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Ministering to Gay Teenagers: Practical Help for Youth Workers and Families
When it comes to ministering to gays and lesbians, far too many churches have chosen silence over service, or a reactive stance over proactive involvement.
Congregations must abandon their comfort zone and minister to a group of people who need to experience the love of Jesus in powerful, tangible ways.
With truths drawn from his own personal experiences, youth pastor Shawn Harrison seeks to equip youth workers, parents, and churches in ministering to gay teenagers, their families, and the gay community at-large. The church must not compromise truth, he says, but it should not withhold grace either. How gay students first encounter God personally and communally and how Christians react to them can determine subsequent steps in their faith journey.
Ministering to Gay Teenagers is filled with wisdom and practical advice on how to respond when a student comes out and how to help the teenager's family through that journey, too. This book will equip leaders and parents with solid answers to the questions families ask. And it will challenge youth workers and churches to consider how to practically serve and minister to a group of people who seek deep authenticity in love, character, truth, and presence.
Ministering to Gay Teenagers was originally published in November 2012. This edition is revamped with approximately 80% new material incorporating wisdom the author has since learned, in addition to valuable feedback received from his youth ministry peers.
Congregations must abandon their comfort zone and minister to a group of people who need to experience the love of Jesus in powerful, tangible ways.
With truths drawn from his own personal experiences, youth pastor Shawn Harrison seeks to equip youth workers, parents, and churches in ministering to gay teenagers, their families, and the gay community at-large. The church must not compromise truth, he says, but it should not withhold grace either. How gay students first encounter God personally and communally and how Christians react to them can determine subsequent steps in their faith journey.
Ministering to Gay Teenagers is filled with wisdom and practical advice on how to respond when a student comes out and how to help the teenager's family through that journey, too. This book will equip leaders and parents with solid answers to the questions families ask. And it will challenge youth workers and churches to consider how to practically serve and minister to a group of people who seek deep authenticity in love, character, truth, and presence.
Ministering to Gay Teenagers was originally published in November 2012. This edition is revamped with approximately 80% new material incorporating wisdom the author has since learned, in addition to valuable feedback received from his youth ministry peers.
132 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 23, 2019
A helpful little book with very good intentions although I felt it a bit outdated to the challenges the church faces in secular Britain today. The Times they are a changing!
Some of the suggestions(although well intentioned) would come across offensive if practiced.
A good starter especially for the older generations still serving in youth ministry.
Some of the suggestions(although well intentioned) would come across offensive if practiced.
A good starter especially for the older generations still serving in youth ministry.
November 12, 2014
A good, very practical book. The most valuable part of the book is Harrison's actual story of seeing the church from the outside as a gay teen.
November 27, 2012
I liked that the author is writing from experience. He's not some advocate that's frustrated with the church. He is a man who was gay, found salvation in Jesus, and is now writing a pretty good manual on how the church can respond.
Primarily the ebook focuses on how youth pastors can walk alongside parents who have a gay child. I guess the assumption is that we'll all love the kid anyway and it's the parents that need help. That's why I only gave it 2 stars. I wanted more info about ministering to the actual student; more than just "be available to listen." Also, I wasn't a fan of the beginning that basically coaches teenagers how to come out. I'm not going to do that as a youth pastor. My job is to point students to Christ. I'll love gay teenagers, show them grace, and gladly welcome them into my ministry. I wish this book had more to say about that than just "do it."
Overall, this is a good (not great) resource to help youth workers talk to parents. I appreciate the author's transparency and the effort in creating this. But it is just a starting point in my mind.
Primarily the ebook focuses on how youth pastors can walk alongside parents who have a gay child. I guess the assumption is that we'll all love the kid anyway and it's the parents that need help. That's why I only gave it 2 stars. I wanted more info about ministering to the actual student; more than just "be available to listen." Also, I wasn't a fan of the beginning that basically coaches teenagers how to come out. I'm not going to do that as a youth pastor. My job is to point students to Christ. I'll love gay teenagers, show them grace, and gladly welcome them into my ministry. I wish this book had more to say about that than just "do it."
Overall, this is a good (not great) resource to help youth workers talk to parents. I appreciate the author's transparency and the effort in creating this. But it is just a starting point in my mind.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews