Presence-centered Youth Ministry: Guiding Students into Spiritual Formation (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: respiratory prayer, imaginative prayer, prayer rope, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, North American (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"King transcends 'liberal/conservative' stereotypes by putting ancient spiritual practices at the heart of our ministry with young people-" -- Kenda Creasy Dean, parent, pastor, associate professor of youth, church and culture, Princeton Theological Seminary, and author of Practicing Passion: Youth and the Quest for a Passionate Church

"Mike King has started a conversation that's long overdue and frequently ignored in youth ministry circles." -- Walt Mueller, Center for Parent/Youth Understanding and author of Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture

"Mike speaks from experience, yet with humility, and is truly setting the course for a new day in youth ministry." -- —Tony Jones, National Coordinator of Emergent-U.S. and editor of You Converted Me: The Confessions of St. Augustine

Product Description

About the Book

How many programs does it take to change a youth group?

That question has bothered youth workers for decades, and the cracks in its logic are beginning to show. In place of the contrived, artificial mechanisms employed so widely in modern youth outreach and discipleship, Mike King proposes a ministry centered in the presence of God.

Young people encounter Christ not in the flash and pop of arena ministry, but in the sacred shadow of his presence. They learn what it is to love and follow Christ by observing others loving and following Christ--letting Christ shape their worldviews, their habits, their virtues. Presence-Centered Youth Ministry gives shape to such ministry through the classic disciplines and potent symbols and practices that have sustained the church over the centuries.

The sound and fury that has characterized youth ministry for so long has left too many youth workers tired and too many young people disillusioned. Come explore the deeper terrain; your students are sure to follow.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press (September 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830833838
• ISBN-13: 978-0830833832
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #351,023 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book to help leaders connect to Jesus, July 21, 2007

By	Jason Deuman "deumania50" (Lynnwood, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mike King is a long time youth worker who brings 30 years of experience to this book. He shares his stories and frustrations with the way youth ministry has been run for year. And as he grew in maturity he began to boil down youth ministry to what he felt was most important - - Jesus.

This book does a great job of getting the focus back on Jesus and making sure that first and foremost the youth leader is connected to Jesus heart. The students will follow as we become more and more in love with Jesus. King proposes many practices that would be viewed as controversial in many protestant communities but in truth many of these practices are timeless and can really strengthen your faith.

I think this book is valuable for youth leaders because King challenges us to tend to our hearts first. Also, King reminds us that the true success of any youth ministry is not how many students show up to your wednesday night program. Rather, the true measuring stick is how many of those students are connected to Jesus and the church 30 years down the road. To do this youth leaders need to think long term and we need to equip and encourage students to seek Jesus on their own. You can have the flash and bells and whistles in your program but you just better be sure that that's not all you have.

Great read I highly recommend it to any youth leader and to pastors in general.

jasondeuman.com

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An effective guide for all youth workers, June 19, 2007

By	Maureen E. Didde (Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Presence-centered Youth Ministry" tells an engaging story of the extremes and challenges of youth ministry over the years, and invites readers to approach teenagers in a more honest and effective way. Mike King's honesty in telling his own story is inspiring. He then moves on to specific practices for youth workers to engage in both individually and with their students. He reminds the reader of the meaning and depth of many Christian rituals and traditions that are often looked past, and I have found these practices effective both for myself and my students.

I gave this book to each of my committed volunteer youth workers and continually refer back to it for assistance in real youth ministry. King is a brilliant story teller and a great guide for youth workers.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Rethinking of Youth Ministry, January 12, 2007

By	J. Shay (LaPorte, IN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mike does an excellent job of helping youth workers understand the need for presence-centered youth ministry as well as giving practical tips for beginning. As someone who has moved from typical program-centered youth ministry to presence-centered youth ministry in the last few years, I found this book to be helpful when talking with church leaders and encouraging when faced with struggles.