Youth Leader Development Resources
Purpose Driven Youth Ministry - Doug Fields
Resource type: Book
An indispensable guide to creating and maintaining youth ministry for the long run. It will help to create a solid spiritual team that builds the foundations of the Christian faith into the hearts and lives of young people.
Resource type: Prayer Stations, Online/In-person
Free Range Worship, with curator Lilly Lewin, has tons of great resources for creative worship and prayer for people of all ages for in-person and digital online gatherings. Great for family ministries, youth groups, churches, camps, retreats, and Christian Schools.
Sustainable Youth Ministry - Mark DeVries
Resource type: Book
Based on his own experience and on his many conversations and interviews with churches in crisis, DeVries pinpoints problems that cause division and burnout in youth ministries and dispels strongly held myths. He then provides the practical tools and structures pastors and church leaders need to lay a strong foundation for youth ministry.
When Relationships Matter - Reggie Joiner, Tom Shefchunas, Kristen Ivy
Resource type: Book
With the best practices, training tips, and real-life stories from ministry leaders across the country—this resource will help ministers to create an effective small group culture in your church.
The Youth Worker's Guide to Helping Teenagers in Crisis
Resource type: Book
A comprehensive guide for youth workers on how to respond to crisis, balance outcomes, forge partnerships, and bring healing to students. Covers counsel and biblical advice for each stage of crisis.
Growing Young Video Series - Fuller Youth Institute
Resource type: Curriculum, Video Series, Online
In this 9-episode series, Growing Young authors Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin offer proven research and stories from churches nationwide as they guide youth leaders to think about how each core commitment can transform a church in its unique context.
It's Personal - Virginia Ward, Reggie Joiner, and Kristen Ivy
Resource type: Book
In "It's Personal," the authors provide ways to disciple young people in a way that is relational. They suggest five major strategies related to identity, worth, empathy, love and belief.
Sticky Faith - Kara Powell and Chap Clark
Resource type: Book
Describes a powerful strategy to show ministry leaders how to actively encourage their young people’s spiritual growth so that it will stick with them into adulthood and empower them to develop a living, lasting faith.
