Customer Reviews

Postmodern Youth Ministry

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The essential guide to youth ministry in the post-modern era from one of the world's experts on the topic. This book is a must for any person attempting to guide or counsel youth in todays culture. The youth of today are drastically different from the youth of even ten or twenty years ago, and to effectively reach out to youth today we need to adapt ouselves to meet them where they are at, and not expect them to come to where we are at.

That is a hard thing and it means our job, as youth pastors, is that much more difficult. In the post-modern, there can no longer be a cookie cutter approch to ministry. This diversity has to take place far beyond a regional setting, and even beyond a local setting: what works in Evergreen, Colorado might not work in Boulder or Littleton or Cherry Creek. But even more progressively, what works with one student may very easily not work at all with another.

In the post-modern arena, Tony explains, the Bible has to go beyond providing a general moral message to our students. The post-modern is very much about the individual and in minestering to post-modern youth, we need to be able to show each student how the message of Jesus affects them personally.

Our ministries, therefore, need to be based more on relationships and less on programs. In todays society, young adults are more busy then they have ever been before. At any given time they may have several different options with what they can do with there time. I highly doubt that any of us have the budget or talent in our ministries to compete with the entertainment our students could find elsewhere, so what we have to do is integrate our ministies to be a fun and safe place for students to come to, where at the same time they have contact with an adult that truely cares about them. It is our ability to care for and love on our students that differentiates us from other activities in school or the community. Only once a student knows that we care for them, and when they feel comfortable enough to come to us in their darkest times, with those things they would be too scared to even talk to their parents about... once a student trusts us that much in their life, then we have earned the right to minister Christ to them.

Students today are different. We can look at that one of two ways: we can either progressively and joyously accept and adapt to the change, or we can miss a potentially wonderful oppertunity. I think we all owe it to the kids in our ministry to pick the former of the two. Read this book. Some of the ideas Tony develops can seem complex and difficult to understand, I'll admit even for myself, but I think that we, being called to minister to God's children, need to understand kids as best as we can, so that they, in return, can better understand Him.

May the love and light of God shine through each of you, my friends.

Tony Jones is an expert in youth ministry, postmodern youth ministry and this book shows why. Tony lectured in my class at seminary and it was the first lecture I heard in my first year that totally made sense. Tony knows the landscape has changed and will change dramatically, as fast as we can figure it out it will change.

So many books are stuck in formulas A + B = Great Youth Minstries, Tony goes beyond formulas and explains the landscape. Tony is a tremendous teacher, and yet very humble with the knowledge he has gained over years of youth ministry experience.

I recommend this book to followers of Christ both young and old, especially those who are trying to figure out what in the world is postmodernism.

One warning, don't come to this book for a guide of how to do youth ministry, Tony won't give it to you. What Tony will give you is the knowledge and the tools to figure out what to do in your area and with your students. This is a solid book.

I believe the Bible is a propositional book and disagree with many (aka most) of postmodernism ideas. However, this is the first book I've read that has helped me understand how postermodernism is effecting theology. In general, nobody in the postmodern movement wants to define it because, well, that is not very postmodern! Tony has done a very good job articulating his point of view.

4 Stars for a well written book, not so many starts for a not so good theological movement.

THis book is a God send for those who work with normal you...as well as Goths, Punks, Sk8ers and the rest of the sub-cultures. Very practical guide to post-modern youthers!

Author, Tony Jones lays out in detail why we as youth volunteers have failed in reaching youth. He explains how the rules have changed and how we need to learn to speak another language. Postmodernism is all around us, and our old models of church youth programs are not holding up in this new world. This book has opened my eyes and has inspired me to rethink how I have always approached the youth of my church. I recommend this book for all who care about our youth today.

I've read this book through twice and have to say its the best introduction to Youth Ministry that I've taken a look at. Tony is theologically grounded within the historic evangelical church, thus what he teaches is theologically sound. He moves beyond simple models and "here's how we do it..." solutions. Rather, Tony encourages his readers to engage their culture in a way that seeks to communicate historic truth to a Postmodern world.

The format of the book lends itself to interesting reading. In addition to his own writing, he's invited his peers to comment on his work and has included it right in the text of the book. This allows for a "discussion" to occur within the book. While most of the comments affirm Jones' writing, some openly disagree. Even when the commentor agrees, often their comment brings out a point more fully or asks a follow-up question that is well worth pondering.

All in all, a highly recommended book for anyone interested in Youth Ministry.

Students crave authenticity even as technology seems to move them further away from each other. Authentic community can be acheived and the church can be the place and force that does this. Tony Jones is the father of postmodern youth ministry and he walks his talk. With all of the things youth workers compete with they do have something to offer this generation and that offering is an answer to a hunger for relevancy in a community that cares.

If you can't hire Tony Jones to be on your staff then at least buy this book and you get the next best thing.