Spirituality Youth

Too many teens drift away from the Faith after youth group ends. This honest guide shows how to change that by forming real disciples through personal relationships and small groups, not just programs. Learn how to build trust, involve parents and the parish, and create an environment where young people grow in faith for life. A clear, practical plan for helping the next generation stay rooted in Christ.

Youth ministry is an essential part of most evangelical churches. And yet, there is a surprising lack of resources written specifically for youth workers focused on viewing all aspects of youth ministry through a gospel-focused lens. Featuring contributions from a host of experienced youth workers from a wide variety of churches, this how-to manual offers guidance related to every facet of youth ministry, from planning short-term mission trips to working with parents.

Michael McGarry explores the foundation of youth ministry in the Old and New Testaments and brings that together with Church history in a compelling way. This contemplative and well-researched book provides a careful critique of youth ministry along with practical guidance for those serving in ministry.

Why do youth ministries crumble? And what is the cost to students, parents, volunteers and church staff? Is a sustainable youth ministry possible, even after a youth pastor leaves? Youth ministry expert Mark DeVries knows the answer is yes, because he helps build sustainable youth ministries through his coaching service called Youth Ministry Architects. So take heart: No matter what state the youth ministry at your church is in—in need of a leader and volunteers, full of battles and stress, large or small in number—it can be built to survive and to last for the long haul.

The Church today does not expect what it ought to from children and their parents, and this can be attributed in large part to a flawed concept of youth ministry. This need not and should not be so. This essay discusses the reasons behind the problem and proposes some biblical solutions.

This book guides you on the way to discovering, developing and practicing a new youth ministry design. As your youth ministry’s principal architect, you have the opportunity to realize a rhythm of disciple-making that more effectively engages youth with God, through Jesus, as they journey toward a life of continual spiritual finding and evolution. This resource will provide you with a ministry design that more influentially encourages students to live, lead, and love in the way of Jesus.

Sonja Stewart and Jerome Berryman have taken the needs of children into account and devised an exciting method for introducing three- to seven-year-olds to the wonder of worship. Their approach, which integrates religious education and worship, has been presented at numerous workshops and training sessions. Based on the authors' experiences, the methods described here will be invaluable to teachers helping children understand and appreciate worship.

Christian women want to mentor and to be mentored, though they may not fully understand what that means, the significance of this desire, or how to get there. The church must rise to answer these questions, meet life’s challenges, and develop creative ways of equipping modern women to mentor well. In Mentor for Life, Natasha Sistrunk Robinson lays a solid foundation for mentoring that is based on God’s kingdom vision, challenges women to consider the cost of discipleship, and the high calling they have received in Christ.

The strong and spicy heat of the gospel is the secret to effective and exciting ministry—just look at the early church! Gospel advancement was at the heart of the early believers’ discipleship, and the book of Acts gives us a vibrant picture of God’s plan to use us to build His kingdom. In Gospelize Your Youth Ministry, Greg unpacks the model found in the book of Acts, unveiling the seven key ingredients present within the early Church.

Youth pastors often burn out, bail out, and are pushed out of ministry. In this book, you'll be given practical insights and action steps to help you build fences against failure.

As Asian Americans are rising in terms of number and influence, the need for understanding their identity becomes important on academic, social, political, economic, and intellectual levels. This book is a very important book to meet the rising need that has been largely neglected in academia and in the publishing industry thus far. This book is an essential addition to all serious university libraries, public libraries, and private personal libraries of educated individuals.

Cutting. It’s become a buzzword lately, but very few books address it from the perspective of a youth worker or concerned friend. Marv Penner has lived in this world for the past few years, talking with teenagers online and meeting with them to understand what drives them and why they self-injure. In this timely and helpful book, youth workers, coaches, teachers, and others will get the information they need to begin to understand and help (or point to help) kids who cut.

Parenting teenagers is one of the biggest challenges parents face. New realities make becoming independent more difficult. Teens are traveling a different road and are moving at a different pace than those of previous generations. Today's cultural environment is more complicated and confusing than ever. But fear not! Family expert Jim Burns provides a handy guide for parenting teens.

Intentional Children’s Ministry will help you to establish the goal of children’s ministry, then practically walk you through how to lead with intentionality in every area: choosing the right curriculum, building a child’s worldview, recruiting and training volunteers, partnering with parents, effective teaching, sharing the gospel, growing as a leader, balancing hats in ministry, strategic programming, discipling children for life, and more. Serving in children’s ministry is one of the best jobs ever! You get to share the life-changing love of Jesus with boys and girls at church.

Have you ever wanted to change the world around you? God has shown us how to do so. In The Joshua Principle, you will learn what the Joshua principle is and how to influence your world by impacting the children and youth around you. What you learn in these chapters can help you transform any family, church, neighborhood, or city.

Raising youth who are Spirit-led and resilient requires parents who are Spirit-led and resilient. Christ can enable you to build faithful strength together with your children - in a way that uniquely fits your family. In Spiritual Resilience, author and youth leader Sharla Goettl uncovers Nephi’s insights for parents on how, as a teenager, he developed his powerful testimony of Christ. His message will impact how you teach your children.

In Helping Teens with Stress, Anxiety, and Depression, Roy Petitfils gives parents, pastors, and youth leaders the knowledge, courage, and tools they need to step in, make a difference, and be the presence of Christ for teens in crisis. Roy Petitfils knows what it's like to be an addicted, depressed teenager, filled with self-loathing and desperate for help. He describes himself at high school graduation as by far the largest person in his hometown and yet feeling as though he were "stuck in Harry Potter's invisibility cloak".

"Netflix and chill", "broccoli", and LGBTTQQIAAP+. If you don't know what these words and phrases really mean to your teen, you are not alone. The verbal terrain of today's youth can be difficult to navigate and sometimes requires a guide - a culture translator to help parents of teens decipher the codes and unlock the doors to an ongoing conversation about faith and life.

Your ministry will grow bigger when your ministry gets better. If you apply what you learn in this book, you will see massive results in just one month! Guaranteed. In this book, you will spend 30 days looking at 30 ways to take your ministry to the next level. Every one of these tips is packed with the potential to help you build a better youth ministry one day at a time.

Social media will help your ministry go further, faster. In this practical book, you'll learn: how to get started with social media in your ministry; the best ways to create an endless stream of engaging content; essential checkpoints to consider before posting things online; 24 topics you can use to get your followers talking; and more!