The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry

This book, more than any other I have read to date, describes the changes that must take place as youth ministry enters the 21st century. The authors focus upon the necessity of having spiritual, youth relationships rather than just social, youth recreation. The crying need today is for churches to minister as only they can do to the emptiness young people face in their lives. Rather than competing with secular programming, Christian youth ministries are called to offer something entirely different from the secular world.The authors describe in detail various measures to be taken that will energize youth in their Christian faith. This title is far from a book of programming ideas, but rather a very readable volume of philosophy and theology on youth ministry. I recommend it highly to all youth pastors, and other Christian professionals who will interact with teenagers on a regular basis.

While the focus is on youth ministry, the ideas and principles in this book should be read by anybody who is a minister within the church. The "radical" idea of the book is that the church should be focused on changing the heart of people and society in order for all people to reach and strive for a relationship with God.If you are looking for another gimmick in order to make a youth ministry program grow, this book is not for you. If you are looking for a book in how to minister to youth, thier families and the people who work with them, then this needs to be on your shelf.

If you are interested in ministering to others, this book is a great place to start laying or to strengthen your foundation. Although the authors wrote with youth ministry in mind, anyone can apply the principles. The book is easy to read and hard to put down. The ideas and concepts the authors share are easy to put into practice. Godbearing does not give a formula for a ministry rather the book challenges the reader to think and reflect. The ideas will impact the youth and/or your ministry because you are the one that affects them. Of all the books I have read Godbearing has been one of the most challenging and impacting to me and how I minister. This also makes a great study book for a youth staff, a class, or a few people; read a chapter and then discuss it. There is too much information in Godbearing to take it all in with just one reading. I highly recommend this book.

Without seeming overdramatic, this is the book we who have been in youth ministry for awhile have been waiting for. Dean and Foster move right to the heart of the matter: youth workers are called first and foremost to be PASTORS to their students, not simply recreation directors. Skillfully blending scripture, theology, the social sciences, and personal experience, these practitioners offer both rich theory and application to assist youth workers in rethinking why we do youth ministry. In my opinion, this is the book that will most shape youth ministry in this postmodern era.

For the past 17 years I have been involved in youth ministry. Long ago, I got tired of the cute workshops, the mindless catalogues of programs, and the lack of well reasoned theology. This book is the thinking pastor's book for youth ministry. It is truly cutting edge, well documented, passionate, and hits you right between the eyes. I cannot overstate how much I believe in this work. I was able to get three advanced copies and sent them immediately to peers in ministry to kids. It's that good and that important.