Sustainable Youth Ministry: Why Most Youth Ministry Doesn't Last and What Your Church Can Do About It
by Mark DeVries
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Book Summary Information
Author: Mark DeVriesEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-10-10
ISBN: 0830833617
Number of pages: 225
Publisher: IVP Books
Book Reviews of Sustainable Youth Ministry: Why Most Youth Ministry Doesn't Last and What Your Church Can Do About It
Book Review: Build a Long-Term, Mature Ministry like Jesus Did
Summary: 5 Stars
There's a reason why Mark DeVries's Sustainable Youth Ministry is one of those rare books that has an average ranking of 5-stars: this is the best book on youth ministry as far as explaining the "architecture" or structure of how to set up youth ministry. I met Mark DeVries at a youth leaders' conference in 2009: his session was by far and away the most relevant to the kind of church I was the youth pastor of at the time, a more traditional, Episcopalian parish.
For any of you who have been involved in youth ministry, as students, parents, or youth leaders, then you know that perhaps the #1 problem with youth ministry is a lack of longevity. Youth ministers and their programs come and go. When I was active as a youth minister, I read that the average length a youth minister stayed at a church was 27 months!
This book shows churches and youth leaders how to structure your ministry so that it will last and have a lasting impact.
Here's a great side by side comparison of Sustainable Youth Ministry vs traditional youth ministry:
Sustainable
Long-term focus on a single issue
Responsibility shared by the team
Regular Meetings
Regular time for strategic thinking
Expectations of a multiyear building process
Traditional
Episodic focus with key issues buried
Responsibility carried by the youth worker
Concerns raised reactively at random meetings
Issue addressed between urgent demands of ministry
Expectation of the quick fix
DeVries confronts head on the false "gambling" view of finding a hot shot superstar who is going to fix the youth program. He then builds, brick by brick, a systems approach to youth ministry.
The building of youth ministry takes place in 4 stages, and it's good to know what stage your ministry is at:
1. Creating the Blueprint and Preparing for the Process
2. Laying the Foundation
3. Beginning to Build
4. Framing the Second Floor
In Chapter 5 Devries lays a strong foundation with the 5 Key Control Documents (Directory of youth, volunteers, and visitors; Annual Major Events Calendar; Job Descriptions; Master Recruiting List; and Curriculum Template) and the 4 Visioning Documents (Mission Statement; Measurable 3-year goals; Statement of Values; and Organizational Chart).
In Chapter 6, he discusses changing culture and 5 Ways to create the right climate. In Chapter 7, he presents the 3 Roles for the Youth Director: a craftsperson, a general contractor; and an architect in a trailer. Simply understanding that there are 3 different roles (each with different gift and skill requirements) will help youth leaders understand their ministry and mission better.
In Chapter 9 Devries develops the idea that "longevity works," and makes the important point that 80% of the time should be spent with 3 things: with students, with the volunteer team, and with strategic planning.
There is much, much more, but you get the point. This is a very PRACTICAL book, and it forces you to take a long-term, sustainable approach to youth ministry, which was Jesus' approach.
I should also mention Devries's related company and website: Youth Ministry Architects (YMA). YMA has wise, seasoned veterans who are willing to consult with you about the current state of your youth program. One of them was able to help me a lot and, most importantly, give me confidence that I was on the right track.
Sustainable Youth Ministry gave me the confidence to think through and begin to create a youth ministry that was honoring to God and would last. You should probably buy a lot of books on youth ministry, if that is your calling: but please make sure this is at the top of the list!
Also HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Family-Based Youth Ministry, also by Mark DeVries.
More Sustainable Youth Ministry: Why Most Youth Ministry Doesn't Last and What Your Church Can Do About It reviews:
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1 2 3 4 5
Summary of Sustainable Youth Ministry: Why Most Youth Ministry Doesn't Last and What Your Church Can Do About It
You're looking for a youth pastor. Again. What goes wrong? Why do youth ministries crumble? And what is the cost to students, parents, volunteers and church staff? Is a sustainable youth ministry possible, even after a youth pastor leaves? Youth ministry expert Mark DeVries knows the answer is yes, because he helps build sustainable youth ministries through his coaching service called Youth Ministry Architects. So take heart: No matter what state the youth ministry at your church is in--in need of a leader and volunteers, full of battles and stress, large or small in number--it can be built to survive and to last for the long haul. Based on his own experience and on his many conversations and interviews with churches in crisis, DeVries pinpoints problems that cause division and burnout and dispels strongly held myths. He then provides the practical tools and structures pastors and church leaders need to lay a strong foundation for your ministry so that it isn't built on a person or the latest, greatest student ministry trend. His accessible guidance- helps senior pastors and search committees create a realistic job description for a youth pastor
- provides tips for making wise hiring decisions
- equips youth pastors to build a strong volunteer team
- offers creative solutions to help youth pastors set and keep boundaries
- gives a road map for navigating church politics
- and more
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