David A. Washington is the founding and senior pastor of Kingdom Covenant Church in Chicago. He has a background in urban ministry that includes over 30 years of service among youth in the inner city. His latest book is Don’t Despise Our Youth: Renewing Hope for Urban Youth Ministry (IVP). Here he shares his top books on youth ministry.
Does the church really understand and value its youth?
The succeeding generations are in a position to shape the future as well as impact our present. They have loads of energy and more idle time than the average adult. Yet, they are also more impressionable and open to influence, either by the church or by society. This is but one of the reasons why youth ministry is so important for the future—what do we want the next generation to be influenced by?
While students have unique potential and gifts to offer the body of Christ, the season of youth is a short one. We have a limited amount of time to lead them to Christ, disciple them in God’s Word, and influence their participation in God’s mission. Adolescence and teen years are a small window of time that will fundamentally shape who young people will become as adults. The church cannot afford to miss the opportunity to guide those under our care. If we neglect the chance to influence and equip them for God, the world will be right there to lead them away from the things of God.
Teens and preteens are facing demanding challenges across the United States in various social contexts, and the number of youth ministry participants is on the decline—some studies show them leaving the church altogether.
Why is this happening? It’s partially because many churches are not intentional about doing youth ministry, and there is a lack of support for youth ministry among the adults in the congregation.
As a former youth practitioner, I know that youth ministry works. It is worth the effort, labor and difficulties that come with it. When we invest in youth work and commit to the care and discipleship of students, we do a service to the church of today while simultaneously providing strength for the church of tomorrow.
With all this in mind, I am thankful for the following helpful resources that can equip and encourage youth ministry in our churches:
Worth Seeing: Viewing Others Through God’s Eyes by Amy L. Williams (IVP) is a useful resource for the urban inner-city context. Williams explores the importance of seeing high-risk youth through the lens of God, and developing the compassion and empathy needed to serve them well.
The End of Youth Ministry? Why Parents Don’t Really Care About Youth Groups and What Youth Workers Should Do About It by Andrew Root (Baker Academic) offers a new way to think about the purpose of youth ministry. Root addresses the critical need for youth workers to engage and partner with parents in prioritizing the spiritual needs of their children.
Youth Ministry in the Black Church: Centered in Hope by Anne E. Streaty Wimberly, Sandra L. Barnes and Karma D. Johnson (Judson Press) is a helpful and practical book on strategy development in youth ministry. It focuses on programming for ministry, leading well and garnering congregational support.
Purpose-Driven Youth Ministry: 9 Essential Foundations for Healthy Growth by Doug Fields (Zondervan) is a must-have for every youth pastor’s library. It provides the nuts and bolts of youth work, which is useful in all contexts. It presents foundational principles of youth ministry that will help readers develop the ministry that best meets the needs of the students in their unique setting.
Ministry by Teenagers: Developing Leaders From Within by Jonathan McKee and David R. Smith (Zondervan) dives into the critical need for placing ministry into the hands of youth and supporting their efforts. It is a game changer for the discipleship and ministry development of young people.
Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry: A Personal and Practical Guide to Starting Right by Doug Fields (Zondervan) is written for those who are new to youth work and are looking for guidance from a seasoned youth ministry voice.