Does youth ministry in your church exist on an island, disconnected from the larger church? Does your youth ministry accomplish the church's overall goals for making disciples of teenagers? Together helps answer those questions and more. Almost since the concept of 'youth ministry' came into being, churches have struggled with how to keep their twelve-to-twenty-year-olds engaged. A contemporary focus, lots of fun activities, and cool leaders seemed to be the answer. Yet large numbers of young people are still leaving, many feeling disconnected from mainstream churches. In Together, author Jeff Baxter offers a thoughtful perspective on why real change requires not just a new model for youth ministry, but a whole new congregational mindset. Using practical examples from his own experiences ministering to youth and their families, Baxter provides a detailed guide for creating an intentional, whole-church, intergenerational ministry. Effective and life-changing, this ministry focuses on connecting the generations for the express purpose of fostering discipleship and spiritual growth, and investing youth in the long-term goals of the church. Together is for anyone committed to helping young people mature into Jesus-following adults who remain invested in God's kingdom.
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A growing number of youth workers have been talking about the importance of intergenerational ministry when it comes to the spiritual nurture of teenagers, but very few have added any meaning or helpful words beyond 'we have to do this.' Jeff Baxter, thankfully, causes us to take a step back (so we understand the why of intergenerational ministry) and takes us several steps forward (with suggestions for how). Mark Oestreicher, Author of Youth Ministry 3.0 -- Mark Oestreicher, Speaker, Youth Ministry Speaker and Consultant <br><br>
About the Author
Doctorate in Youth and Family Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary, Jeff is author of Together: Adults and Teenagers Transforming the Church and has been a speaker and trainer in a variety of settings with youth, young adults, and adults, including the National Youth Workers Convention. Jeff lives in Littleton, Colorado with his wife, Laurie, and their three children, Lillian, Levi, and Lara, where he is an Associate Pastor at Foothills Bible Church. Jeff blogs at sacredoutfitter.blogspot.com
My personal Mission is "To PREACH, EQUIP, and LEAD the people around me ' especially next generation leaders ' to value the whole of Scripture through intentional study, to make disciples 'glocally' through authentic relationships, for the glory of God and the good of the world."
I am an Associate Pastor at Foothills Bible Church (Littleton, Colorado).
Family: Laurie, Lillian, Levi, and Lara.
Education/Experience: Hope College (B.A.), Columbia Biblical Seminary (M.Div.), Fuller Theological Seminary (D.Min.).
I would love to come partner with you by speaking at your church, camp or conference. Just contact me for details.
Over 15 years in fulltime-vocational church/parachurch ministry with families and the next generation!
Together is a well-structured philosophy of why youth ministry needs to be thinking intergenerationally. As opposed to giving us a new model for ministry, Jeff Baxter goes about the work of helping the reader develop a new mindset for ministry.
With that in mind, Together considers the state of youth ministry and culture as well as a delving into adolescent development. While this information does provide a foundation for the why of intergenerational ministry, it may feel more like wading for the youth worker who is not seminary-trained. Yet, it is here that Baxter tries to help the reader understand barriers to developing an intergenerational mindset.
The last half of Together functions well on its own where Baxter develops the belief that "adolescents need to hear and experience a congruent message from a loving intergenerational body of believers who share the same convictions." He fleshes this out clearly and powerfully in the remaining chapters including the excellent illustration of The Parable of the Yepherd.
Together is not a quick read, but it would be well worth using as a guide for some honest conversations with your leadership team as you seek to develop an effective intergenerational ministry that makes sense in your context.
