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Rating: 
Summary: More of a jab at small churches, approaches won't work.
Review: I was really disappointed. The author is obviously qualified, but it is interesting that he has been involved in so many denomonations (7) in his own youth ministry. I sense that he has had bad experiences with small churches and has unresolved issues. There are many jabs at them throughout the first half of the book. The last parts of the book consist of "approaches" that will not work in small churches for reasons given in the first half of the book. One of the three main approaches requires that youth be divided into groups of 6 to 8 with similar interests and of the same sex. Another requires a cast of leaders with very specific roles and qualifications. A much better book is "Youth Ministry in Small Churches" by Rick Chromey. It is a very positive book written with the small church in mind, and with some ideas that are really geared toward a church with only two to a dozen or so high-schoolers.
Rating: 
Summary: Small Church Youth Worker? Read This Book!
Review: Speaking as a youth ministry veteran of a little more than 12 years, mostly in a small church setting in positions ranging from volunteer to full-time paid, I strongly suggest that youth workers (and pastors) read this excellent introduction to youth ministry in the small congregation. Grassel has a passion for small church ministry (along with many years experience)and has finally given us a book that speaks to that context from within that context. Even those who work within larger settings (which are really a minority in this nation) will learn alot as they strive to work in partnership with other youth leaders. This is by no means an exhaustive work, but it provides an excellent framework with alot of helpful ideas for those of us striving to simply be faithful examples for and teachers of teenagers - people who are not concerned with numbers as much as they are about simply being Jesus to a generation.
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