Life in Student Ministry

Book excerpt: If you're in the front lines of youth ministry – as a leader, volunteer, pastor, parent – you know that youth leadership can be tough. Teens are moving targets, congregations have high expectations, and sometimes even the most experienced youth leader can't shake the feeling that they really don't have a clue about what to do next. Life in Student Ministry offers more than a clue. Jammed packed with practical "how-to" advice, this book is a must-read for any youth leader committed to building a thriving, long-lived ministry that impacts the spiritual lives of teenagers and their families. Based on a decade of youth leadership experience, author Tim Schmoyer provides on-target advice on everything from getting started, to recruiting and utilizing volunteers, to welcoming visitors, to dealing with lack of commitment from teens and parents. He also includes input, advice, suggestions, even disagreements from a host of experienced youth workers who discussed the book's overall content and weighed in with their own feedback. The result is a collection of many voices on the hurdles and frustrations common to many youth ministries. Life in Student Ministry encourages, challenges, and equips youth leaders to move through the barriers and thrive in their ministries.