Youth Ministry Training Resources

Return to the Book Reviews Page

	Bundschuh, Rick & Von Trutzschler, E.G. A Youth Ministry Crash Course: Everything you need to know from adolescence to zits Imagine how effective you can be with all the fundamentals of youth ministry right at your fingertips! Find the answers you need quickly with 150 to-the-point entries. Topics are described, simplified, illustrated, and filled with pragmatic insights based on the experiences of two veteran youth ministry professionals. (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	Clark, Chap. Next Time I Fall in Love Video Curriculum: A four-session video curriculum to help your kids handle love, sex, and intimacy in dating relationships Armed with the Leader's Guide and insightful video curriculum, you could change the way your kids view and handle dating relationships. Perfect for youth groups, Sunday school, camps, and retreats. Comes complete with video, Leader's Guide and reproducible worksheets. (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	Fields, Doug. Help! I'm a Volunteer Youth Worker: 50 easy tips to help you succeed with kids These bite-sized, practical suggestions provide the basics for reaching teenagers successfully. Fields offers inspiring, humorous insights on: How to build relationships with students How to recruit and train other volunteers How to model Christian love to your teens (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	Fields, Doug. Purpose Driven Youth Ministry: Nine essential foundations for healthy growth Doug Fields has succeeded in developing a youth ministry model based on nine essential fundamentals that can be applied at any church regardless of size or resources. As Fields explains, "It's not a book on how to grow your youth ministry with six easy steps. It's about identifying, establishing, and building health into your church's youth ministry. Where there is health, there is eventual growth." If you long to reach kids and see their lives changed by God, this comprehensive, 315-page guide shows you how. (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	Fields, Doug. Purpose Driven Youth Ministry Training Kit: Six strategic team-building sessions for healthy ministry "I don't want to organize more activities, I want to impact more lives," states Doug Fields as he proceeds to show you exactly how your youth leadership teams and volunteers can plan a successful, thriving youth ministry program. While affirming the uniqueness of each church and youth program, this kit communicates practical direction, vision, purpose, and goals to your leadership team. The essence of the purpose-driven strategy ensures equal emphasis to all five New Testament purposes of the church: evangelism, worship, fellowship, discipleship, and ministry. There are five sessions for youth leaders and one session for the youth ministry professional. The kit includes: 60-minute video featuring Doug Fields Participant's Guide to help your volunteers understand the need for goals and direction in youth ministry. Leader's Guide with complete instructions for the youth ministry professional (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	Johnston, Ray. Developing Student Leaders: How to motivate, select, train, and empower your kids to make a difference What makes a great leader? How do you find the right teen who can guide their peers on the correct course? With the help of this book, you'll learn how to recruit and motivate the right kids, and how to build a student leadership team through a complete five-week training course. Encourage your kids to discover their full potential and develop personal and spiritual maturity. (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	Johnston, Ray. Help! I'm a Sunday School Teacher: 50 ways to make Sunday school come alive Whether you're teaching junior or senior high schoolers, you'll find 50 proven creative tips, thoughts, and ideas to make Sunday school come alive. Here's some examples: Let your students choose the curriculum Tackling tough topics It's okay to have fun Yes, you can be creative (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	Kageler, Len. How to Expand Your Youth Ministry: Practical ways to increase your attendance Increase youth group attendance without sacrificing quality! You'll find time-tested insights from nationally-known church growth experts, plus wisdom from hundreds of front-line youth workers. How to Expand Your Youth Ministry provides a hands-on approach to solving the real issues you may face, including: Attracting and keeping kids Overcome obstacles to growth What personality types you should look for to help you What to do when you don't have enough space Welcoming and helping "problem" kids (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	McLuen, Dennis "Tiger". Equipped to Serve: Volunteer Youth Worker Training Course Training your volunteers to be effective youth workers has just become easier! Dennis "Tiger" McLuen has created a complete, easy-to-teach training program you can use to equip your volunteer staff. In six, fast-paced sessions, a variety of learning components energize your staff with the skills they need to be effective with kids. The video segments, with special appearances by Mike Yaconelli, add spark to each session. Use Equipped to Serve as is or customize it to meet your specific needs. The result is a talented corps of volunteers who have the confidence and knowledge to reach kids and lead them toward Christ. (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99) "Energized! Equipped! Empowered! That's how your volunteers will feel when you've applied the training principles laid out so creatively in Equipped to Serve." (Helen Musick, speaker, author, and youth ministry instructor, quoted in Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	McNabb, Bill & Mabry, Steven. Teaching the Bible Creatively: How to awaken your kids to Scripture Now you can master one of the essentials of life-changing youth ministry--getting