1. L E A RN F ROM RE S OURCE S from Doug Fields
FOR STARTERS TRAINING on the GO
What’s the last book you read To be an effective volunteer, you’ll need to regularly sharpen your mind, heart,
from cover to cover? What and skills. Many great resources exist that’ll help you become a better youth
impact did it have on you? ministry leader—as youth ministry becomes a stronger and more academic
pursuit, dozens of books and tools are published each year. My suggestion is
What resources have helped to try to read at least two books or resources a year: one that’ll help your own
make your youth ministry more spiritual growth and one to sharpen your youth ministry skills.
effective? Learning and growing in your own faith is an important part of being a
youth ministry leader. Reading a book about building your faith may not
seem, at first, a youth ministry–related topic. However, if you’re going to
IN T HE TRENCHE S lead teenagers closer to God, you need to be growing spiritually yourself.
Teaching students out of your own growth is the most powerful way to help
Andy is one of my long-term vol-
them develop.
unteers who constantly puts me Finding resources that will help with your youth ministry skills is often one
to shame with his intense desire of personal choice or recommendation. I know I’ve enjoyed books that other
to learn. He’s always commenting
on a new youth ministry resource,
youth workers didn’t like, and vice versa. Ask a few other youth leaders to
a new Web site he’s visited, or a suggest the “one” book that every youth worker should read—and then track
new magazine he’s found. I often it down.
tell him, “I’m the youth pastor and
I should be telling you about these
I get almost all of my youth ministry books and resources online because
things.” He smiles and appeases I can easily find them, read excerpts and samples of the ideas, and view
me by replying that I’m the lead other people’s opinions before making the purchase. Two sources for
youth worker but he’s really the good youth ministry resources are www.simplyyouthministry.com and
leader because he’s so committed www.youthministry.com.
to learning. Leaders are committed
learners—and Andy sets the pace. If your youth ministry or church does not already have one, help begin and
With so much knowledge and
build a youth ministry library. When you find a book or resource that’s helpful
access to resources, Andy is also to you, donate it to the library for others to read after you’ve finished with it.
very helpful to other volunteers This will give all your leaders the opportunity to become well rounded, both
because he directs them to the personally and in their ministry to youth.
right resources. (I just wish he’d talk
about my books.) How are you like Of course, books are not the only helpful youth ministry resource available to
or unlike Andy? you. The list is endless—whether the need is spiritual growth, foundational
practices of youth ministry, or great ideas and activities for Bible studies,
worship events, and service projects. You can find multimedia kits, complete
programs, game books, CDs and DVDs, youth ministry and family-dedicated
Web sites, and Internet podcasts focused on youth ministry issues.
One of the biggest myths about youth ministry is that every idea has to be
original and created specifically for your ministry. Buying into this myth
has wasted countless hours. The best use of your creativity is learning from
resources created by others who have already been where you want to take
your ministry. Using the best youth ministry tools will relieve the pressure
of unrealistic expectations and, most importantly, free up your time to do
relational ministry with your students.
YOUTH LEADER TRAINING ON THE GO

2. L E A RN F ROM RE S OURC E S
CONNECT to God’s Word T O T HE POINT
• Expand your mind; find
“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have
resources that’ll sharpen your
taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting ministry.
what is behind and straining toward what is
ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize • Grow your youth ministry
for which God has called me heavenward in Christ knowledge.
Jesus.” —Philippians 3:13-14 • Don’t reinvent the wheel; take
advantage of the ideas that
are already available.
• This verse is often understood in terms of
forgetting the bad that has happened and
pressing on toward the mysterious and miraculous
that God can bring (specifically, eternal life
TRY I T
because of Jesus’ resurrection). What if, however, Connect with three or four youth
you read it through the lens of a ministry that is workers. They can be from your
going well and a youth leader who is healthy? own youth ministry setting or from
another church or youth ministry
What does it mean for you then?
organization. Invite these youth
• How can you press on toward excellence and workers to a resource-sharing
meeting. Have them each bring
pursue a ministry full of continual learning?
several of their favorite youth
ministry resources. If the resources
are free to photocopy, have each
Write a response and prayer to God here… person bring enough copies for
all attendees. Take time to talk
about the different resources and
why they are valuable. Hopefully,
you’ll leave the meeting with great
ideas, more learning, and a few new
resources. If it’s helpful, reschedule
for six months later and stay on the
lookout for new resources to swap.
MA K E IT PER SONAL
Permission to photocopy this handout granted for local church use. Copyright © Doug Fields. Published in Youth Leader Training on the Go
by Group Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 481, Loveland, CO 80539. www.youthministry.com and www.simplyyouthministry.com