The Unnamed Companion On The Road

Abstract

Not long ago, I was participating in a training programme in Spiritual Accompaniment. For my prayer one morning, I chose the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35). During my many years of active youth ministry I have used this text as a model of youth ministry. The Wedge Model of youth ministry is based on this story (Finn, 1993; Kimball, 1987; Zanzig, 1987). This model has been elaborated also in the African context by Selvam (2006). In this model, the youth minister is seen as one who joins the two young people on the road, listens to their stories, enlightens their mind and heart, and finally enables them to experience Jesus as the Risen Lord. Thus youth ministry becomes a process that empowers young people to go back to their daily life with a deep sense of hope. This hope flows from their experience of Christ. When they begin to share their own hope with others, the young people in turn become ministers to their peers.