Lipscomb University hires youth ministry expert to enhance Bible department
Janel Shoun |
“It is rare to find someone with a doctorate in youth ministry and the breadth of ministry experience that Walter possesses, so we are excited that he will bring that background to our many youth ministry majors,” said Lipscomb's Dean of the College of Bible and Ministry Terry Briley. “Youth ministry is a vital and challenging area of service, and we believe Walter can help our students prepare themselves to nurture the faith of young people.”
Of the five programs in Lipscomb’s Bible major, youth ministry has the largest number of students, with graduates guiding youth in congregations across the nation, Briley said. With this degree of interest and need, it is crucial that Lipscomb provide the best qualified educators available to train the next generation of youth ministers, he said.
Surdacki’s practical experience includes almost 10 years experience at Campbell Church of Christ, more than four years experience at Malibu Church of Christ, and almost two year’s experience at Torrance Church of Christ.
“If you look at youth ministry over the past 20 to 30 years, it has grown from a luxury to a position of necessity for most churches,” said Surdacki, who sees youth ministry as having a major influence on overall church trends. For example, the demands of youth have inspired many churches to incorporate contemporary worship methods and the practice of spiritual disciplines, he noted.
“I think youth ministry is an exciting place to be in the church. The next challenge is how to involve the entire family in youth ministry. Instead of being a place where you just drop the kids off, youth ministries need to engage parents and youth in dialogue about spiritual disciplines and their daily walk with God,” he said.
Surdacki has written several articles for “Group Magazine,” developed numerous seminars for churches, and spoken at the annual Pepperdine Bible Lectures, the National Institute of Youth Ministry and SonLife Ministries. As a practicing youth minister, he has worked in programs coordinated by Youth Specialties and the National Conference on Youth Ministry.
He has also served as director of the Sonlife Evangelism and Missions Project, a national student leadership camp, and has coordinated Labor Day Youth Rally, a regional youth ministry event, since 1999.
Surdacki said his personal goals for Lipscomb’s youth ministry program include incorporating more service and intern experiences in urban settings, longer-term internships for student youth ministers and developing research programs in adolescent studies.
“Because Lipscomb is in an urban setting and has so many resources, there are things it can do that nobody else can,” Surdacki said.
Doctorate programs in youth ministry have only been around for about a decade, Surdacki said. He said he is not aware of another program that combines academics, theology and practical experience in the same way that Fuller Theological Seminary, his alma mater, does.
“My hope and goal with the youth ministry department at Lipscomb is not just to be an ivory tower, although I do want ministers to come out thinking theologically,” Surdacki said. “Youth ministers have done a lot of thinking about what programs to do, but have not thought a lot about the whys behind those programs. I want youth ministry students to be thinking theologically, but I also want to give them practical tools they can really use.”