This updated and expanded version of an industry classic by one of America's best-known youth pastors unlocks the keys to a healthy, impactful middle school ministry.

If you're working with middle schoolers, you know ministry to early teens can be a little nuts sometimes! In this comprehensive guide from two middle school minister veterans, you'll find everything you need to understand and effectively minister to middle school students---to meet young teens where they are and lead them toward a life with Jesus.

Middle school is like a roller coaster, filled with ups and downs, twists and turns; it’s exhilarating and scary all at the same time! From piles of homework, to understanding the variety of “interesting” people working at your school, and dealing with the new challenges of changing for gym class in front of everyone, it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed. That’s why in My School, from the Middle School Survival Series, we will tackle the things that weigh heavily on middle school students just like you. This book will address important middle school issues like:dealing with bullies, jocks, nerds, and every other category of student you encounter revealing the truth behind the urban legends of middle school pop quizzes, tardiness, and other survival tips This book is filled with short and easy-to-read tips, along with funny stories from the authors (who, believe it or not, used to be middle school morons!), and quotes and questions from students just like you. After reading My School, you’ll be able to walk the halls like the confident student you want to be.

Author and pastor Jeff Lovingood believes to be successful in youth ministry, pastors need to embrace and understand certain enduring principles that will strengthen and carry them through the tough times when they are tempted to give up. Make It Last outlines these values and provides practical guidelines to encourage youth workers to reflect on why they are called to the ministry. An invaluable resource for anyone working with students in the church, Make It Last tackles important issues such as: Establishing a vision for youth ministry Creating a culture that balances evangelism and discipleship Building effective relationships with students and other ministries Celebrating what God has done

Simple Student Ministry fine tunes the proven methods of #1 best seller Simple Church for the unique field of youth discipleship.Coauthor Eric Geiger, who contributed to the latter, takes a step forward here, neatly unpacking the key ideas of Clarity, Movement, Alignment, and Focus that will transform any over-stimulated youth program into a simpler, more results-oriented spiritual development process. Fun is still allowed, by all means, but the ultimate emphasis on maturing faith is simply essential. The anecdotal comparisons are current and on-target (Starbucks’ well-publicized decision to retrain baristas in coffee making introduces the idea that youth leaders might also be wise to revisit the gospel essence of their ministry). And case study data gleaned from small to mega churches and parachurch ministries will give every youth leader a relatable reference point from which to begin the successful metamorphosis to Simple.

Youth Ministry in the Trenches is a series of practical, tactical resources to help those doing the dirty work of ministry in one of the grittiest battlefields of human existence—adolescence.

A youth ministry needs a solid group of volunteers to be truly effective. We youth workers all know this—but how do we make it happen? Let’s be honest: Many of us don’t do a great job of mobilizing volunteers and equipping them for ministry. Our plate is already full, and building a great team sounds like yet another task to add to the list. But what if your efforts to mobilize and equip volunteers actually lightened your schedule? What if this investment of time actually paid back double, quadruple, or even tenfold? The Skinny on Volunteers will help you concentrate on three simple skills that will help you build a crew of effective leaders: recruiting, keeping, and training volunteers. Yes, volunteers take time. But you’ll discover the rewards of investing in a team of people who will love teenagers, connect with them, and disciple them.