This is a collection of eight ‘webisodes’ taken from the series “Father Mathew Presents…” (see website link on the right) Each five minute episode is an engaging and educational look at one of the sacraments of the Episcopal Church. This series (and the further episodes on YouTube) can make a fun, interesting introduction to sessions in a confirmation program.
Produced by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, this resources is a compilation of interviews with young adults in the Church addressing the issue of why so many young people leave the church. An interesting watch for any youth leader or ministry team.
Essential Reading
A foundational book which revisions youth ministry away from organizing programs and towards forming the individual lives of young people. An essential read for anyone doing ministry with young people.
In some ways a companion piece to The Godbearing Life; Contemplative Youth Ministry examines how to rescue youth ministry from constant events and program, and to redraw it around practices of contemplative prayer and worship.
An examination of the impact consumer culture has had not only on young people over the past century, but also on the Church. A fascinating look at how youth ministry can either react to the consumerist world around us, or can become an antidote.
An important book for on the process of visioning or revisioning a youth ministry. From your own place as a leader, to working out goals; the emphasis of the Purpose Driven approach is on sustainable youth ministry with a vision.
A weighty (literally!) overview of the practice of developing a theological youth ministry; from developing a vision to organizing the sorts of programs which can help achieve it.
An essential read for those wanting to understand Canadian youth. Based on thirty years of research, including a 2008 survey of thousands of Canadian teenagers, sociologist Reginald Bibby paints a portrait of everything worth knowing about today’s teenagers.
Youth Groups
As the title suggests, a resource to help small youth groups or those in parishes with a handful of youth who want to begin running a youth ministry but don’t know where to start. An excellent source of ideas for structure, programming, finding support and guidelines for volunteer screening and safety.
Like the “Single Digit” book, this one is specifically aimed at starting and maintaining youth ministry with small numbers of youth. Especially groups where attendance numbers are unpredictable!
A slim volume with fifty tips and nuggets of advice to help you reflect on your youth ministry. It’s a quick, encouraging read but make sure you read it with your twenty first century brain on (for “letter” read “text message” etc.!)
College Age / Young Adult Ministry
A series of studies and reflections for small group use (but can be used solo) engaging in Christian faith practices in daily life. Could form part of a ministry for older youth, or for youth leaders who want to worship and study together.
Part of a series called ‘Youth Ministry Alternatives’ which seeks to rescue youth ministry among youth and young adults from programs, or nothing, and root it in a vocational companionship with leaders, clergy, parents and everyone else within the Church.
Worship and Liturgies
The sequel to Contemplative Youth Ministry continues the threads from the previous book and collects stories from those involved in the Youth Ministry and Spirituality Project, which formed the basis of the first book
An excellent collection of ready-to-go liturgies, prayers and responsive readings updating ancient rites for youth worship. Includes CD of ancient-modern liturgical music.
A guide to creating youth oriented worship opportunities, including many examples of liturgies and prayers. Also includes activities to follow up on these worship experience.
Curricula for Youth Groups / Bible Study / Confirmation
A clear, colourful guide to the fundamentals of Christianity and questions of faith. A great resource for planning a confirmation study program.
Some good ideas for structuring Bible studies and discussion groups. The content is most definitely for high schoolers; but with some adaptation could be useful for junior high as well. Also each session needs a thorough updating for 2008!
Great structures and material for junior high aged students. These sessions were designed for large youth groups; but with a little imagination most of the activities can work with smaller sized numbers.
Originally from the UK; these ready-to-go sessions combine activities, discussions and Bible studies and make the basis of excellent youth group sessions. These are excellent resources designed for 12 – 16 year olds, but use a lot of British pop culture references. Phil can help with the translating!
An excellent guide to using activities and group initiatives as a method of teaching and learning in youth ministry. The book's very apt subtitle is that it deals with "how intentional activity can make the spiritual stuff stick"!
95 games and activities for youth which require no extra equipment and little to no planning.
A collection of 230 activities, games and openings for use in youth ministry.
A justice themed confirmation resource from the Primates World Relief and Development Fund. Formed around the Five Marks of Mission and designed to be an a missional addition to an existing confirmation program.
This book is a great primer for social justice issues, and the work of the Primates World Relief and Development Fund, as well as a resource for action ideas for small and large youth groups.
A series of studies which use real life examples of children around the world to illuminate and explore scripture. The studies would need some adaptation to be suitable for youth ministry, but the material is excellent and worth incorporating into a youth exploration of social justice issues.
From Christian Aid in the UK; these simulation games are the perfect way to introduce justice and development issues to a youth group. They combine fun activities with great intros and debriefings – and best of all, each game has everything you need to run it! The Debt Game is one of the more complex, simulating the effects of global free trade, and is best suited to teens and designed for groups of at least a dozen youth.
On the other end of the simulation game scale is the Paper Bag game. Suitable for youth of nine years and up, and can be played with groups of any number. In this game, youth simulate life in the slums of India. (This is a downloadable resource which you can access by clicking on the title above)
This is a game for medium sized groups of youth; simulating cocoa bean production and selling in both developing and developed countries. Works better the more youth you have! (This is a downloadable resource which you can access by clicking on the title above)
Or, for Canadians, Trading Sneakers! This game is set in a Latin American shanty town and simulates the clothing trade; and how the demands of the developed world affect the work done (and reward earnt for it) by those in developing nations. Works best with groups of a dozen or more youth. (This is a downloadable resource which you can access by clicking on the title above)
This simulation game is designed for large groups of youth aged 13-18; but could be used for other ages. It requires little equipment and minimal setup; everything you need is in one document! (This is a downloadable resource which you can access by clicking on the title above)
Older Books on Youth Ministry
Practical and theoretical articles on establishing and operating youth ministries from Sunday School through youth groups to campus ministries. Despite the age, the information is still current and useful.
Other
A Bibby book which looks at religious trends in Canada since the 1950s; using data obtained from Canadians of all ages. In the same way that The Emerging Millennials is an essential starting point for understanding youth, so Beyond the Gods and Back is essential for getting to grips with contemporary religious trends in Canada.
Ever wanted to see how the story of Jesus would look if it were presented as Manga (Japanese graphic novel style)? This is a great read which incorporates all four gospels into a narrative of Jesus’ life; and would be a good resource for youth who want to explore the Bible and love graphic novels.
The next graphic novel from the team which wrote Manga Messiah. This one picks up the story with a manga interpretation of Acts and the life of Paul.
An informative resource on teen drug use in the Lower Mainland produced by the Port Moody and West Vancouver police departments. It’s intended for parents, but the factual information and statistics on current drug trends make this a valuable resources for youth groups who want to explore issues of drug and alcohol use. (It’s also freely available from either police department)
A resource which addresses the theological rationale against corporal punishment of children, and exploring the church’s role in both including and advocating for the rights of children. (This is a downloadable resource which you can access by clicking on the title above)
Anglican Youth Ministry
General Youth Work Resources
Social Justice
Other Sites of Interest
Anglican Links
Partner Links
Related Groups and Programs
Miscellaneous Links