Teenagers Matter: Making Student Ministry a Priority in the Church (Youth, Family, and Culture)

This book gives an excellent overview of matters concerning student ministry. It has very practical approach that is supported by an academic backbone. The theory is illustrated with real-life cases. At the end of each chapter you'll find helpful questions, both for youth pastors and churchleaders. I'd recommend this to everyone who wants to thoroughly think over his of her student ministry.

Very good read. Cannister provides a brief overview of the history of youth ministry in America. The bulk of the book is less about evaluation and more about vision casting about what a teenage-centric ministry should look like. Having personally served for seven years in youth ministry, I really appreciated what he had to say. In my opinion this should be required reading for all church leadership, especially senior pastors

A bit too wordy.

I just love it. Great insights on teenagers

Is your Church average population getting older? Is there a decline in the number of teenagers or young people in your congregation? Have you ever wondered how on earth is your Church going to reach this particular age group more effectively and successfully? How has youth ministry changed over the years? These questions are dealt with ably by Gordon College Professor of Christian Ministries, Dr Mark Cannister. Also an elder and Sunday School teacher at Grace Chapel, Dr Cannister combines his formidable knowledge and experience with a deep love of people, and in this case, young people. He gives a breathtaking overview of youth ministry via four roughly sketched time-tested strategies. - Late 1800s: Clarity of Purpose - 1920s: Authentic Leadership - 1930s: Transformation of Lives - Post 1940s: Genuine RelationshipsHe proves the importance of "genuine relationships" through the breakfast meetings which had proven to be a hit among the teenager groups he led. Following this, he provides seven broad potentials when student ministry gets prioritized.So what's the matter with teenagers? Actually, the problem is not theirs. It is very much the rest of us. With statistics and real life data to support the worrying decline of the numbers of young people in churches, many churches are indeed concerned about reaching out to this crucial group of future leaders. Unfortunately, many of the problems lay not in the teenagers per se, but the way churches are being run. Some churches fail to understand the nature of youth ministry as "moving targets" and thus unable to adapt to the rapidly changing demographics and tastes. Other churches prefer to invest minimally just to provide babysitting services for adult members of the Church. Still, others blame the culture, that the world is becoming more influential and youths are getting more worldly. Still, churches fail to perceive appropriately the need to vary their strategies in reaching out to this teenager group. Enters this book with a powerful and paradigm shifting view of why teenagers matter and how Churches and leaders can do to bridge the generational divide. At the heart of the book is that teenagers matter, and they matter enough to require churches adapt their strategies to prioritize student ministries not just for the sake of the Church or the gospel, but also for the sake of growing disciples in the Name of Christ. The Church need it. The gospel needs it. Teenagers need it.This is not just another book about teenagers or youth ministry. It is a book about cultivating God's heart in us about bringing young people into the presence of God. The promise of this book is three-fold, aptly described by Cannister as "bold leaders, teenagers valued, church transformed." That looks impossible at first, but with God in faith, anything is impossible. In fact, this may very well determine the future of the Church. The best time to do so is right now. Thanks Dr Cannister for this invaluable book, filled with much expertise, experience, and empowering words. This book may very well be a must-have resource on the shelf of every Church leader.Rating: 5 stars of 5.conradeThis book is provided to me courtesy of Baker Academic and Graf-Martin Communications in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

I love the book! The first chapter talks about church is being "good enough" in their approach to youth ministry. That has been a gut chexk for me! While there are some major obstacles to getting past ourselves and out into the community, I'm taking dead aim at it. I'm thankful for the conviction of the book and am working hard to do more than keep shop.