Help! I'm a Junior High Youth Worker!: 50 Ways to Survive and Thrive in Ministry to Early Adolescents

Let's face it. Junior High Ministry is not always a picnic. But neither is it a war zone (well,at least not always!). There isn't really a whole bunch of resources out there for Junior High workers, but HELP! I'M A JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH WORKER! by Mark Oestreicher is at least a pretty decent quick help guide to the ministry. Throughout the book, Mark is mainly giving side-line encouragement to keep going and love the kids, throwing a few helpful ideas in here and there. He approaches topics such as developments physically, socially, and spiritually in junior highers, practical teaching tips, and ways to help spur your students to LIVING their faith, not just showing up on Sundays with a dusty Bible. I found the teaching tips to be helpful. He offers suggestions on game ideas, ways to keep attention, and a list of helpful curriculums that will NOT bore junior highers. Along the way, Mark throws in stories of his own short-comings as a youth minister and also stories from different individuals involved with youth. There are also a bunch of quotes from actual teens about their views on different aspects of being in junior high. At the end, there is a very comprehensive list of other youth ministry resources from videos to books. While a VERY quick read (took me in all less than an hour to breeze through), Mark does give some helpful advice and encouragement to get back into the trenches and love the students I work with. Recommended.

This book is a must have for anyone involved with junior high ministry. This book is for everyone from junior high youth pastor to junior high volunteer. It has all the information you need to work with junior high youth.