 | Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry | |
   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 Lord—and 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 – 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!
Overall user rating: 5/5 
| | Rating: | | Summary: A must have for anyone in youth ministry | | Reviewed by: Neal Benson (Henderson, NV) | Review:
Reading this book helped me understand so much about youth ministry and all that goes along with it. I love it so much that now we buy the 10 packs and give them to our new adult leaders. I have had so many of tell them how... (fill in the blank) has helped them get through some tough times and understand students better |
| | Rating: | | Summary: A great encouragement for any youth worker | | Reviewed by: danny bowers (california) | Review:
This book really is an amazing encouragement & refreshment for those of us in youth ministry. Whether you are in your 2nd year or 10th year this book helps you stay focussed. This is also a great discussion & training resource for interns or new staff members to your team |
| | Rating: | | Summary: An easy choice for the first time youth pastor. | | Reviewed by: Glenn Davis (Manhattan, KS) | Review:
Doug Fields has created a real gem here, giving all of his wisdom in youth ministry, adding both insights as well as mistakes. It is an amazing book that will add years of experience to any budding youth ministers repertoire. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Fields is very much involved in his writing. That gives this book a seriously personal feel to it. Overall, a great book written in a way that truly caters to the needs of youth ministers from every walk. |
| | Rating: | | Summary: What I though about the book | | Reviewed by: Joel S. (Manhattan, KS) | Review:
I think the book is very valuable for first time youth ministers. I believe this book would be good for old time youth ministers as well. There is no reason why we, as youth ministers, shouldn't look back on how things began. It helps us to keep the important beginning steps in ministry fresh in our minds.
I would have to say one of my favorite parts of the book is the chapter on 'staing spiritually fresh'. That chapter is encouraging for ministry. I am already scared going into full time youth ministry and it is definitely scary thinking about the dangerous wonders that go on in the years of youth ministry. But to know that we have a privilege of staying spiritually fresh, if we choose to, gives me strength and endurance and a little more comfort if you will. I know there will be times that I will end up making work be my life and I am going to need to stay strong and have that supported leadership around me to renew my spirit and make sure I am making my life be His life.
I liked the chapter on conflict as well. Conflict is a good thing yet I feel in some churches that I've visited or been around conflict is something that is never brought up. Without conflict there's no growth. I think Field's does a good job showing the importance of conflict and making that part of ministry. People think conflict is only going to hurt people, well not bringing up conflict hurts me. There you have it, it is a win-win situation if you're thinking about how much it hurts. How about trying to think how much conflict heals. Having that attitude when confronting our youth gives the students a positive look on it as well. We need to let people know it is us looking out for the interest of others.
One thing I wish the book would make more note of, which it did a little, is talk more on the importance of the family influence. Sometimes I feel like every book just shares the same stuff and moves on when I think a whole book could be written on how the family is the most important part in the student's life. Yeah the parent is the biggest influence and we are not the parents. I think there needs to be more on how to make the church become more focused on family-oriented events and programs. Just an thought. Eventually I would like to hear instead of bring people in and sending people out to do ministry, 'bringing a family in and sending a family out to do ministry'.
The book was a great book, and it is fine without having this last part I wrote in it. I would recommend this book to all newcomers as well as any youth minister that may not have read this book. Not only that, what a great book to have new volunteers and sponsors read as part of training them. I know I would. |
| | Rating: | | Summary: Great Text For Class | | Reviewed by: Sagstetter (Manhattan, KS) | Review:
We've used this text over the past few years as a Blog exercise in class ... great discussions! |
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