Simple Student Ministry fine tunes the proven methods of #1 best seller Simple Church for the unique field of youth discipleship.Coauthor Eric Geiger, who contributed to the latter, takes a step forward here, neatly unpacking the key ideas of Clarity, Movement, Alignment, and Focus that will transform any over-stimulated youth program into a simpler, more results-oriented spiritual development process. Fun is still allowed, by all means, but the ultimate emphasis on maturing faith is simply essential. The anecdotal comparisons are current and on-target (Starbucks' well-publicized decision to retrain baristas in coffee making introduces the idea that youth leaders might also be wise to revisit the gospel essence of their ministry). And case study data gleaned from small to mega churches and parachurch ministries will give every youth leader a relatable reference point from which to begin the successful metamorphosis to Simple.

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. McGarry presents a thorough biblical framework to think about youth ministry as the church's expression of partnership with the family for co-evangelizing and co-discipling the next generation.

This essential book provides clear, proven, step-by-step instructions to help youth workers change their youth group into a dynamic student ministry, as well as establish strategic approaches to growth at each level or size of youth ministry.

The pressure of being a teenager can be overwhelming. School, sports, jobs, and relationships all press in at the same time. But the hardest thing can be feeling alone, that you have no one to share your most difficult problems with. In The Jesus I Wish I Knew in High School, thirty authors such as Scott Sauls, Sandra McCracken, Michelle ...

Why Teenagers Matter in the Life of the Church

Packed full of practical advice on everything from starting a youth group to recruiting volunteers, setting boundaries, and reducing stress, this book is a unique collection of many voices and viewpoints all speaking to encourage, challenge, and equip youth leaders to succeed.

Is your student ministry healthy? This is a question every student minister has asked. It’s a question that brings both anger and tears. You are growing in numbers, but something just didn’t feel right. It doesn't feel healthy. This is the “there must be more to student ministry than this” moment. Regardless of your ministry context, church size, denomination, or years of experience, it is possible for you to have a healthy student ministry. The three elements, explained by author Ben Trueblood, will lead you to that very thing. Student Ministry that Matters gives you and your leaders a framework to answer this question, "Is my student ministry healthy?" and help you highlight areas of improvement as you seek to lead a student ministry focused on health.

Terrace Crawford helps uncover reasons ministry leaders may resist the use of social media and dispels some of the myths surrounding it. With short, accessible chapters, Going Social: A Practical Guide for Church Leaders provides a step-by-step guide to getting started, crucial insights to help you develop an effective social media strategy, and gives real-life examples of ministries and leaders who are using media in powerful ways.

Teenagers are not a lost cause; they need wise leaders to help them along in their faith journeys. In Navigating Student Ministry, veteran student ministers with more than one hundred years of combined experience guide others through the often-challenging aspects of ministering to young people. This multi-contributor introductory textbook helps both those discerning a call to student ministry and those already invested in students. Editor Tim McKnight has crafted a book that can serve as both a topical resource and a comprehensive manual for those in the fun, exhausting, and eternally rewarding realm of student ministry.

You have a brief time to make a big impact As a youth worker, you have the unique opportunity to walk alongside students in their critical adolescent life experiences. These years are some of the most formative in a person’s life. With your help, each teenager can feel believed in, loved, and challenged to be like Christ. But how do you make that happen? This book shows you where to start. Within are critical elements—the essentials—to effectively equip you to reach today’s students, including: Practical disciple-making tools Leadership recommendations How to partner with the rest of your church How to equip parents to disciple their teens What ministry looks like outside of your comfort zone Learn from two veteran youth pastors-turned college professors about how to better know your students, understand their culture, and do important ministry.