YST started in October 2006 and so far 127 people have taken one or more YST courses. You’ll see comments made by students on the YST website.There are three kinds of YST courses:
- Certificate level courses, run in partnership with St John’s College, Nottingham. These are accessible but detailed courses, up to the standard of the first year in a B.A. degree
- Flatpack Theology: these are short courses, designed for anyone, which can be bolted together to give a comprehensive programme of study
- Youth and Children’s Work; practical courses to equip people in this vital area of ministry, some leading to accredited qualifications
There are many different YST courses - but there is only one sort of person who teaches for YST. YST tutors are people who combine a living faith in Jesus with a detailed knowledge of their subject and substantial experience in Christian ministry and mission. YST tutors come from a wide variety of churches: Anglican, Pentecostal, Baptist, Methodist, New Church… Every YST course includes time for prayer and worship. The practical experience of tutors is a good yardstick by which to judge any course in theology - and on that basis, students at YST can be assured that their tutors are first-rate.
‘Prepare your minds for action’ is a phrase from Peter’s first letter (1 Pet 1: 13 NIV). We all recognise that Christian faith has to lead into action, or it is nothing. But look how Peter urges his audience to ‘prepare your minds’. And later in that letter he stresses how important this is, lest we merely conform to the way of the world. YST courses aim to touch both heart and mind. But there is a crying need for Christians to think Christianly - for such thinking will lead to deeper discipleship and mission.
Whatever choices you are weighing up in your life, we are confident the YST courses will help you love God with your mind as well as your heart - and prepare you for action !
Explanation of Flat-pack Equipping Course
Why “Flat-pack?” Because like the furniture, when you get it home you will need to get it out of the box and build it yourself!“
The Flat-pack Equipping course is designed for those who are in York for a limited time, particularly Internationals, and young professionals.
Flat-pack consists of many short stand-alone courses, designed to fit in with the demands of a busy lifestyle, and to go alongside practical experience gained in the local church. It will has three main streams, 1) School of Maturity - how to be the person we should be 2) School of Ministry - skills such as how to preach, leadership, etc 3) School of Scripture - book overviews and introductions, Christian doctrine, etc.
The aim is to lay a foundation of equipping as quickly as possible, which can be built upon later. Those trained will be able to use what they have learned as they move on to new situations, taking with them materials which will then enable them to train and equip others.
Book ahead or turn up on the night.
Look at the YST website for more info.
