Great Youth Ministry Resources

Maybe it's because I've been called the "Curriculum Nazi," or because my bookshelf is packed, but I get a LOT of questions about youth ministry books and resources. These are some of my favorites [as well as some of my kids' favorites].

Curriculum
Scary, Gross, and Weird Stories from the Bible- my 5th and 6th graders LOVED this. It's fun and easy to teach, and the lessons are memorable.

Middle/High School Talksheets: 50 Lessons on the life of Christ- alright, so I'm a little biased because Terry was my advisor/professor at Bethel, but we've been using this as our Sunday School curriculum all year, and my students still are challenged by it.

The InterActions series- You have to tweak it and choose topics based on your students' needs [it's written towards adults], but the Pepplers used this for their summer Bible study, and our students easily connected with it.

Books for Leaders
Starting Right- one of our textbooks from Bethel. Super practical, and it connects the academic side of youth ministry with the realities of actually leading a youth ministry.

Helping the Struggling Adolescent- this is a MUST HAVE. it covers every topic your teens will face, as well as provides Biblical insight on how to walk with them through the storms. It's got assessment tests and it's alphabetical, making it a great handbook.

Simply Strategic Volunteers- a great handbook for building and maintaining your team. Easy to read, and easy to impliment.

Web Resources
Youth Group Games- a searchable database with new games that I know our kids havent played before. Easy to use, too.

YouthMinistry.com, specifically their Freebie Library- because i don't know any youth workers who would turn down free [and good] resources.

Planet Wisdom- get this link in your kids' hands. It's a great resource for students ministring to other students. Along with this is Real World Parents for, duh, parents :)

Blogs for Youth Workers
Adam McLane- Adam's blog is probably the one blog I will always take time for when it pops up in my Google Reader. He works for Youth Specialties, and he's got great insight into the workings of the church and youth ministry. Plus, he's from the 'Bend. What up, Michiana?

Josh Griffin- Josh is the High School Pastor at Saddleback. That's not why you should read his blog. Josh often posts from both sides of the youth ministry spectrum: "Here's what's going on with Youth Ministry from an academic standpoint" and "Here's what's going on in our youth ministry." Plus I think it's key for YP's to know what other churches are doing.

Kem Meyer- Kem's the Communications Director at GCC, and I don't know anyone who understands communication better than she does. Whenever I'm making flyers/announcements/etc, I CONSTANTLY have Kem's words of wisdom running through my head. She's on point. Plus, communication in the church seems to be one of the biggest obstacles we run into, so it's nice having Kem's blog to turn to for ideas.