Global Youth Ministry

In the first textbook of its kind, "Global Youth Ministry" brings together some of the foremost voices in international youth leadership to focus on the theological, theoretical, sociocultural, and historical issues that shape ministry to youth in contexts around the world.

As the world's youth population continues to grow and interact globally in an instant through blogging, texting, and social networking, youth ministry is adapting in equal fashion. Authors Terry Linhart and David Livermore offer advice that's substantiated by more than twenty prominent worldwide youth leaders: be prepared. Global Youth Ministry is the first textbook to recognize the phenomenon of global youth ministry and to coordinate leading youth ministry voices in a discussion of the theological, theoretical, sociocultural, and historical issues that shape ministries around the world. Traditionally, students of international youth ministries have had to wade through a range of sources, perspectives, and agendas. This versatile text distills all that, and focuses on real-world experiences, challenges, and issues that are part of international ministries. This book is essential reading for undergraduate and graduate-level students and youth ministry leaders who have a heart for missions, social awareness and spiritual empathy, and a desire to serve young people around the world.

Too often these days, youth hear about global issues such as poverty, human trafficking, and HIV/AIDS, but they don’t get practical suggestions on how they can make a positive impact on these problems. The reality is, today’s students will be leading the way in the workforce, ministries, and education in a few short years. If they begin to understand their connection to the global community today, just imagine the way they could contribute to improving these issues in future years. What Can We Do? offers youth workers an overview of pressing global issues, along with realistic, practical ways their youth ministries can respond. By helping teens understand how their faith intersects with the struggles around the world, these youth groups can have a lasting, worldwide influence. Respected educators and youth ministry veterans Dave Livermore and Terry Linhart give youth workers a thoughtful, deep perspective on the pressing issues facing the world today, while also offering creative solutions for youth groups to get involved and impact the lives of people all around the world.

What is youth ministry actually for? And does it have a future? Andrew Root, a leading scholar in youth ministry and practical theology, went on a one-year journey to answer these questions. In this book, Root weaves together an innovative first-person fictional narrative to diagnose the challenges facing the church today and to offer a new vision for youth ministry in the 21st century. Informed by interviews that Root conducted with parents, this book explores how parents' perspectives of what constitutes a good life are affecting youth ministry. In today's culture, youth ministry can't compete with sports, test prep, and the myriad other activities in which young people participate. Through a unique parable-style story, Root offers a new way to think about the purpose of youth ministry: not happiness, but joy. Joy is a sense of experiencing the good. For youth ministry to be about joy, it must move beyond the youth group model and rework the assumptions of how identity and happiness are imagined by parents in American society.

Youth pastors in other countries have things they can teach us. It can also help open our eyes to see how God is working in other nations. This second edition of Youth Ministry Across the Continents now features local church youth pastors from all six continents, a compilation of stories and insights from youth workers who have been ministering to young people for many years. New contributors include people from Japan, Chile, and a large church in Ohio, USA that has grown as a home group-based ministry for more than 30 years. Readers can compare and contrast the advice of seasoned youth pastors across the globe on the same youth ministry topics. Some of the differences in approach and style reflect personality, and some reflect culture; others are to do with the church or denomination the youth worker belongs to, be it Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Anglican, Baptist, Independent Evangelical, or Assemblies of God. Core issues covered include how to look after your own soul, evangelism, schools work, parents, and the youth pastor's vital relationship with their supervisor, often the senior pastor, minister or associate pastor. In addition to being organised by topic and not contributor, end-of-chapter discussion questions better enable readers to personally reflect, or share their thoughts with others, on the key issues. Read alongside a book like Operation World by Jason Mandryk and Patrick Johnstone, youth workers can also consider what God is doing in each of the countries they are reading about. The book would make informative compulsory or additional reading for a youth ministry or missions class, helping to expand the students' view of the world. It offers wonderful nuggets of wisdom and supplies a broad range of perspectives while reinforcing principles common to youth work across the globe. Inspiring, practical and educational, this book provides readers with ideas and situations they may have never considered. As veteran youth worker and professor, Len Kageler, writes in the foreword, "I had several 'I never thought of that' moments as I read along." So, grab yourself 150 years' worth of international youth work experience - all in one book!

"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. Today, youth leaders can blend these same basic ingredients together in their own unique, customized recipe to create a gospelized youth ministry that results in dynamic kingdom growth. For youth leaders and adults with a heart for youth ministry who are looking to spice up their ministry and (re)discover the joy, excitement and transformation they?ve been longing to see and that Jesus promised! The gospel is the perfect kick! "