Getting Fired for the Glory of God: Collected Words of Mike Yaconelli for Youth Workers (Youth Specialties) [Hardcover]

Mike Yaconelli (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 12, 2008 | Series: Youth Specialties

Scripture is full of the voices of prophets who convicted, irritated, edified, exhorted, chastised, instructed, encouraged, and proclaimed the Truth. Many followed these prophets; many hated them; some dismissed them; others laughed at them; still others wanted them silenced. The same could be said of Mike Yaconelli. Like the prophets of old, Mike was a blend of the sacred and the profane, the outspoken and the insecure, the gentle lamb and the roaring lion. This paradox lives on in his writing and in his recorded words. In Mike Yaconelli you'll discover a bold, passionate, and ultimately prophetic voice reminding us to stay focused on Jesus, to hold life lightly, to walk together as we love kids, and to devote ourselves to an outrageously gracious God who loves our souls into being. If you're in youth ministry today, it's likely that---someway, somehow---Mike Yaconelli played a part in it. Much of the playfulness, creativity, and humility that exist in youth ministry were first nurtured by the life and work of Mike Yaconelli. Reactions to Mike Yaconelli are rarely neutral. He forces you to react, to feel, to think and to question: He loved youth ministry, but at the same time he wanted to dismantle it; he pastored a church yet proclaimed churches to be dull and stifling. He poked fun at powerful Christian celebrities but was disarmingly open about his own pride and weaknesses. Despite founding one of the largest youth working organizations in the world, Mike advocated for a counter-cultural faith that emphasized small over big, few over many, and silent over loud. His words carry all of these contradictions, leaving readers both inspired and frustrated...often at the same time. Years after his death, Christians across the globe still turn to the words of Mike Yaconelli to uncover the divine mischief, the shameless truth-telling, the love of kids, and the passion for Jesus that make youth ministry the irresistible calling he claimed it to be. People turn to Mike Yaconelli not just because of what he wrote, they turn to Mike Yaconelli because of what he aspired to live. Includes DVD.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mike Yaconelli is the author of bestselling books Dangerous Wonder and Messy Spirituality. He was the senior editor for the Wittenburg Door (1971-1996), a satirical religious magazine noted for its irreverent humor, in-depth interviews, and commitment to reforming the evangelical church. He was the cofounder of Youth Specialties, an international organization devoted to equipping youth workers through training and resources. Mike was a prophetic voice in the church-at-large and was a devoted husband and father until his death in 2003. SPANISH BIO: Mike Yaconelli estuvo en el ministerio por mas de cuarenta anos, como pastor y tambien como ministro de estudiantes. Fue pastor laico de la Iglesia Grace Community Church y fue dueno y cofundador de Especialidades Juveniles, editor de 'The Door: y autor de 'Dangerous Wonders'. En el ultimo tiempo de su vida residio en Yreka, California.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan/Youth Specialties; Har/Dvdr edition (August 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310283582
• ISBN-13: 978-0310283584
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,000,064 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Yaconelli has been in the ministry for forty-two years, both as a pastor and a minister to students. He is the lay pastor of Grace Community Church, owner and cofounder of Youth Specialties, former editor of "The Door", and the author of Dangerous Wonder. He lives in Yreka, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every Youth Worker needs to read this book!, September 17, 2008

By 

Mark Blair "Silent Planet Radio" (West Liberty, OH) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Getting Fired for the Glory of God: Collected Words of Mike Yaconelli for Youth Workers (Youth Specialties) (Hardcover)

Mike Yaconelli is one of the best authors and speakers for the youth culture and youth ministry. He pulls no punches, using both wit and wisdom to challenge and comfort the Church. He speaks for the heart of what ministry is supposed to be about - caring for youth and helping them to embrace real faith in Jesus Christ. Sadly he passed away a few years ago. This book is a collection of articles he has written down through the 30 some years of his public ministry. His children, who knew him better than anyone, compiled the articles to help us get a clear picture of what he was about. I encourage everyone who is thinking about youth ministry or currently working in the field to read it. Youth Ministry is a tough calling, Mike's words are so comforting to those playful, yet wounded souls who God has chosen to lead generations in Spirit and truth.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Read This Unless You Want to Lose Your Job, August 30, 2009

By 

Scandalous Sanity (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Getting Fired for the Glory of God: Collected Words of Mike Yaconelli for Youth Workers (Youth Specialties) (Hardcover)

This book is a collection of articles by the late Mike Yaconelli, and if you follow the advice contained within, you will get fired. Some of Yaconelli's radical ideas include youth pastors taking time for God and their families, teens doing less and skipping sports camps when they conflict with time spent with God, not focusing on numbers, and only speaking of relationships during business meetings.

The titles of the chapters will grab your attention: The Sins of Youth Ministry, What Would Jesus Say?, The Problem of Parents, and Youth Ministry Rant. But the content in each of them will make you want to go set a metaphorical fire to every youth ministry in the country.

Yaconelli obviously cared a great deal for the youth of this world, and this writing shows that. But it also proves he cared deeply for the souls of the youth workers that minister to those teens. Yaconelli isn't afraid to state the truth, and has an inspirational quality that makes people want to change the world.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, December 30, 2008

By 

SnapCase (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Getting Fired for the Glory of God: Collected Words of Mike Yaconelli for Youth Workers (Youth Specialties) (Hardcover)

It's extremely unfortunate that I am just now getting familiar with Yaconelli's writing and speaking. He's a self proclaimed cynic who doesn't pull any punches when it comes to the church and youth ministry. He just tells it how it is-and I love him for it! This book is a collection of some of his greatest articles and excerpts from books. It also contains a DVD with some video from the National Youth Worker's Convention with his closing talks. If we all took the time to actually do some of what Yaconelli is suggesting, none of us would have jobs, but maybe our ministries wouldn't be as shallow as they are.