Youth Ministry 3.0: A Manifesto of Where We've Been, Where We Are & Where We Need to Go

by Mark Oestreicher

Over the past several decades there have been three significant shifts in youth culture; each new shift brought with it different values and priorities in the lives of teens. Youth ministries adapted and responded to the first two shifts, but we’re missing the boat on the third. The result? Youth ministry isn’t addressing the realities and needs of today’s youth culture. After nearly three decades in youth ministry, Mark Oestreicher has lived through a lot of those shifts himself. In recent years, he’s found himself wondering what needs to change, especially since so much of what we’re doing in youth ministry today is not working. In Youth Ministry 3.0, youth workers will explore, along with Marko and the voices of other youth workers, why we need change in youth ministry, from a ministry moving away from a dependence on programs, to one that is focused on communion and mission. They’ll get a quick history of youth ministry over the last fifty years. And they’ll help dream about what changes need to take place in order to create the next phase of youth ministry — the future that needs to be created for effective ministry to students.

Genres: Young Adult, Faith

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 28, 2008

Reviews

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

He argues that we need to cut all the fluff and programming and focus on two main things: 1)communion with one another and 2) service. Communion is a little bit different than community – but basically means small groups of people (notice I didn’t say small groups as in programmed small groups!) hanging out for meals, conversation, and just genuine presence with one another. And service is, well, serving others. Those most in need. Reaching out to those who make us most uncomfortable in order that they (and we) might experience God in those moments.

Youth Ministry 3.0 challenges those of us in youth ministry, whether we are paid, volunteer, parents, or students to go back to the very basic style of ministry that was taking place back in the time of Jesus. Focus on communion – on living life together – and on serving those around us most in need. How come it sounds so common sense but is at the same time such a radical thought?!

[Justin Ruszkiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book wondering if the claims that Oestreicher (often going by "Marko") makes would hold up being that this was first published almost twenty years ago.

But my goodness, is this book ahead of its time! I'd say the truths he shares in this book are more relevant and prevalent today than even in 2008. I aboslutely loved this book and was able to read through the entire thing in just a couple hours at a coffee shop.

This is up there as one of my new favorite youth ministry books, alongside Doug Fields' "Your First Two Years." Great job Marko!

Rating: 9/10, five stars!

(P.S. – I've never had a book that had so much intentionality behind the endnotes before this one. It felt like a worthy chapter to read in its own rights!)

[Alyssa]

Quote I liked from the book (113):

Passion calls us; being driven courses us. Passion seduces us; being driven guilts us. Passion is invitational; being driven is prescriptive. Passion is inquisitive; being driven is punitive. Passion is full of emotion; being driven is cold and calculating.

Suggests to be communal, make a practical application of faith, keeping it simple. That should create new passion in today’s youth.

[Eric Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Youth Ministry 3.0 is a very insightful book for anyone interested in what is going on with youth culture right now. It talks about three very distinct times in the "life" of youth ministry."Marko", as the author is called, talks about the different youth culture fixations, cultural influences, key themes, drivers, and theme verses for each of the 3 "versions" of youth ministry through the years.



Youth Ministry 1.0 is the original. Here is the breakdown for you:

Youth Culture Fixation: Identity
Cultural Influence on Youth Ministry: Language and Topics
Key Themes: Evangelism and Correction
Driver: Proclamation
Theme Verse: Matthew 7:13-14

Youth Ministry 2.0
Youth Culture Fixation: Autonomy
Cultural Influence on Youth Ministry: Models and Success
Key Themes: Discipleship and Creating a Positive Peer Group
Driver: Programs
Theme Verse: Matthew 28:19-20a

Youth Ministry 3.0
Youth Culture Fixation: Affinity
Cultural Influence on Youth Ministry: Contextualization
Key Themes: Communion and Mission
Driver: Not Driven, but Present
Theme Verse: Acts 2:44-46a and John 17:18

This is just a brief overview of what is covered in this book. If you are someone that works with kids for a living, in any setting, you need to pick up this book and give it a read. It is one of those books that really makes you look at what you are doing in your ministry. I know that it has prompted me to change some of the ways that I do things.

**Information for the breakdown was taken from: Youth Ministry 3.0 by Mark Oestreicher, Youth Specialties, Copyright 2008

[Tim Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read and i would say a must read for anyone in partial or full time youth ministry. i say it's a must read simply because whether you will agree with everything Marko writes, it will cause you to take a step back and think about not only the state of Youth Ministry in general, but your youth ministry.

the first half of the book takes a deeper look at the evolution of youth ministry and the various stages it has gone through. Youth Ministry 2.0 (for much of the 80's, 90's and 00's) has by-and-large been about programs, programs, programs and population. like whoever gets the most kids to show up, wins.

i like the challenging ideas Marko presents.

when programs become more important than relationships, there is a problem.

nothing was intrinsically wrong with YM 1.0 or 2.0, but Marko gives an overview for what 3.0 could look like.... sort of a 'less-is-more' approach where creating experiences for teens to interact with God is key.

i, personally liked the challenge and was encouraged.
i've never been a fan of the 'status-quo' and as a youth worker for 10+ years it is easy to fall into the rut of same-old same-old.

