The most powerful force in a young person's life is his or her family. The importance of this is pointed out in the writing of the Torah in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, where believers are mandated to pass their family legacies to the next generations. The newest trend in youth ministry today is a very healthy move toward family-based ministry, a mind-set that helps the church act as a support system, while placing discipleship and training back into the hands of family. Partnering with Parents in Youth Ministry will help youth workers understand their unique role in helping families succeed and will give an overview strategy of family-based youth ministry, as well as practical ideas on implementing this awesome ministry in your church.

The most powerful force in a young person's life is his or her family - and the importance of this is pointed out in the writing of the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4 - 9), where believers are mandated to pass their family legacies to the next generations...

Parents and families are busier than ever—and so are you—but partnering with them is as important as ever. So how do you do that? Author Phil Bell has taken his 20 years of experience and created a playbook to help you come alongside parents. This isn’t a plan to make your ministry look like someone else’s. These are proven ideas you can weave into the things you’re already doing. These practical ideas work whether you’re full-time, part-time, or a volunteer. And you can add them on to your own timeline. Partnering with parents isn’t about just getting them to come to you. It’s about a ministry that meets in the middle—where you are and where they are—creating a stronger ministry and stronger families. Topics include: • Taking care of yourself and your own family first • Key strategies for effective communication • Ideas for resourcing and equipping parents • Ways to reach unengaged parents • Turning parents into your ministry’s greatest promoters • Fostering a community of parents that makes everyone stronger

"A Youth group is not only about your teenager. Youth ministry, done well, includes and impacts the entire family. Practical Wisdom for Parents is not a book about how to make your teens sit down and have a family devotional. Instead, this book will help you and your teen thrive and flourish during these important years. David and Walter give numerous practical suggestions on how you can work alongside and support those leading your youth ministry, including a variety of ways you can support and be involved in your teen's youth ministry experience. Many of their ideas are "behind the scenes" that don't require you to teach a class or lead a devotional. However, your partnership role with your youth ministry leadership will be clearly articulated throughout"--

Because parents are the primary evangelizers of young people, they must be integrally involved in any successful youth ministry program. Youth Ministry and Parents paves the way for youth ministers to create successful partnerships with parents of the teens in their parish. It helps youth ministers understand parents of teens and gives youth program leaders concrete strategies for enlisting parental support, overcoming resistance, and using the parental support system to complement youth ministry programs. This book is a must-have for every parish where youth ministers and parents understand the benefits of working together.

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.