Outreach Resources of the Year: Youth

The Outreach Resources of the Year honors the past year’s best books that emphasize outreach-oriented ideas. 

Last fall we invited publishers and authors to submit resources that released between Nov. 1, 2022, and Oct. 31, 2023. The Outreach magazine editorial team then placed the qualifying titles into 13 key categories for review by expert panelists in each field. After thoughtful consideration, they selected one or more entries as an Outreach Resource of the Year and spotlighted some titles as “Also Recommended.” 

In this section you will discover valuable tools that belong on your bookshelf. You will reach for them time and again as they enhance your effectiveness in ministry through the years. 

YOUTH 

Evaluated by Russell St. Bernard.

RESOURCE OF THE YEAR

Color-Courageous Discipleship Student Edition: Follow Jesus, Dismantle Racism and Build Beloved Community by Michelle T. Sanchez (WaterBrook)

Sanchez does an amazing job of helping students understand the importance of discipleship in relation to conversations on race. She walks readers through several stages of discipleship and how this discipleship is calling us from being colorblind to color courageous. Throughout the book are key facts of real racial issues, but looked at through a discipleship and race lens. This book is recommended for youth pastors, youth leaders and, of course, students who want to search for and build the beloved community.

ALSO RECOMMENDED

Her Story, Her Strength: 50 God-Empowered Women of the Bible by Sarah Parker Rubio (Zonderkidz) 

This book highlights several women in the Bible in memorable and positive ways. Each woman is highlighted with her story, the world she lived in and her God, all accompanied by diverse, stunning images. This is a great book to help students learn more about the role of women in the Bible.

Lora Schrock
Lora Schrock

Lora Schrock is co-editor of Outreach magazine. She has 30 years of publishing experience and is the author of numerous articles and books.

Summer Synergy

You don’t need a massive budget or a construction crew to make a big impact.

Ohio Church Makeover

This move would not only give them room to grow, but also would enable them to do a lot more to fulfill their mission of being a church focused on “building the kingdom, one life at a time.”

How Much Tech Do You Actually Need?

Because you cannot do this alone, you are going to have to trust the right individuals who know more about tech than you do. Your calling is to shepherd. Do that.