- A Multi-Faceted Approach

by Sally Nash

In this insightful and eminently practical book vivid metaphors are used to define the multi faceted roles of today’s youth workers. The contributors are past and present staff and students of CYM – the Centre for Youth Ministry.
The introduction states its objectives very clearly, ‘This book seeks to equip you to undertake a range of roles within whatever sort of youth ministry you are doing, helping you to become more effective in your work.’ It is unashamedly God-focused, emphasising the importance of the part played by the youth leader’s own faith and sets out to encourage reflective practitioners. To this end questions for reflection are offered at the end of each chapter and a particularly useful resource for this is to be found on pp. xviii and xix of the introduction.
Case studies are frequently and effectively used to illustrate the points made, I particularly appreciated the one in chapter 3 by Simon Davies. This uses the metaphor of ‘visionary architect’ and offers an excellent example of the use of the strategic planning process through the use of a case study.
All too often books such as this abound in theory with little practical resources or guidelines. However, in Youth Ministry the reader will find sound practical guidelines alongside the theory, as in chapter 6 ‘Party Planner’ by Jean Harper. Here we find some useful advice on how to plan a celebration event with and for young people.
I believe that this book will both encourage and equip youth leaders in their ministry and could well prove to be a seminal resource for future training courses.

Review by Chris Low (22/02/12)

Paperback
Price: £12.99
Publisher: SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge)
Published: 10 October 2011
ISBN: 978-0-281-06342-0

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Growing Up

- Biblical Youth Ministry in the Local Church

by Dave Fenton

This is a book that ‘does what it says on the tin’ and will be invaluable to people planning traditional youthwork in the context of the local church. Dave shares his conviction that such groups should be places where young people can:-
Become Christians
Grow as Christians
Live as Christians
Serve as Christians
It explains clearly the need to create integrated youthwork to deliver these aims, and gives ideas and suggestions about content without being too detailed. There is clear encouragement to build bible based principles into each aim, and the writer advocates that the youthwork be integrated into the wider church family rather than developing specific youth congregations.
There is a positive reminder for the need for young people to come and be discipled for a life of faith rather than simply entertained. This is done with a plea for the need to place positive Bible based teaching at the heart of all youth work. Those who favour more ‘issue or needs-based’ content may find some of the assumptions a challenge, but it is a timely reminder that substance matters. This is a good traditional youth work guide which will come into its own when read alongside other books advocating a more relational youth work style to enable readers to appreciate and think through the breadth of possibility for youth ministry rather than simply adopting their own inherited or natural style.

Review by Liz Dumain (14/02/12)

Paperback
Price: £6.99
Publisher: Authentic Media
Published: 08 July 2011
ISBN: 978-1-850-78807-2

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Top Tips: on Running Holiday Clubs

- Practical Pointers for Anyone Working with Children and Young People

by Viki Brackpool, Helen Franklin & Steve Hutchinson

Another little quick guide from Scripture Union's Top Tips series, this one offering sane and sensible insight and help on running the Holiday Club, something that can be quite daunting but incredibly tiring fun for any children’s or youth worker. As always it provides a nice overview of why and how Holiday clubs can fit into the churches ministry, how they can outreach in a way other activities may not and best of all practical ideas from the setting up, organising, financing of the club all the way through to a simple idea of how a session might go. This really is an invaluable little booklet, especially for anyone new to the whole Holiday Club ministry.

Review by Melanie Carroll (26/01/12)

Stapled A5 Pbk.
Price: £3.50
Publisher: Scripture Union (SU)
Published: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-844-27541-0

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Mega Top Tips: On Dealing With Challenging Behaviour

- Practical Pointers for Anyone Working with Children and Young People

by Sue Brown & Alice Langtree

Mega Top Tips are expanded versions of the very good Top Tips series from Scripture Union, however even in mega size they are still small, concise and handy.
The one on challenging behaviour is filled with not only helpful hints on how to deal with the issue but also with helpful insight into what can and may cause such behaviour and as such it makes for a good beginners tool as well as a great helpful refresher for those who have been active in children’s ministry for longer.
The only issue that I had with this one is that ‘Challenging Behaviour’ is largely seen as being a euphemism for naughty behaviour these days and so to see the chapter on ‘Additional Needs’, i.e. Special Needs, included in here was to my mind out of place and inferred really rather the wrong thing even though this was clearly not the intention.
Other than this one concern though, this is a handy little book and well worth adding to any children’s ministry library.

