Youth

Two experienced youth leaders look at how you might take your youth beyond shallow social connections into true fellowship and mission. It is designed for leaders to help them be better leaders and to help their youth learn more about how to live their faith. It does put a lot of emphasis on mentors, but is very useful for all youth leaders.

Better Safe than Sued – Jack Crabtree, Group Publications, Loveland CO; 2000

A discussion of steps youth and Christian Formation leaders should take to protect their kids in a variety of situations; also shows ways to protect the church from legal problems; looks at staffing, travel, camping and other “away from home” situations and shows how you as a leader can make these activities safer without taking away from the fun. Appendix includes several sample forms. 2 copies

The Godbearing Life – Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster, Upper Room, Nashville TN; 1998

This book is intended for youth leaders, to help them maximize their leadership potential without “crashing and burning”. It is not a program or a technique; it is a way of living that helps youth learn to love Jesus.

Soul Tending: Life-Forming Practices for Older Youth and Young Adults – Jennifer A. Youngman, Abingdon Press; 2002

An outgrowth of The Godbearing Life, this book introduces a large number of spiritual practices that can help form youth and young adults in faith. It is set up to be used by small groups and introduces each practice separately so the group meeting can focus on that practice. Each session includes reflection on the past week, the purpose, instruction about the practice, a chance to try and reflect on it, suggestions for use during the coming week. Practices are divided into those that look inward, those that look out, and those that need to be done together. Each chapter is written by one of a group of 12 writers. Additional recommended resources are listed at the back.

Young Adult Ministry – Terry Hershey, Group Publishing, Loveland CO; 1986

While an older book, this book covers very completely the things to keep in mind when looking at beginning a ministry to the 18-35 year old, the “young adult”. It both answers questions about this ministry and offers fairly practical suggestions for working with this age group.

Starting a Youth Ministry – Larry Keefauver, Group Publishing; 1984

The author is looking at very specific, very practical steps that need to be taken to start or reengage a youth ministry in the congregation. He includes a number of helpful diagrams as well as checklists to help get started. Although an older book it is still useful and helpful with its very practical steps to get going.

Disorganized Religion - Sheryl A Kujawa, Cowley Publications, Cambridge MA

25 essays that explore what is needed to help youth and young adults encounter God in the context of their experience and culture. 2 copies

Resource Book for Ministries with Youth and Young Adults - Sheryl A Kujawa and Lois Sibley eds, ECUSA-Ministry w/Young People, New York NY

This book includes a little bit of everything for those involved in youth ministry: how to work with youth, human & faith development, program development, worship, and further resources. 2 copies

Handbook for Ministries with Young Adolescents in the Episcopal Church – Sheryl A Kujawa, ECUSA-Ministry w/Young People, New York NY

Looks at adolescence itself, its needs and how programming can respond; also includes a number of resources to assist with youth ministry

Handbook of Youth Ministry – D Radcliff & J A Davies, eds, R.E.P. Books, Birmingham AL; 1991

This book is primarily devoted to background information that will be helpful to those seeking to begin or revitalize a youth ministry. It considers things such as “adolescent thinking and understanding”, “preadolescence”, and “communication and relationships”, etc, all factors in what is presented and how it is presented to the youth. There are references at the end of each chapter for further study but, with the book being over 15 years old, these may not contain the most up-to-date references. Nevertheless, this is a very helpful book for understanding this demographic.

Practicing Discernment with Youth – David F. White, Pilgrim Press, Cleveland OH; 2005

A discussion of one way to go “deeper” with youth than just fund-raising, social times, etc. The book takes quite a while to get to the point and may be hard to read for some; however, the ideas are worthwhile.

The following items are located at St John’s, Midland:

Background reading for Youth Leaders

What Kids Need to Succeed - Peter L. Benson et al, Free Spirit Publishing; 1998

A report of the Search Institute information that introduces the "Assets" idea

Building Assets in Congregations - Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Search Institute; 1998

Shows how the assets identified in What Kids Need to Succeed can be used by a congregation to strengthen its youth

The Complete Student Missions Handbook - R Burns & N Becchetti, Youth Specialties, Zondervan

A primer on "why" & "how" to take a mission trip, from the glimmer of an idea to the return home

The Spiritual Life of Children - Robert Coles, Houghton Mifflin Co; 1990

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R Covey, Simon and Schuster; 1989

Preparing for Adolescence - Dr James Dobson, Regal Books; 1989

The Waiting Game - Roy Fairchild, Thomas Nelson Publishers; 1971 (2 copies)

Stages of Faith - James W. Fowler, Harper Publishing; 1981

THE definitive study of faith development

Scared: Growing Up in America - George Gallup, Morehouse Publishing; 1995

A report of the study to find out how teens viewed growing up

The Wonder of Boys - Michael Gurran, Putnam; 1996

Describes the growth & development of boys; shows the significant differences from the growth of girls

On Death and Dying - by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, MacMillan Publishing; 1969

The first serious look at death in the United States in the modern period

Suicide and Young People - Arnold Madison, Seabury Press; 1978

To Dance with God - Gertrud Mueller Nelson, Paulist Press, Mahwah NJ; 1986

Reviving Ophelia - Mary Pipher, Ballantine Books; 1994

Discusses the problems and difficulties of adolescent girls as they mature

Ophelia Speaks - Sara Shandler, Harper Perennial; 1999

Stories from girls and young women responding to the problems discussed in Reviving Ophelia

The Shelter of Each Other - Mary Pipher, Ballantine Books; 1996

A look at families, the problems, and some ideas to help build stronger families

You Just Don't Understand - Deborah Tannen, Ballantine Books; 1990

The Art of Tradition - Mary Caswell Walsh, Morehouse Publishing, Harrisburg PA; 1998 (2 copies)

Liturgy and Learning through the Life Cycle - John Westerhoff and William Willimon

Faith Development Notebook – Binder

A collection of articles about faith development in children, primarily found in the Living the Good News curriculum, but with other additions including information from Fowler and Westerhoff.

For more information or to borrow a particular item, contact Marnie Bash,

Coordinator, Ministries Resource Center: mpbash@ameritech.net or 989-839-9364.