kids excited about the Bible! This comprehensive, idea-packed book is filled with proven program plans and clear and applicable instruction on what makes Bible teaching creative and stimulating. Whether you're a youth worker, Sunday school teacher, or small group leader, this is just what you've been looking for to add more spark, energy, and substance to your Bible teaching. (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	Oestreicher, Mark. Help! I'm a Junior High Worker: 50 ways to survive and thrive in ministry to early adolescents With 50 ways to thrive in ministry to early adolescents, this is your road map for understanding young teens, then teaching them with a mind-set and methods that fit them. Learn what is realistic to expect from middle schoolers, how to use (and not use) discipline, how to engage their attention, and strategies for connecting with junior highers one-on-one. (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	Polich, Laurie. Help! I'm a Small Group Leader: 50 ways to lead teenagers into lively and purposeful discussions This is the book every small group leader should have! Here's everything you need to know to get kids talking and engaged in meaningful discussions. It's easy-to-use, a quick read, and offers simple tips and practical applications for any group situation. You'll discover: How to put small groups together How to work with different personalities How to start--and keep--a discussion going Plus, 10 small group, community-building ideas! Buy a copy for every one of your small group leaders and potential volunteers--it's the most valuable tool you can give them! (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	Procopio, Glenn. So That's Why I Keep Doing This! 52 devotional stories of encouragement & inspiration for youth workers Finally, there's a devotional book created just for the youth worker! You'll find 52 exceptional devotional stories uniquely designed to remind you and your staff of the joys and successes that lie beyond the challenges of youth ministry. As you spend time with God in these devotionals, he'll reignite your passion, renew your call, and empower you again to make a lasting impact on the lives of your kids. Get one for each of your volunteers! (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	Rice, Wayne. Junior High Ministry: A guide to early adolescence for youth workers Ministers and leaders who deal with junior highers must read this helpful guide to early adolescence. In this completely updated and expanded edition of the bestselling classic handbook for Junior High, the co-founder of Youth Specialties provides a comprehensive look at the early adolescent experience. You'll discover what it takes to work with these kids, and learn the latest trends in their youth culture. This book is bursting with practical ideas, games, Bible studies, mixers--even entire events! (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	Yaconelli, Mike. The Heart of Youth Ministry: A morning with Mike Yaconelli (Videos) Your ministry--and your outlook on life--may never be the same after you've "spent the morning" with veteran youth worker and speaker Mike Yaconelli. Share this inspiration with your entire youth ministry staff! In his candid style, Mike will make you laugh, cry, and even get mad; but mostly, you'll think. You may find some of your long-held stereotypes about youth ministry crumbling as Mike zeros in on what it really takes to connect kids to the love of Jesus Christ. This provocative, hilarious, and inspiring address will renew your passion to be the one who helps kids make the connection. (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	Youth Specialties. The Ideas Library Let us do the planning for your youth group with fresh, practical ideas to spark lively interaction. Thousands of youth groups worldwide have benefitted from this extensive collection of 3,000 field-tested ideas for creative and effective programming. Easy to read and easy to access, each book is indexed by topic, idea, and Scripture reference. Praised by an entire generation of youth leaders, The Ideas Library has been totally updated for 21st century youth groups. Written by front-line youth workers, you'll find a wealth of youth ministry programming in a practical, useful format. With ideas from ice breakers to planning memorable retreats, you will use and reuse every book in The Ideas Library throughout your entire ministry. This exceptional resource will pay dividends for years to come. We offer the complete 12 book library at a special savings, so order now and let the fun begin! Includes: Administration, Publicity & Fundraising Camps, Retreats, Mission & Service Creative Meetings, Bible Lessons & Worship Music Crowd Breakers & Mixers Discussion & Lesson Starter Discussion & Lesson Starter 2 Dramas, Skits & Sketches Dramas, Skits & Sketches 2 Games Games 2 Holiday Ideas Special Events (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)
	Youth Specialties. What Would Jesus Do? Youth Leader's Kit "What Would Jesus Do?" When your kids ask themselves this one simple question as they make each of life's daily decisions, they become equipped to share Christ and change the world--one question at a time. This complete, ready-to-use curriculum takes your kids on a 30-day spiritual challenge to deepen their faith, dig into Scripture, and build a strong foundation of behavior that reflects Jesus' actions when faced with similar challenges. Each complete youth meeting helps your kids tackle the issues they face daily: integrity, generosity, fairness, racism, materialism, and more, to face life with the confidence that the WWJD message inspires. Includes: 6 Spiritual Challenge Journals by Mike Yaconelli Leader's Guide WWJD Music CD Clip Art and Promotional Poster The Next Level Youth Leader's Kit Includes: Leader's Guide 6 Spiritual Challenge Journals by Mike Yaconelli The Next Level Music CD 6 Commitment Cards Promotional poster (Youth Specialties Catalog: Fall/Winter ‘99)