Review by Melanie Carroll (24/01/12)

Stapled booklet
Price: £4.99
Publisher: Scripture Union (SU)
Published: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-844-27531-1

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Top Tips :On Working With Mixed Ages

- Practical Pointers for Leading Small Groups with a Wide Age Range

by Maggie Barfield & Terry Clutterham

If you mention mixed age groups and/or worship to most of those involved with any type of children’s ministry you will most likely be met with a slight frown, sigh or groan because truthfully it can be one of the hardest things to do. However if you are a member of a smaller church then it’s also entirely likely you are going to have to do mixed age sessions to start with at the very least, and that is where this Top Tips booklet will really come into it’s own. It provides practical help, talks you through the design and plan of a mixed group session and even gives a suggestion for how best to set up a room to be used by a mixed age group. Best of all it’s short and concise and really easy to read, it won’t add to the feeling of being overwhelmed that can frequently come when faced with starting and doing mixed age groups, but will instead help you focus on how, why and what you can do so that you and the children end up having a great experience.
Another invaluable little booklet from the Top Tips series.

Review by Melanie Carroll (24/01/12)

Stapled booklet
Price: £3.50
Publisher: Scripture Union (SU)
Published: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-844-27542-7

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Top Tips: On Working With Lads

- Practical Pointers for Anyone Working with Children and Young People

by Richard Witham & Maggie Barfield

Another excellent little resource from the Top Tips series produced by Scripture Union.
Slim, easy to follow, practical, concise and invaluable to any church group that wants to include and encourage young lads in their groups – something that is a real challenge these days. Including as it does twenty-five really short but totally key and practical insights into working with lads, a chapter that addresses the gender differences amongst other things and a lads ministry evaluation tool that really asks some key questions, make this is a fantastic little book indeed. Essential for all children’s and youth ministries, even if, - no, especially if - you haven’t got many lads or male leaders! And given how short it is and how little it costs there is no excuse for not having a copy of this invaluable little guide.

Review by Melanie Carroll (24/01/12)

Stapled booklet
Price: £3.50
Publisher: Scripture Union (SU)
Published: 11 November 2011
ISBN: 978-1-844-27567-0

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Conspiracy of the Insignificant by Patrick Regan & Lisa Hoeksma
ISBN: 978-1-842-91369-7 Price: £6.99	Published: 11 November 2007
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The Faith of Generation Y: Explorations by Sylvia Collins-Mayo, Bob Mayo, Sally Nash with Christopher Cocksworth
ISBN: 978-0-715-14206-6 Price: £14.99	Published: 2010
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Street Smart - Practical Skills for Connecting With Young People by John Robinson with Jan Greenhough
ISBN: 978-1-854-24903-6 Price: £8.99	Published: January 2011
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Slugs and Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails - Helping Boys Connect with God by Carolyn Edwards
ISBN: 978-1-844-74523-4 Price: £8.99	Published: April 2011
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Lazy, Anti-social and Selfish? - Stories of Hope From a New Generation by Gavin Calver & Simeon Whiting
ISBN: 978-1-854-24916-6 Price: £7.99	Published: 2009
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Mend the Gap - Can the Church Reconnect the Generations? by Jason Gardner
ISBN: 978-1-844-74284-4 Price: £8.99	Published: 2008
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Youth Work after Christendom by Jo and Nigel Pimlott
ISBN: 978-1-842-27605-1 Price: £9.99	Published: July 2008
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Revealed - A Catholic Youth Formation Ministry Resource by Karen North, Rebecca Barber, David O’Connell, and John Toryusen
ISBN: 978-0-852-31348-0 Price: £11.95	Published: February 2008
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Mission-Shaped Youth - Rethinking Young People and the Church by Tim Sudworth
ISBN: 978-0-715-14082-6 Price: £7.99	Published: 2007
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Young People + Worship - A Practical Guide Edited by Mark Montgomery
ISBN: 978-0-715-14057-4 Price: £11.99	Published: 2007
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Young People + Mission - A Practical Guide Edited by Alison and David Booker
ISBN: 978-0-715-14060-4 Price: £11.99	Published: 2007
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Top Tips: On Welcoming Special Children - Practical Pointers for Anyone Working With Children by Denise Abrahall
ISBN: 978-1-844-27126-9 Price: £2.99	Published: 08 August 2005
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Top Tips: On All-Age Worship - Practical Pointers for Anyone Working With Children by Nick Harding
ISBN: 978-1-844-27125-2 Price: £2.99	Published: 08 August 2005
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Top Tips: On Handling Difficult Behaviour - Practical Pointers for Anyone Working With Children by Graham Finch
ISBN: 978-1-844-27124-5 Price: £2.99	Published: 10 October 2005
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Top Tips: On Reaching Unchurched Children - Practical Pointers for Anyone Working With Children by Helen Franklin
ISBN: 978-1-844-27127-6 Price: £2.99	Published: 08 August 2005
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