When Kumbaya Is Not Enough: A Practical Theology for Youth Ministry [Paperback]

Dean Borgman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1997

"Writing with the lens of a theologian, the heart of a pastor, and welcome doctrinal breadth, Dean Borgman has provided a "field book" of pastoral theologies that take seriously the social systems shaping the lives of adolescents—never mind that Borgman knows more about youth culture than anybody alive. This book is a significant step toward the long-awaited conversation about theology and youth ministry in postmodern culture."
—Kenda Creasy Dean, Assistant Professor of Youth, Church and Culture, Princeton Theological Seminary

“Dean Borgman has been a wonderful mentor and teacher for hundreds of youth workers throughout the years. In this excellent work he brings theological integrity, depth, and years of wisdom like nothing else I have seen in our field.”
—Jim Burns, President, National Institute of Youth Ministry

Chapters address such issues as family and peer pressure, music, sexuality, growth and development, and modern culture.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dean Borgman is the Charles E. Culpeper Professor of Youth Ministries at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and teaches courses at Fuller Theological Seminary and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary. In addition to working with Young Life, Professor Borgman is founder and director of the Center for Youth Studies. He is an internationally recognized authority on youth culture and adolescent ministries, speaking and consulting in the United States, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He is an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565632478
• ISBN-13: 978-1565632479
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,365,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Publisher's Comments, August 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: When Kumbaya Is Not Enough: A Practical Theology for Youth Ministry (Paperback)

"In youth ministry it's not enough to know what to do. We must know why we do it. Dean Borgman's book gives us the why with depth. This is practical theology at its best." ---Tony Campolo, Professor of Sociology, Eastern College

"This book is a must for anyone involved in youth ministry. Dean Borgman is a man who has done his homework and paid his dues. "When Kumbaya Is Not Enough" gives the crucial theological framework necessary for youth ministry. It is relevant and accurate in its understanding of youth culture, particularly of urban youth culture." ---Allen A. Belton, Vice-President Multi-Ethnic and Urban Affairs, Youth for Christ USA

"Dean Borgman has been a wonderful mentor and teacher for hundreds of youth workers throughout the years. In this excellent work he brings theological integrity, depth, and years of wisdom like nothing else I have seen in our field." ---Jim Burns, President, National Institute of Youth Ministry

"On the subject of youth ministry Dean Borgman brings wisdom, a lifetime of experience, and a great track record. I highly recommend his book." ---Denny Rydberg, President, Young Life

Dean Borgman is the Charles E. Culpeper Professor of Youth Ministries at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and teaches courses at Fuller Theological Seminary and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary. In addition to working with Young Life, Professor Borgman is founder and director of the Center for Youth Studies. He is an internationally recognized authority on youth culture and adolescent ministries. He is an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for everyone working with kids., October 19, 1999

By 

Walt Mueller (Elizabethtown, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Kumbaya Is Not Enough: A Practical Theology for Youth Ministry (Paperback)

Written by one of the brightest thinkers and experienced practitioners in youth ministry today, "When Kumbuya Is Not Enough" is a definite must-read for anyone in youth ministry. Dean Borgman has provided the youth ministry community with a practical challenge marked by depth. This is one of those books that will cause you to stand back and examine yourself and your ministry. The youth ministry world needs this book to steer us back on course. It's one of the best books on youth ministry I've read in years!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars When Kumbaya is Not Enough, November 22, 2004

By 

Harumi Kawamura - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Kumbaya Is Not Enough: A Practical Theology for Youth Ministry (Paperback)

Dean Borgman's When Kumbaya Is Not Enough expound on the theologies of various factors that influence the young person's life: exegesis of scripture, culture and self; growth and development; family and peers and finally theology in practice. He does well to encourage the youth minister to take him/herself seriously both in biblical and cultural studies as well as self-reflection. Borgman emphasizes the importance of a true and accurate exegesis even if one much turn to biblical scholars and theologians for help. Even more, for a proper exegesis, one must also be able to sufficiently exegete biblical passages, culture and finally, and perhaps most significantly, the self. Thus Borgman outlines 4 important questions at the heart of youth ministry: what's going on? Can we share stories? What dreams do you have? How are you doing to get there? These questions in turn move from past to present to future back to present.

In encouraging young people, Borgman reminds the youth worker of the foundational step of a proper self-understanding. Thus he writes, "if knowing ourselves does not lead us to serve others more effectively, then this study is surely in vain."

He goes on to write on the theology of growth and development and notes that "most young people will come to faith and maturity only as they share, grow and serve in positive and supportive peer groups." In view of this, the most basic support group of the young person, the family, has undergone and continues to undergo rapid change. In view of the realities facing family life today, youth workers, Borgman insists, must support and strengthen whatever kind of family exists around the young person. This includes understanding and accepting the full reality of vastly differing family lives.

Finally, Borgman touches on the theology of heart and hands. He writes that good theology should inevitably lead to healing and faith and faith commitment, forgiveness and empowerment, liberation and development.