Presence-Centered Youth Ministry: Guiding Students into Spiritual Formation

by Mike King

How many programs does it take to change a youth group? That question has bothered youth workers for decades, and the cracks in its logic are beginning to show. In place of the contrived, artificial mechanisms employed so widely in modern youth outreach and discipleship, Mike King proposes a ministry centered in the presence of God. Young people encounter Christ not in the flash and pop of arena ministry, but in the sacred shadow of his presence. They learn what it is to love and follow Christ by observing others loving and following Christ--letting Christ shape their worldviews, their habits, their virtues. Presence-Centered Youth Ministry gives shape to such ministry through the classic disciplines and potent symbols and practices that have sustained the church over the centuries. The sound and fury that has characterized youth ministry for so long has left too many youth workers tired and too many young people disillusioned. Come explore the deeper terrain; your students are sure to follow.

Genres: Young Adult

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 8, 2006

Reviews

[Kevin Godinho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living life with a long view. It takes hundreds of years to build a Cathedral, yet men dedicated themselves to work that they would never truly reap the benefit of. The long view mindset is one that we as a people need to adopt in our vision and work ethic. Put our hands to the plow and think long term; beyond even our own lifetime. What ground can we till today that might take a century of watering before it is ready for harvest? Lets do away with instant gratification and be a people of patience and hard work. Discipleship takes time; don't hurry it.

This was a good book. There were some things that I felt I needed to toss off to the side as potentially dangerous, however there were some very cool insights in here that I can definitely see myself attempting to add to my life; such as respiratory prayer. An awesome way to meditate on Scripture.

[Dave Pettengill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book in my opinion was good but not great. I greatly appreciate the contemplative need we have in youth ministry and this book hits on what those practices are, but I feel fails on how we can practically apply this in youth ministry. The book spends most of its time explaining what things like Lectio Divina, praying with icons, a rule of life is, but very little actually showing how this has been incorporated. It has a lot of quotes from teens\young adults appreciated these spiritual aspects but very little showing how it was introduced and lead. I would say if you are a youth pastor and you do not know much about the more contemplative tradition then this book could be helpful to you. If you however are familiar with it and are expecting to see how it can be introduced and used to guide youth in this journey then you will be disappointed.

[Jay Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. A minister I know gave me this book. My question was why? I am not a youth minister and my Church has very few youth. So, this book while ostensibly about youth ministry, but it is more about how you approach life. It has a chapter on how to pray, on how to organize what is important. This man has great insight. If you are wandering in your faith, pick up this book!

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the fallacies of the Church growth movement and Western Evangelical-dom as a whole revolves around a theology of getting people into Heaven (out of Hell) and how that has trumped everything else about the Gospel. This has lead Western Evangelicals to ignore issues, like racism and poverty, because they would probably rock the boat and impede greater numbers of people from being “saved.” Many like King have argued for a focus on getting Heaven into people (Dallas Willard) rather than just getting people into Heaven

King speaks into this foundation that a lot of youth ministries are built around, flashy games and attractional models. He argues that teens really need depth, and that teens see through the fun/games/pizza that so many youth ministries focus on. King argues that a focus on transformation/Christian disciplines not only provides a deeper faith for teens, it actually creates a fuller attraction for teens. King argues that a deep focus of Christianity creates something distinctly different for teens not only to be but also to tell others about.

King writes a great book for youth workers and those looking to get beyond the glorified babysitter role of a youth minister. He has a few sections where he focuses on some Christian Disciplines, which is a great starting place for those who are new to such disciplines. This is a great book for anyone beginning to search out the depths of the Christian tradition and working with Youth.

I have found King’s impressions of youth, that they not only are intrigue with deeper things but thrive on them, to be very true. As a minister of youth for five years I often struggle with Church communities and organizations who think too little of the youth they serve. Christian Disciplines and discussing difficult topics of life are paramount for a youth ministry that wants to cultivate participants in the Kingdom of God. Not only are these ideas important, but like King I believe teens desire such deeper formational foundations.

My one critique of King’s book is that he focuses a little too much on the individual/introspective disciplines while not unpacking the communal/service/social Justice disciplines. Disciplines such as Bible reading, prayer, fasting, Sabbath are very important but so are the disciplines of service, spending time with others, spending time with your enemies etc. King doesn’t spend a lot of time on these other disciplines, but he does mention them.

[Bill Ver Velde · Rating 5 out of 5]

King calls us back to the importance of simply being in the presence of God. As a youth worker, I have an unhealthy tendency to focus on the consumption of information. My context is one that often lands in this same ditch. One of the only ways we know how to exercise our faith is through Bible study and didactic teaching and learning. King has reminded me of the importance of simply being with God. Although this book is certain to raise a few flags at times, this is a fantastic corrective to our overly programmed; overly consumeristic; overly entertainment driven; overly teaching focused; youth ministries.

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book that helps inform the importance of teaching students spiritual formation practices and how to do it