The definitive volume for youth ministry today, detailing nine foundations for purpose driven ministry - from the Youth Pastor of Rick Warren's acclaimed Saddleback Church.
From the Publisher
From the youth pastor of Saddleback Church--a revolutionary approach to building a self-sustaining youth ministry. What The Purpose-Driven Church has done for pastoral ministry, this book is about to do for youth ministry. Doug Fields, the youth pastor at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, reveals the foundations for a powerful, Purpose-Driven? Youth Ministry (PDYM). Youth leaders passionate about a ministry that fulfills the five scriptural purposes of evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, ministry, and worship will discover a proven, team approach that reduces burnout and incorporates the strengths of the church as a whole. What they won't get is another Six Easy Steps book. Says Fields, You will not find the PDYM to be a cookie-cutter approach promoting do it my way because there's only one way. Rather, it's a model that can be adapted to fit the unique needs, personality, and circumstances of any church. Developing a Purpose-Driven? Youth Ministry is a flexible and exhaustive approach to building a healthy, self-sustaining youth ministry based on nine components: Power of God Purpose Potential Audience Programs Process Planned Values Participating Leaders Parents Personnel Here in detail and depth is the theory behind effective youth ministry. And here is the application--the means for translating sound principles into practical action. From developing a purpose statement, to drafting a plan for spiritual growth, to the ins-and-outs of family involvement, to keeping the ministry focused, fresh, and vibrant, this volume meets virtually every concern of student leaders with up-to-date insights and seasoned, frontline advice. For almost twenty years, I've been living with the overwhelming responsibility to develop a youth ministry that equips students rather than a youth ministry that coordinates events, says Fields. I don't want to direct programs; I want to disciple students. This book captures the sweep of Fields' experience and vision. Destined to become a youth ministry classic, Developing a Purpose-Driven? Youth Ministry is an absolute must-have for today's youth minister.
Book Description
LONGING FOR DADDY engages the reader in a wonderful discourse of healing from an wounds created by an absentee father, whether this absenteeism was emotional or physical. It refers to the subject matter as "an epidemic" that plagues our society. Patterned similar to a workbook, this read provides sound spiritual guidance that ministers to the soul.
The author asserts being fatherless affects every aspect of life - relations with God and others, attitudes, beliefs as well as self-identity. The book encourages the reader to look to God, who is a father to the fatherless, so that her respective journey of forgiveness coupled with healing can begin. Readers are urged to accept God as "Daddy" because he is an ever-loving, ever-present force in life that will never leave or forsake you.
The Bible tells us that man and woman were created in God's image. The earthly father was intended to be God's representative. It is the paramount job of parents to be united in reflecting God's image to their children. However, when a father is absent from his daughter's life, for whatever reason, the daughter's life is tainted with an emptiness that plagues her entire being. She is tasked with creating a positive future for herself by forgetting her negative past. She is able to do this by walking in God's love and obeying his commands.
In each section of LONGING FOR DADDY, Mrs. Robinson provides a "growth chart" that is to be used as a evaluative tool to measure the reader's progress in her relationship with the Father. Mrs. Robinson should be commended on a wonderful, insightful read that would minister not only to women with an absentee father, but to anyone who has had a broken relationship and is in need of counseling on the path of forgiveness.
Book Review:
I can't say enough good things about this book. I bet I have read it ten times and I'm still reeling from the insightfulness of it. If you are married to a man--or in the process of separation or divorce from one--who thinks women are sex objects, baby machines, and irrational ditzes, given to men by God to slave for the men and "submit" to their abuse, AND HE CLAIMS TO BE A CHRISTIAN, get this book!!!
This book has a wealth of stories about real couples with whom Dr. Rinck has interacted, that you will really be able to relate to if you are married to a cold, emotionless (except for lust and rage) "Christian" male chauvinist. Dr. Rinck also does a good job of separating the controversies about biblical interpretation on male and female roles from the grim reality of domestic abuse among Christians, on which everyone should be able to agree.
When I read this book, it gave me the strength to continue with my divorce and not go back to a nightmarish marriage. I was given enough insight to see through my husband's fog machine of religious verbiage about "forgiving" and "starting over in Christ" for the manipulation that it was. And all of the nights of crying into my pillow, wondering whether I was losing my mind and feeling guilty because my "loving Christian" husband kept viciously turning on me for no reason, suddenly made sense.
What can I say? I was blind, but now I see. And I have this author to thank for it.
Book Description
Much of what emanates from modern pulpits would not be recognized by history's great preachers as being Bible-based and glorifying to God. Rather than the spiritual meat the Body of Christ needs--marked by doctrinal clarity, a sense of gravity, convincing argument, and a proper focus on Christ--entire churches are being administered a sweet but substanceless snack by their pastors. Consequently, congregations leave the sanctuary malnourished and ill-prepared to stand firm when their faith is challenged.
Recognizing the need for a return to biblical preaching, Alistair Begg has written this compelling booklet. In it he not only defines biblical preaching but tells how to accomplish it, explains its distinctives, and demonstrates its importance in the life of a church. Every Christian--pastor or not--is responsible to study the Scriptures and to learn to handle the Word correctly. This booklet aids in discerning how well one's church is doing in this area and offers suggestions for ensuring that the entire Body of Christ is being not only fed, but spiritually nourished.
