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Sustainable Youth Ministry: Why Most Youth Ministry Doesn't Last and What Your Church Can Do About It
 
 
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Sustainable Youth Ministry: Why Most Youth Ministry Doesn't Last and What Your Church Can Do About It (Paperback)

~ Mark Devries (Author)
Key Phrases: youth staff person, visioning documents, new youth director, Changing Culture, Searching Right, Building Right (more...)
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"How can I adequately describe the credibility, wisdom and authenticity that Mark DeVries brings to the table in his new book? Sustainable Youth Ministry is the byproduct of his decades of fruitful, Christ-honoring ministry. Like few people I know, Mark has the experience and perspective to deeply impact anyone serious about youth ministry. Even more pivotal, Mark is honestly one of the most authentic and refreshing Christians I have met in a long time. So grab a good cup of coffee and start reading!" -- --Jeanne Mayo, president, Youth Leader's Coach, speaker and author

"How can I adequately describe the credibility, wisdom and authenticity that Mark DeVries brings to the table in his new book? Sustainable Youth Ministry is the byproduct of his decades of fruitful, Christ-honoring ministry. Like few people I know, Mark has the experience and perspective to deeply impact anyone serious about youth ministry. Even more pivotal, Mark is honestly one of the most authentic and refreshing Christians I have met in a long time. So grab a good cup of coffee and start reading!" ----Jeanne Mayo, president, Youth Leader's Coach, speaker and author

"This is the youth ministry book we've all been waiting for. With wit and wisdom, Mark DeVries draws from a deep well of experience as both a youth pastor and youth ministry consultant to teach us how to build the 'dance floor' that will not only keep our youth ministries alive but help them to flourish. This is a hopeful, optimistic book that should be read by anyone who cares about youth ministry in the local church." --Wayne Rice, cofounder, Youth Specialties and author of Understanding Your Teenager

"Youth ministry is an all-church endeavor from start to finish. Sadly, most of our churches don't start with this understanding. The end result is a 'finish' that's far too often less than desirable. Mark DeVries offers a timely and practical challenge to the entire church--pastor, search committee and youth worker--that will foster an intentionality which brings great long-term dividends in a strong finish marked by spiritual maturity and kingdom growth." --Walt Mueller, president, Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, and author of Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture


Review

"This is the youth ministry book we've all been waiting for. With wit and wisdom, Mark DeVries draws from a deep well of experience as both a youth pastor and youth ministry consultant to teach us how to build the 'dance floor' that will not only keep our youth ministries alive but help them to flourish. This is a hopeful, optimistic book that should be read by anyone who cares about youth ministry in the local church."

Product Details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Intervarsity Press (December 30, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0830833617
  • ISBN-13: 978-0830833610
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,248 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

More About the Author

Mark DeVries
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Sustainable Youth Ministry: Why Most Youth Ministry Doesn't Last and What Your Church Can Do About It
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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Sustainable Youth Ministry, November 20, 2008
I'm glad to give a very positive review of this resource. I've been impressed by the depth of Mark Devries experience at auditing and advising youth ministries ever since I attended his workshop at the 2008 National Youth Ministry Conference where he whetted my appetite with memorable material from this book such as 'Eat that Frog' and 'Juggling Monkeys.'
Devries has written this book not only to full-time youth ministers (like me) but to lay-leaders, senior pastors, search committee members, and parents of youth. He outlines the nitty-gritty work of 'building the dance floor' that must happen for a youth ministry to grow, remain healthy, and out-last its current leaders. Devries includes valuable statistical information related to budgeting, salaries, and polls. In a nutshell, every chapter contains trial-proven strategies that benefits the building of a healthy youth ministry. There are no trends or easy formulas here, only practical guidelines for implementation. This resource will guide my volunteer training meetings from now through the foreseeable future. I have already recommended that my local association purchase and gift this book to all of the local churches to read, keep, and follow, and I recommend this recommendation to you, too!
Aaron D. Honolulu, HI
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars What Youth Ministry Needs, October 24, 2008
By J. DeJong (Belleville, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Mark DeVries uses real experiences and stories to explain what it takes to have a successful and sustainable youth ministry. This is an essential book for any youth minister, not just for the bookshelf but to be worn out, read through, and implemented. No matter what kind of church you are in, your youth ministry could benefit from the wisdom found in Sustainable Youth Ministry.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars DeVries' Book is Both Empathetic Hug and Kick in the Pants., March 11, 2009
I'm a paid youth minister in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, and I've been doing youth ministry of one kind or another for a couple years (including the infamous "camp counsellor" position). Lots of my friends are youth ministers, or are involved in ministry in one way or another, and our Diocesan coordinator gave us all a copy of this book. The following is a copy of a message I sent out to our friends after reading DeVries' book.

