A youth minister's career is typically less than 5 years. And that's not because they "graduate" to adult ministry. It's because they burn out. Going the distance requires setting specific and unique boundaries. This book gives them to you with humor, real stories, and loads of inspiration.
Joel Lund was awarded "Top 10 Idaho Author" for his first book, "The Ultimate Survival Guide For Youth Ministers" His second book, "Watson's Way; Life Lessons We Earned From Our Brilliant Dog," won the "Top 3 Idaho Book" award. He’s received numerous North American Book Awards.
He also writes the young adult fantasy series—The Gargoyle Chronicles—under the name Brandon King. He’s a galleried artist, musician, and pet person. He’s spoken to tens of thousands of people (kids and adults) and is the co-founder of Prepare For Rain, a transformation incubator for people wanting more out of their lives.
Joel grew up in the Seattle area. In the middle of his college years, he traveled around the country in a band. Later, he earned a Master's (Regent College) and worked many years in youth ministry. With no sales experience to get him going, his second career was in the financial services industry.
Learn more about Watson, the Canine Guru, at watsonsway.com. Learn more about Joel at prepareforrainpress.com.
Let’s get straight to it. “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially his immediate family,
he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8 (NIV) In this upside down world, where bad is called good (and the reverse is also true) and completely unfettered and unfiltered self-expression is held up as most laudable and praiseworthy, you’ve got your ministry work cut out for you before you set foot out the door. Which is why it’s essential that your first ministry steps of the day happen before you open that door. I hope you enjoy this excerpt. ~Joel #youthministry #beginsathome #youth #boundaries #goodneighbors #church #crazyworld #readagreatbook #awardwinning #theultimatesurvivalguideforyouthministers
Book Excerpt
The Ultimate Survival Guide for Youth Ministers
There are many people within the youth minister’s universe that he or she needs to maintain boundaries with, so that they can be “good neighbours.” We have established that these people include the kids we work with, their parents, the church members, fellow staff persons, ministry peers, and even oneself. We have not yet looked at the youth minister’s own family. Perhaps we should have plumbed the depths of this relationship first. But I know that if we had done so, the volume of the message would likely have been muted by the time you got to the end of the book. Of all the relationships you have in youth ministry—or any ministry for that matter—the relationships you have within your own family are absolutely the most important, the most precious, and the most difficult to tend to, let alone mend when you haven’t tended them. So we have waited until now to discuss boundaries with the family.
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