A youth minister's career is typically less than 5 years. And that's not because they "graduate" to adult ministry. It's because they burn out. Going the distance requires setting specific and unique boundaries. This book gives them to you with humor, real stories, and loads of inspiration.
Joel Lund was awarded "Top 10 Idaho Author" for his first book, "The Ultimate Survival Guide For Youth Ministers" His second book, "Watson's Way; Life Lessons We Earned From Our Brilliant Dog," won the "Top 3 Idaho Book" award. He’s received numerous North American Book Awards.
He also writes the young adult fantasy series—The Gargoyle Chronicles—under the name Brandon King. He’s a galleried artist, musician, and pet person. He’s spoken to tens of thousands of people (kids and adults) and is the co-founder of Prepare For Rain, a transformation incubator for people wanting more out of their lives.
Joel grew up in the Seattle area. In the middle of his college years, he traveled around the country in a band. Later, he earned a Master's (Regent College) and worked many years in youth ministry. With no sales experience to get him going, his second career was in the financial services industry.
Learn more about Watson, the Canine Guru, at watsonsway.com. Learn more about Joel at prepareforrainpress.com.
Anyone in ministry will resonate with this bubble. Because, well, people being what they are, these things are inevitable. But that doesn't mean you're always prepared. That's why I wrote this book. As much as anything, it was cathartic for me. Not everyone you serve, Youth Minister, is rooting for you. It's what you do with that knowledge that matters the most to your impact of your ministry. #youthministry #reasonhecame #treadlightly #holdloosely #persist
Book Excerpt
The Ultimate Survival Guide for Youth Ministers
We have determined that the enemy is not to be found among the ranks of the common parent. There are times, however, when one wonders if maybe there is still an enemy to be found lurking about in the church, hiding in a different guise. In the realm of youth ministry it doesn’t take very long to irritate people in the church… without even being aware that you have done so, or simply encounter people who are irritated. You discover, to your surprise, that you have some fires to put out when you didn’t even have a barbecue. How could this happen? You have a clearly defined role with kids, and you have labored to be sensitive to the needs of parents, plus you engage in regular internal system checks, right? Who else is there to be worrie—uh, nervo—suspicious, no, uh, … mindful of?
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