(Perspective of a Second Career Youth Minister)
I wrote this book as someone who served in Christ’s church as a called worker, totally enmeshed in youth ministry for twenty-five years. I feel I bring a unique perspective to these chapters for a couple of reasons.
First, I did not start working for the church and with youth until I was 40 years old. Second, my first twenty-eight years in the workforce was spent in the retail food industry, during which time I was exposed to the secular world view. My time living and working in the secular world has given me insight into how to engage the marginally churched as well as unchurched. My transition from retail to ministry could be a book in and of itself.
For now, let me say that my entry into ministry was challenging but fun at the same time. I like to say I went through the school of hard knocks when it comes to youth ministry. No formal training, no classes attended, no seminars or workshops (all those came later), just a leap of faith guided by a friend, Fred Schultz, and a very caring Pastor Mark Behring.
There were many disappointments which God eventually turned to blessings in my missionary journey, but you’ll notice, I’ve refused to dwell much on what didn’t work in my writing but rather talk extensively on what actually worked and how you can follow my steps to make your journey less thorny. In this book, I have tried to present you with legitimate ideas, thoughts, stories, and activities that brought my youth groups closer together and closer to Christ.
I have long been a person who has been accused of having a ready, fire, and aim mentality. I have never been a person who enjoyed getting caught up in a lot of meetings and endless discussions. I believe in thinking outside the proverbial box. If you get an idea, try it out, and then look at the results, or as I like to say, “Sometimes it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.” Much of what you’ll be reading came from this type of process.
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