Resources

Group, Jan/Feb 2001

The Student Leadership Training Manual

What it is: Youth ministry veterans Dennis "Tiger" McLuen and Chuck Wysong offer a practical resource to help youth workers develop student leaders.

The scoop: This comprehensive book begins with three chapters that focus on methodology for youth workers, followed by 31 meetings for student leaders. The first 14 meetings are designed to help student leaders grow in faith, discover spiritual gifts, and develop leadership qualities. The remaining sessions are divided into five areas of student leadership: peer ministry, peer evangelism, ministry teams, servant teams, and program planning. Each lesson contains interactive learning elements that teenagers will enjoy. It may be a challenge to get kids to complete all 31 sessions. If you do you'll lay the foundation for a strong ministry.

Cost: $15.99

Available from: Youth Specialties, Zondervan Publishing House, 800-776-8008, (610) 532-1249. Reviewer Conrad Weaver, Web editor of youthministy.com, has seven years of youth ministry experience.com, has seven years of youth ministry experience.

UnityBuilder Devotions for Small Groups

What it is: This innovative resource matches 40 group-building experiences with related devotional material.

The scoop: For years I've attempted to do what Group's done in this book: lead teenagers through a group-building activity and then help them reflect on that experience through the use of Bible Study and discussion. This well-crafted resource provides youth workers with everything they need to successfully pull off activities and connect them to Scripture. Unity-related topics covered by the discussion questions include respect, encouragement, cooperation, problem solving, and building relationships. While junior highers might have a bit of trouble with the more reflective questions and some of the activities might be familiar, all the devotions are relevant and tie in very effectively to these cre;iv, experiences.

Cost: $14.99

Available from: Group Publishing, Inc., 800-447-1070, (970) 669-3836.

Reviewer Tony Akers has 11 years of youth ministry experience.

Student Underground: An Event Curriculum on the Persecuted Church

What it is: This five-session curriculum is designed to raise kids' awareness about the plight of modern day Christians in hostile countries.

The scoop: The curriculum includes four informational Bible studies that encourage young people to pray and develop action strategies, such as fund raising and letter writing, to support those living under persecution. The statistics and names of persecuted people provided by Open Doors International are compelling and will help to personalize the struggle. A well-produced companion video gives a sense of the hostility that Christians face in other countries but doesn't really convey true horror they endure. The best part of this curriculum is the Underground Church Service (the special fifth session), but it isn't actually in the leaders guide-it's available on Youth Specialties' Web site. This is a good curriculum, but it falls short on being an "event."

Cost: $26.99

Available from: Youth Specialties, Zondervan Publishing House, 800-776-8008, (610) 532-1249. Reviewer Tim Kurth has 20 years of youth ministry experience.

QUICK PICKS

Creative Bible Lessons in PsalmsAuthor Tim Baker employs games, discussion, leader-talk options, and interactive and reflective activities in these 12 sessions that illuminate the Psalms. Cost is $12.99. Available from Youth Specialties, Zondervan Publishing, 800-776-8008, (610) 532-1249.

Shattered-This 35-minute film from Bill Muir, who created The Crossing and Invisible Enemies, focuses on five teenagers after the Rapture. Cost is $29.95. Available from Youth for Christ, 800-735-3252.

Get God-First in a series of early teen discipleship books from Kevin Johnson, this book offers kids 25 hands-on Bible studies. Cost is $7.99.

Available from Bethany House Publishers, 800-328-6109, (612) 829-2500.

Living Encounters-Drawing from teaching methods used in their Discipleship Training Schools, Youth With A Mission presents an eight-booklet Bible study series for small groups. Cost is $7.99 each. Available from Zondervan Publishing House, 800-727-3480.