This weekend I flew out to Doylestown, PA to interview at a Methodist church for a youth ministry position. It was a really encouraging experience. I met with several passionate adult leaders and students over the course of two days and had some very exciting conversations about youth ministry and how God is leading youth ministry in some very exciting and creative directions.
On my flights to and from the east-coast I was finally able to read Mike King’s book, Presence-Centered Youth Ministry. I met Mike two years ago here in Kansas City and immediately felt a kinship with his vision for youth ministry. He began telling me about his book back then so I’ve been looking forward to reading it for a few years now. In the mean time I’ve gotten a big chunk of what was in the book through conversations with Mike at school (we both are attending NTS), church or around town in any of the many places I keep running into Mike. I was surprised that Mike’s candid words all made it through the editing process! By that I don’t mean that Mike is a loose cannon or offensive, but he is an important prophetic voice in youth ministry and it was just refreshing to know that what is on the page is what comes out of Mike’s heart, not a watered-down “easily digestible” youth ministry package.
Mike challenges us youth ministers look past the short-vision goals of increased attendance and into our own souls. Page after page Mike is leading us into a vision of youth ministry that is first and foremost about seeking the face of God. Much of what Mike offers as practical advice in the book he deliberately asks the youth pastor not to try to teach to the youth group next week. This is not a book full of hip postmodern techniques that will wow teens, it is a book about doing ministry out of the abundant overflow of a life lived in intense communion with Christ. What important advice for us to hear! We often are so caught up in “consuming” spiritual practices or techniques so that we can pass them along to youth without ever really letting those practices sink anchors in our own lives. Mike’s book will call you to slow down, listen to God and practice youth ministry out of the overflow of love of God.
Highly highly recommended for those involved in any kind of ministry, youth ministry especially.
