Purpose-Driven® Youth Ministry (Hardcover)

by Doug Fields (Author), Rick Warren (Foreword) "My friend Ted read this first chapter and said, "Doug, you can't start your book this way; there aren't enough program ideas..." (more)
Key Phrases: friendship evangelism challenge, healthy youth ministry, crowd program, Saddleback Church, God's Word, Jesus Christ (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The definitive volume for youth ministry today, detailing nine foundations for purpose driven ministry - from the Youth Pastor of Rick Warren's acclaimed Saddleback Church.

From the Publisher
From the youth pastor of Saddleback Church--a revolutionary approach to building a self-sustaining youth ministry. What The Purpose-Driven Church has done for pastoral ministry, this book is about to do for youth ministry. Doug Fields, the youth pastor at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, reveals the foundations for a powerful, Purpose-Driven? Youth Ministry (PDYM). Youth leaders passionate about a ministry that fulfills the five scriptural purposes of evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, ministry, and worship will discover a proven, team approach that reduces burnout and incorporates the strengths of the church as a whole. What they won't get is another Six Easy Steps book. Says Fields, You will not find the PDYM to be a cookie-cutter approach promoting do it my way because there's only one way. Rather, it's a model that can be adapted to fit the unique needs, personality, and circumstances of any church. Developing a Purpose-Driven? Youth Ministry is a flexible and exhaustive approach to building a healthy, self-sustaining youth ministry based on nine components: Power of God Purpose Potential Audience Programs Process Planned Values Participating Leaders Parents Personnel Here in detail and depth is the theory behind effective youth ministry. And here is the application--the means for translating sound principles into practical action. From developing a purpose statement, to drafting a plan for spiritual growth, to the ins-and-outs of family involvement, to keeping the ministry focused, fresh, and vibrant, this volume meets virtually every concern of student leaders with up-to-date insights and seasoned, frontline advice. For almost twenty years, I've been living with the overwhelming responsibility to develop a youth ministry that equips students rather than a youth ministry that coordinates events, says Fields. I don't want to direct programs; I want to disciple students. This book captures the sweep of Fields' experience and vision. Destined to become a youth ministry classic, Developing a Purpose-Driven? Youth Ministry is an absolute must-have for today's youth minister.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan/Youth Specialties (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310212537
• ISBN-13: 978-0310212539
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #19,589 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #8 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Ministry & Church Leadership > Church Institutions & Organizations
  #22 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Ministry & Church Leadership > Youth Ministry
  #28 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Education

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wish I had read it sooner, April 20, 2003

By	ANDREW MCHENRY (Emporia, KS) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an easy-to-read textbook on youth ministry by a proven professional. Drawing from the same principles as Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Church, Fields (who is Warren's youth pastor at Saddleback Community Church) gives the foundational principles for youth ministry, explaining the different stages of faith commitment in adolescents, and providing strategies for a complete youth ministry.
Good: This book is an easy read, and doesn't require theological or professional ministry experience to understand, and yet is thorough. Any person who has basic relational skills and a heart to reach kids will be set to go after reading this book.
Bad: Fields is constantly uses lists and acronyms to teach his points. Examples: the different stages of faith commitment (core, committed, congregation, crowd, and community); spiritual lifestyle H.A.B.I.T.S. (hang time with God, accountability with another believer, Bible memorization, involvement with the church body, tithing commitment, study of the scripture); his method for discovering spiritual gifts called S.H.A.P.E. (spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences). A little of this goes a long way, and if you try to take it in too quickly it will fry your brain.
Opinion: This is the best book on youth ministry that I've read. Fields leaves no bases uncovered, from working with parents to handling discipline. I wish I had read this book before my first youth pastorate. It would have saved me many mistakes.
Best Quote: Two come to mind, but they're related to the same thing: "Leadership separates a purpose-driven youth ministry from an event-and-activity-driven youth ministry." The second one is this: "Better to have two high-standard student leaders than fifty students who want to plan activities while they live any lifestyle they please."

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Practical yet........, April 28, 2000

By	PAUL J KRUEGER (Firebreak Youth Ministries) - See all my reviews

Doug does a great job with this book. It has extremely practical teaching that is easy to apply to any cultural ministry scenario that a youth pastor can face. The problem, however, is that I can design a great program that humms like a machine and sends a message, but that doesn't change a teenager's heart. While I know, first hand, that Doug's ministry has changed thousands of hearts, if not more, I feel that his book understates some important issues: 1) Prayer is the key to any ministry's survival. 2) The issue of shepherding (relationships built with staff, and youth is far more important that simply having an airtight mission statement etc. BOTTOM LINE- This book is a great tool, but not the end-all ministry guide that many have made it in to. I would love to see a sequal by Doug that delves deeper into issues of prayer and shepherding.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Foundational for growth, November 18, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Guelph, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This book is a clearly written, organized and in-depth look at the foundations to youth ministry. The pillars of ministry are outlined and given in ways that can be applied to any ministry in any setting with proper leadership. Doug Fields is an experienced youth pastor with wisdom and knowledge which has spurred his ministry to dynamic growth. Why we do what we do, who we are trying to reach, how to best accomplish this, what we're trying to do, when to do it and where to do it is the general format of the book. The foundations laid out in this book, when applied to your ministry, will give you a base for growth and development. Keeping in mind that development is more important than growth. Drawing youth into a more personal and deeper relationship with God is the key to this book. A must read for every youth pastor, worker, volunteer and prospective leader.