When Doug Fields first started working in youth ministry, he didn't have much of a clue on what he was doing. He just jumped in head first with a passion for kids and a heart for the LordÑand that was about it. He now looks back on those days and sees the challenges faced, the hurdles tripped over, and the successes found.

With Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry, Fields translates his passion, insight, and vision for "rookies" onto paper. This is hands-down the most comprehensive companion to not only surviving, but also to thriving during this crucial phase of youth ministry.

The book is full of stories and principles from Fields' own successes and failures over 20-plus years in youth ministry. It also offers treasure troves of practical advice, all in the hope that new youth workers can travel a smooth path and achieve real longevity in a church culture that all too often chews them up and spits them out. Some of the issues covered are:

• Dealing with discouragement
• Establishing a solid spiritual foundation
• Building effective relationships with students
• Resolving conflict
• Ministering to parents and families
• Trailblazing change
• Working with volunteers
• Defining a realistic job description

In addition, there's a proverbial Greek chorus of insightful sidebar voices from ministry veterans like Jim Burns, Steve Gerali, Mike Yaconelli, Helen Musick, Chap Clark, Marv Penner, Rick Warren, Jana L. Sundene, Bo Boshears, Duffy Robbins, Tony Campolo, and Richard Ross. They've all composed extensive, topical essays for each of the dozen chapters.

Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry is a must-have resource for new youth workers, volunteers, seminary professors and students, senior pastors, elders, and church boards Ñ or even veteran youth workers who've been ministering in unstructured environments and are now asking, "What did I miss? What can I still learn?"

The first two years of youth ministry are never easy. But never fear! Hope's coming if you can hang on!