Thriving Youth Groups: Secrets for Growing Your Ministry

This lady knows what she's talking about. If you're serious about growing your church youth group, this is the book you want.

If you are a youth pastor this is a fantastic tool to help breathe some life into your ministry. Jeanne's heart for youth matched together with her brilliant strategies makes this a must buy if you are looking for building an authentic and thriving youth ministry!

I picked up this book because we need to start thinking about launching a youth group in my church. Jeanne Mayo really understands youth group and their culture even after over 30 years of ministry! I really appreciate her emphasis on what youth kids REALLY crave these days... that's RELATIONSHIPS and welcoming environment. It really solidifies my belief that everyone wants to feel like they belong... and youth kids are no different! The goal of this book is to really help provide an atmosphere of authentic friendships for youth. She has great, practical ideas such as "Talk to Me" meetings, Paul Revere Meetings, ways to launch Small Groups, and to get the students involved... so it becomes more of student-owned group, rather than leader-owned. I also appreciate Jeanne for tackling the real "Youth Group Killers" - cliques, gossip, and sarcasm. I think a lot of what she says in the book can be adapted for adult groups as well... If you're wanting to raise your mid-week youth group to the next level, this is definitely a must read!!! Not to mention, it's an easy read! =)

I have accidentally stumbled upon this book just at the time my youth ministry was in serious need of a "Friendliness" upgrade. So many youth ministry books are long on theory but they just aren't practical or applicable to real-world youth. This book is different. The author provides plenty of theological and sociological undergirding, but the bulk of the book is a clear and concise approach to help you make your youth ministry a more welcoming place for teens to be. This is a text that you can put to use right away. I also appreciated the author's wit, her willingness to admit her own trials and tribulation in youth ministry, and the inclusion of sidebar comments from other youthworkers, sharing what they tried to increase the practice of hospitality in their ministry with youth.

Jeanne Mayo mixes relevance and relationship into a practical guide to loving today's generation back to life! Awesome Book!