"Dear Yute Minister Types,

...I'm just writing to STRONGLY encourage you all to read _Sustainable Youth Ministry_ by Mark Devries...if you haven't already. I'm about 2/3 of the way through it, and other than the knowledge that Jesus loves me even when I screw up, this might be the single most important thing I've ever read/heard in furthering my ability to minister to people. It's honest, to the point, empowering in a very practical way, and creates a vision of what a healthy youth program is/can be that is bigger than the one I've always had, I think. It's also called me out on one of my bigger shortcomings as a youth minister, which is my tendency to create myself as a "victim" of church politics, poor volunteer turnouts, etc., and using that as an excuse whenever I need to. Anyway, I can't recommend this book enough, and we should probably all buy copies for all of our clergy AND another one to make available to parents. AND I think it's a good thing for the Episcopal Diocese in AL to read anyway since generally our view of youth ministry is to vamp young, able-bodied and enthusiastic people of their energy for 18 months or so until they're all used up and quit, and then hire somebody else.

Plus, the book has this really fun analogy about having to 'eat that frog' that is both entertaining and to the point."

So, if you're involved in youth ministry or are thinking about it, if you're a senior or associate priest/pastor at a church that has or wants to have a youth program, if you're a volunteer in a youth program (but not necessarily if you're a volunteer firefighter), or if you've ever thought about having kids who are involved in a youth program, first I'd recommend reading the Gospels, but after that, pick up this book. And if you have time, reading _Where the Wild Things Are_ would be a good idea, too.

The End. Love Daniel.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Sustainable Youth Ministry
This book is outstanding. It communicates clearly what youth ministries are doing that are keeping them from thriving and explaining how these same youth ministries can make... Read more
Published 2 months ago by MaryLiz

5.0 out of 5 stars Sustainable Youth Ministry
An excellent overview of youth ministry by a person who has worked in the field for over 20 years. Clear and reasonable insights and suggestions.
Published 2 months ago by Edwin L. Bishop

5.0 out of 5 stars best youth ministry book I've ever read: buy,read, live this book!
I was not a fan of Mark's Family Based Youth Ministry book, probally because it challenged all I was doing. But this book is worth the price just for the lists in the back. Read more
Published 3 months ago by James Byrne

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for anyone involved in youth ministry!
This book gives a clear vision of how youth ministry should look and is a wonderful resource for anyone involved in church ministry. Read more
Published 3 months ago by E. A. Bell

5.0 out of 5 stars Where was this book 12 years ago?
I have been in youth ministry (with reasonable success) for over 12 years now. Mark DeVries' "Sustainable Youth Ministry" is the single most helpful youth ministry book I have... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Kenneth James Buck

5.0 out of 5 stars A Light At the End of the Tunnel
I have spent over 20 years in full time youth ministry and finally there is a book that is inspirational and practical that speaks to the professional as well as the volunteer... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Karl McCoy

5.0 out of 5 stars As a senior pastor, I highly recommend this book
Youth ministry is full of promise and fraught with peril. On the one hand, youth are the next generation of Christians. Read more
Published 8 months ago by George P. Wood

4.0 out of 5 stars Logically thoughtout and meaningful
I found this book to be a real source of sanity in the crazy world of youth ministry material. Devires lays out an image of youth ministry that has long term potential. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Dave J. Dockweiler

5.0 out of 5 stars Sustainable Youth Ministry Delivers On Its Promises
I highly recommend this book to any church that wants to build a sustainable youth ministry. Mark exposes the dysfunctional systems that are held so tightly, and teaches simple... Read more
Published 10 months ago by E. Saylor

5.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY A KEEPER!!!!
After 10 years in ministry, this is the most encouraging, helpful, and dynamic book on structuring youth ministry that I've ever read. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Derrick Harris

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