Book Review

If you are going to read only one book on youth ministry this year let it be Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry: From a Strategy of Influence to a Theology of Incarnation by Andrew Root published by InterVarsity Press in 2007 (Amazon Page).


In "Part One" Root gives us some badly needed historical perspective reminding us that adolescence, age specific ministry, and relational ministry are all concepts unique to modern history. He helps us to understand that until the industrial revolution and public education there were no "teens" and the organization "Young Life" developed the relational model of ministry. The temptation in relational ministry is to develop a "cool" place and program where youth will interact with a "cool" youth minister who will relate to youth in order to manipulate them into being the kind of kids the congregation wants them to be.

In "Part Two" Root walks us slowly and carefully through Bonhoeffer's theology of Incarnation. Root also copies Luther's didactic technique of feeding the reader small spoonfuls of theology each followed by a "Why Does This Matter" section. Using this format Root explains the questions upon which Bonhoeffer develops his ethics: "Who Is Jesus Christ? Where Is Jesus Christ? and What Then Shall We Do? In the seventh chapter, Root demonstrates the difference between relational youth ministry to "influence" and relational youth ministry as "Place-Sharing."

If you are going to read only one chapter of one book on youth ministry this year let it be Chapter 9 where Root casts his vision of a "place sharing" incarnational relational youth ministry. In his vision Root sees a youth pastor who has contact with many kids but a relationship with only a few. The youth pastor also works with other adults in the congregation who also have many contacts but few relationships. In these relationships the adult does not try to "influence" the youth but shares in their suffering (here Root seems to assume that most youth suffer most of the time). Root's vision includes congregations without youth groups but groups of adults who are in relationships with youth. Youth ministry also focuses on the youth's family which is strengthened and resourced by the congregation. The congregation in Root's vision is welcoming of youth in all aspects of ministry and calls and commissions adults to be "place sharers" with youth. If you are only going to read three pages of one chapter of one book on youth ministry this year let it be pages 207, 213, an 216 where all this is summarized.

Would a strict implementation of Andrew Root's vision of congregational youth ministry win a youth worker in Northeastern Iowa praise or unemployment? Probably the second, but the book still has a great deal to say to us about our role as manipulators or ministers or discipleship coaches.

Parent Group Idea

From Our Savior's in Mason City:

EWOK's (Evening Without Your Kiddos) is the new start up Parish Life group for those in the "I-have-kids-who-I-want-to-leave-with-a-babysitter-for-an-evening-but-I'd-like-to-hang-out-with-those-in-the-same-boat-from-our-church."

More or less, we're a group of parents who would like a night out without the kiddos. Childcare will be provided on a volunteer basis with confirmation kids and others who are old enough to do so.

We'll have an event monthly.

A Junior High Sunday School Idea

At St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Waverly, we have started a new kind of program for junior high Sunday school. We call it Drama and Devos. Every Sunday during education hour, junior high students meet for this fun group. We start each time with some singing, using some of the groups favorites and letting a student or two pick a song they want to sing. Then we do a lesson, generally based of off one of that week's lessons, involving a short bible study and discussion. We also usually do some type of activity to go along with the lesson, whether it is a group builder or game that we can tie into our discussion. Then we have the group's favorite part: we rehearse and prepare a short skit or drama to present at the confirmation opening time on Wednesday nights. We have even presented dramas to the congregation at two worship services. The students love the chance to act and share what we have been doing with
their friends. At the end, we share highs and lows for the week and pray together. It is a great opportunity for the junior high kids to spend time with each other, get a little silly sometimes, and learn more about God and each other.

Here's what some of our regular attendee's have to say about Drama and Devos:

"The skits are really fun. It's fun to hang out with people and you learn a lot" - 7th grade boy

"My favorite things are the singing, friends, acting, and learning about God. It's FUN!" - 8th grade girl

"I like the friends, skits, and the treats. It's FUN!" - 7th grade girl

"For me, the singing, skits, friends, and learning more about God are the best parts of Drama and Devos." - 8th grade girl

We get the materials for the skits from books and on-line. We try to make them tie into that weeks lesson so the kids have a different way of getting the message.