each of ten basic skills.
Training our children very deliberately is a biblical concept we seem to have forgotten.
(Proverbs 22:6, Psalm 119:9, 11, Joshua 1:8 & 9, Deuteronomy 6:6 – 9)
2. To give children and youth a positive way to address: stresses, pressures, confusion, frustration, pain, temptations and other difficulties they often experience, which may cause them to respond by getting into trouble.
Prevention, early intervention, and community pastoral care all apply to the approach taken in the ministry of Christian Life Skills.
3. To utilize a mentoring and nurturing approach in serving children and youth since the research from the National Mentoring partnership indicates that mentored youth:
- are more likely to go to college
- are 46% less likely to start using drugs
- are less likely to start drinking
- have improved academics
- have better school attendance
- have reduced symptoms of depression
4. The research also indicates that having caring, nurturing relationships with four or five persons over an extended period of time is even more significant in helping youth to make wise decisions and feel supported and strengthened in doing what is best. Information discussing this research is included in the doctoral dissertation: Pastoral Care of Urban Youth and Familes through Christian Life Skills by Barbara W. Rogers.
This is a very difficult world in which to live. The CHRISTIAN LIFE SKILLS ministry provides a number of resources, activities, and approaches that help youth and families face life’s challenges. See the TESTIMONIES of those who have been assisted in moving forward with their day-to-day lives. Life Skills help assist families and youth in discovering how to live in a godly, responsible way. The Life-Skills curriculum addresses peer pressure, sex and violence portrayed by the media, drug and alcohol abuse, relationships, academics, and many other issues faced on a daily basis. See a complete list of what we provide in our curriculum.