Youth Ministry 3.0 will make you think and hopefully evaluate what Youth Ministry should look like in the 21st Century.

side note: the Notes section at the end of the book are a worthwhile read... don't skip them!

[Chris McLain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed. I expected this book to include more historical information about the phases of youth ministry in the US, and I hoped for some specific, concrete advice on how to reach students in the twenty-first century. Unfortunately I got a vague, emergent discussion of how small group ministry should be applied without any concrete definition. I got the impression that, once the author's suggestions are implemented, different subcultures in the youth group will be autonomous and lacking in larger group identification; and consequently, youth will end up even more segregated from the church body as a whole. That said, Oestreicher's heart is in the right place, and his understanding of the status quo is not incorrect. I simply do not know if his proposed model is the best. I was personally disappointed because his discussion and suggestions would be best applied to large churches with large financial resources, and they are ultimately not workable in a small youth ministry, especially if that small youth ministry is a part of a small traditional church like mine.

[Susan Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very short book (126 pages) which gives a brief overview of youth ministry touching on what Mark Oestreicher believes have been the three major shifts in youth ministry over the last 50 years.

After his historical observations and research Mark Oestreicher comes to the conclusion that to reach the current generation of young people we need to focus on community and mission. As these are the two major things that today’s young people are seeking. They want deeper connections than social media can supply and they want a mission that is bigger than themselves.

Oestreicher is easy to read and includes many, many quotes in sidebars to further illustrate and add to his point of view. He is even prepared to include opinions that he does not necessarily agreed with.

Although the book is short, Oestreicher manages to cover his topic well and gives much food for thought.

[Adam Walker Cleaveland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished Marko's newest youth ministry book. I really enjoyed it - it challenges a lot of the preconceived notions about youth ministry today. Previously, one of my favorite books in youth ministry was Mark DeVries's "Sustainable Youth Ministry" - which I think still offers a lot. But...Marko's thoughts do offer a different perspective than Devries's.

For those who used to read Mike Yaconelli's stuff, you can see the influence of Yaconelli on Marko - and I think that's good. But Marko offers the hope for a simple, communional, missional youth ministry...one that is present, real, authentic, and - probably - small.

It will be interesting to see how these things impact my current youth ministry, but it definitely gave me a lot to think about.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half is VERY helpful and insightful.

The second half is like a lot of ministry/ faith books to come out in the last couple years... an over correction.

Mark gives us some great observations about the current (and past) youth cultures and how the church adjusted to meet the needs of that culture. His suggestion is that we are 100% missing this generation and then lays out a plan to correct that. I think his ideas are a bit drastic.

If you're in Youth Ministry, read it... with a grain of salt.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I think Marko has missed the point on some of what he says, I enjoyed the read. Marko is certainly right in this: we can't just keep doing what we have been doing and expect it to change the results we are getting. And I do think Marko's encouragement to pare back the never-ending activity and focus more on investing in kids is right on the money. Ultimately, we are not going to be successful if we can't help families to be places where faith is nurtured. I think this book is worth the read, though I hope readers will consider it with a critical eye.

[John Semchenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

people are not looking for preaching and programs, but rather community and purpose. MArk O. makes the case for a communal, missional approach to youth ministry rahter than a connect the dot or 'round the bases model of ministry and dvelopment. communal ministry is...
small
slow
simple
fluid
present

[Jason Retherford]

Mark O. puts into words what so many of us are thinking: what we are doing isn't working, and something needs to change! While, Mark O. doesn't lay out a ground work for this radical shift in ministry praxis, he does help us see where we need to go. The journey will certainly be messy, but it is worth it!

[Walt Walkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a really good book. It helps us to think about youth ministry historically so that we can better see where it is headed. I agree with the author's assessments of what is happening in youth ministry, but am disappointed that he does not see the necessity of parents taking a larger, more intentional role in the spiritual formation and development of students.

[Rachel Blom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very challenging and inspiring book, a must read for anyone involved in youth ministry. Marko makes a statement about the need to move from old ways of doing youth ministry to a new one, dubbed 3.0. I don't agree with everything in his analysis nor his proposed solutions, but the book sure shaped my thinking.

[Carol Wunderlich]

Dangerous, Difficult, Daunting... anyone who has been in youth ministry for more than 5 years has to do a gut check after reading this one... i'll have to do a re-read just to begin comprhending the shift Marko is espousing.

[David Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for everyone who is a youth pastor or youth worker. We need to understand the past, live in the present and let faith and love direct our future. Youth Ministry 3.0 is clearly Revolutionary!

[Aaron Buer · Rating 2 out of 5]

not much is new here

[Joel Daniel Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for youth pastors & those who want to understand where youth ministry has been, is now, and are dreaming about where it might go.

[Joshua Serrano · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good...

[Daryl Watts · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some really nice thought, but no new ground really. Might be good for brand new youth ministry guys.

[Richard Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stuff but seemed like he has a bit too much of a newer is better mentality. Some stuff is like whoa watch that bath water, there's a baby in there.

[John Wiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful overview of a history of contemporary youth ministry. I definitely disagree on his 3.0 model though.

[Nancy Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a good read to challenge status quo thinking about our youth culture and how we should consider doing things differently.