Youth Ministry in the 21st Century: Five Views

Having been a youth pastor for the first five years of my ministry, I am still very interested in youth ministry. I will confess that I had no idea of what I was doing. I tried to teach the Bible, have some fun and care for the teens. You would have to ask them how that worked.

I recently received a copy of Youth Ministry in the 21st Century: Five Views. I will say that I love the four/five views books. It is a great format to introduce readers to a variety of perspectives.

The five views in this book include:

• Greg Stier presents a gospel advancing view of youth ministry. He argues that there should be an evangelistic focus.
• Brian Cosby presents a reformed view of youth ministry. This view looks to the sovereignty of God that trumps all trendy programs.
• Chap Clark presents the adoption view of youth ministry. This is a focus of creating family relationships within the church through multiple connections.
• Fernando Arzola presents an ecclesial view of youth ministry. While not presenting a specific youth model, this view looks at how ecclesiology can inform youth ministry.
• Ron Hunter presents the D6 view of youth ministry. D6 comes from Deuteronomy 6 and the role that parents to have in raising children in the faith.

Each of the chapters were very different and yet I found there was something that could be taken from each of them. The interactions between the authors were both thoughtful and respectful.

If you are involved in or are interested in youth ministry, I strongly recommend Youth Ministry in the 21st Century: Five Views. (USA) (Canada)

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