Mark DeVries Resources

Family-Based Youth Ministry: Reaching the Been-There, Done-That Generation

by Mark DeVries (published by InterVarsity Press, 1994)

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Summary:

Writing from his own experiences of tried-and-true youth ministry, as well as from impressive research, the author dramatically claims that the task before youth workers is not to revamp their programs, but fundamentally redesign them. He considers the youth ministry of the past half-century to be outdated for today and tomorrow’s youth.  Rather than isolating youth into age-specific programs, he argues that youth must be incorporated into the whole family of the church and receive group and one-to-one mentoring from adults in the church.  This book is practical in addressing real needs and common concerns that almost every youth director faces.  It also lays the foundation for a clear vision and solid theology of an alternative approach to youth ministry.  

Why does FASTEN recommend this resource?

This book is an honest and tough critique of the way most churches today approach youth ministry.  Church leaders and parents who are serious about raising up youth into Christian maturity will find this argument for an alternative paradigm for youth ministry rich fodder for discussion.