Program Participants

Who is the program for?
The Amazing Grace Bible and Guitar Study is specifically designed as a ministry tool to assist  churches, ministries and similar organizations that work with at-risk and disadvantaged youth living in their community.

How many youth can be in each program?
With one leader and one assistant leader, the maximum number of students for each program is twelve. With additional instructors, more kids can be added.

What are the participants age?
The age range for program participants is from twelve to eighteen, the years where peer group pressure and the desire to fit in, regardless of the consequences, are the greatest.

Selecting Participants
Our partners select the participants for their program. Some use our program as a discipleship tool while others for evangelism. Most combine the two in a manner that fits the needs of their community.

We recommend that your kids be individually intervened by your program leaders. The purpose is to create a time for program leaders to set down face to face with participants, making sure they understand what is expected from them, and what they can expect from you. Some of our partners ask their kids to sign the interview form, placing the serial number of their guitar next to their signature. It’s up to each of our partners to decide the best approach for their program. You may use this form, or use it as a guideline for making your own

• Download Participant Interview Form

What does each participant receive?
Curriculum for the Bible study and guitar instruction
Gregg Bennet D1 Acoustic Guitar http://www.gregbennettguitars.com/index.html
Gig Bag (carrying case)
Electronic Tuner
Music Stand

Graduation
This is an excellent opportunity for class participants to be recognized for completing the program. They are formally awarded with their guitar at this time. Also, it’s good for your kids to play their guitars as a group for their peers and adults as well. The key is for the instructor to play along with the kids. They need to feel safe. In a kids mind, the worst thing that can happen to them is to look foolish in front of their friends. They should feel and the instructors are to reassure them with words something like; “I’m not going to let anything happen to you., If you get lost look at me. I will be there for you”.

The Safety of the Kids
To ensure the safety of program participants our partners are responsible for ensuring adequate background checks and screening procedures have been completed for the instructors/leaders they select. This understanding is part of the partnership agreement our partners will be asked to sign along with a representative from Noteworthy Ministries.

What is the policy for the being absent?

Attendance policies are set by program leaders. There should be an established attendance policy that is clearly communicated to the student during the interview process.

What about practicing their guitar? Do the kids take the guitars home with them?
We leave it up to our partners to decide if/when participants take their guitars home with them. Some partners allow the kids to take their guitars home after two or three sessions. There are situations where a young person taking a guitar into home where there a few resources and numerous siblings may cause problems. Our partners make the call.

What happens if one of the guitars get’s destroyed or stolen?
Our partners set their own policies. We recommend that the youth are given the benefit of the doubt. It’s important the guitars are not seen as leverage. A rule of thumb we like to follow is that we had rather be seen as a fool than a hypocrite. Has there been some abuse of this policy? Yes. But is it worth the risk? Yes.

What songs do the kids learn?
We ask the first song the kdis learn is Amazing Grace. Then, instructors are fee to choose their Christian songs. The instructional DVD we provide our guitar leaders have the following  songs incuded.

1. Amazing Grace – Two versions; Traditional Version and Dynamic Beat
2. Lord I Lift Your Name on High
3. Step by Step

We have a large library of Christian songs and will be glad to provide you with any guitar instructional material we have.