Thursday, May 29, 2014

My Top 3 Youth Ministry Books

If you scroll down and look to the left side of this blog, you'll see a list of youth ministry books I love. I am a book nerd by nature and I especially enjoy reading about youth ministry. Thus, picking a top 3 was very painful, but here you go!

1. "Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry: A Personal and Practical Guide to Starting Right" -Doug Fields

If I could recommend one book for youth ministers, this would be it. It is incredibly practical and extremely well written. I've been in youth ministry for 12 years and I continue to re-read it. The chapters on discouragement and dealing with difficult people are especially helpful.



2. "Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry" -Kenda Creasy Dean

This book made me fall in love with youth ministry again at a time when I was discouraged. The book challenges us to rethink our roles as youth ministers. The goal of student ministry is not to direct programs, but to pastor students. The goal is not big numbers, but sanctification.


3. "Sticky Faith: Practical Ideas to Nurture Long-Term Faith in Teenagers" -Kara Powell and Brad Griffin

This book provides an enormous amount of research, but also includes very practical ideas to help youth ministries. The authors present youth workers with a theological/philosophical framework and programming ideas that develop long-term faith in teenagers.


Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Marriage and Other Stuff


Today marks 8 years of marriage with my amazing and beautiful wife. It's been an amazing journey so far. Just thinking about what has taken place during our marriage makes me tired...


Over a decade working in student ministry: retreats, lock-ins (what were we thinking), small groups, mission trips, service projects, and eating way too much pizza.



Moving to Wilmore, Kentucky so that I could attend Asbury Theological Seminary.


Buying this guy… (roll tide!)


Going on some incredible trips including New York, Haiti, and the Holy Land!


Getting ordained in The United Methodist Church. (what were they thinking)




The birth of our first child…Kenzie Claire. She's the greatest little girl in the entire world in my bias opinion.


Going through the process of adoption...


Finalizing the adoption of our son…Caleb Kyrie. He's the greatest baby boy in the world by far.


Keeping up with these two crazy kids on a daily basis.



Like I said, it's been an amazing journey so far and I look forward to what God has in store for us in the future. 
(But one non-crazy year would be nice)