The 9 - Kurt Johnston

We've never met a youth worker who wanted to be ineffective. Why would
anybody enter the turbulent world of youth ministry unless they wanted
to make a difference! But where to start, what to do, and how do you
know if your efforts really are effective?

In The 9: Best Practices for Youth Ministry,
Kurt Johnston and Tim Levert unwrap nine characteristics of effective
youth ministry. They specifically tackle this vital question: "What can
churches and youth groups do to keep students from walking away from
church after high school?"

This book takes an up-close look at
some "best practices" discovered in an extensive study led by leaders
from seven different denominations. Researchers surveyed more than 6,000
lead pastors, youth pastors, paid and volunteer youth workers, parents,
and teenagers who have found success in creating ministry settings that
foster long-term Christ-followers, not just youth group attendees-and
they found some solid, real-world answers.

So, what are these nine practices? We're glad you asked!
1. Nurture Your Own Soul
2. Build an Awareness of God's Active Presence
3. Encourage Personal Spiritual Growth
4. Foster a Sense of Evangelistic Urgency
5. Increase the Congregation's Appreciation of Students
6. Provide Opportunities for Relationships
7. Develop Confident, Competent, and Committed Adult Leaders
8. Consistently Value Families
9. Create Contextualized Programs and Events

This
isn't a textbook-it's a practical guide for anyone who works with
teenagers in a local church setting. If you're committed to effective,
real-world youth ministry, this book will help you build, lead, and
support the cause of helping teenagers own their faith and maintain that
faith once they graduate from high school.

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Kurt Johnston has been in youth ministry since 1988 and currently leads
the student ministry team at Saddleback Church in Orange County,
California. His ministry of choice is the junior high department, where
he tries to spend approximately 87.4% of his time. Kurt and his wife,
Rachel, have been married for a long time and have two teenage children,
Kayla and Cole.

Tim Levert has been working with students since 1992.
He earned a PhD in youth ministry and pastored a missional church in the Baltimore-Washington corridor.
Tim is currently the youth pastor at Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church in metro Columbus, OH.