What we're reading

The Reign UK team tell us what they're reading to inspire them in their walk with God and youth ministry. To find out more about Reign UK visit www.reignministries.co.uk

A book I’m reading currently is What do I Know about my God by Mardi Collier.  It’s not your typical “how to” book, but rather it provides a really simple and powerful tool to help you know and understand God better, and then allow that knowledge to influence your life and ministry.  She shows you how to make your own notebook full of truths about God.  I feel like it’s helped revitalize a thirst for God’s Word to me personally, but I’m also excited to be able to share this tool with others I will have the opportunity to disciple. Sarah Cotton

One of the classic books that has impacted my life and ministry is The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman. While it might sound at first like a book that talks about how to share your faith, it’s actually about discipleship. Coleman works through the life of Christ and shows that Jesus actually had a plan for his ministry that wasn’t about building big events and masses of people, but focusing on a few to reach the many.

Bruchko is another book that has shaped my life in huge ways. The basic story is about a 19 year old who found himself in South America without funding and without a personal contact but with a huge passion to tell the native people of the Amazon region about God. Bruce Olsen (Bruchko) had to learn out the language and had to re-learn how to tell people about Jesus who had never heard. Many of his methods have shaped how I view ministry. If you start to read this book, you will not be able to put it down!

Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450 Year Old Company that Changed the World. by Chris Lowney. I have just finished working through this one. Lowney tracks the history and heroic efforts of the Jesuits. Before reading this book, I knew nothing about the Jesuits but have been really inspired by their dreams, values and methods. There are some great stories in here about men who took great risks for God and gained a platform for speaking and living out the gospel.

Movements that Change the World. by Steve Addison. Very helpful as Addison tracks Christian history and points out the characteristics of movements of Jesus. Inspiring as we endeavor to not just set up ministries, but movements. Darin Stevens

I’m re-reading Blue Like Jazz which I love because of Donald Millers way of sharing his spiritual journey. It challenges me in my journey and my expectation of others. I’m also reading the book of John in the Bible because I want to learn more about, and from, Jesus. Alysen Merrill

I recommend Shaping the Spiritual Life of Students by Richard Dunn. I read it awhile ago (okay, when I first started youth ministry 10 years ago), but it continues to impact me. I tended to be “teller” and my primary way of forming young people in discipleship relationships was to dump truth at them, regardless of if the student was ready to hear and process that truth. Dunn puts forward a framework for relational influence which he calls “pacing” with young people. Through various case studies and examples he drew a picture for of how to pace with a young person and challenge at the appropriate time. I’d highly recommend this book if you are new to youth ministry or if you just want to grow as a discipler and mentor.Joy Stevens

Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay. This has been a book that has helped me with many questions about how do I try to engage the world missionaly and incarnationally. It has really helped me to look at how can we help people on their journey of discovering who God is and how to live the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus Christ. I find my self breathing a deep sigh of relief as I read it thinking… “It’s nice to know someone else is asking the same questions that I am. Glad I am not a heretic.” I believe this is one of the best books I have read in the last five years.

The CORE Realities of Youth Ministry by Mike Yaconelli. Simply one of the best books on breaking down what biblical realities should be present among youth ministries and churches. It is a quick and simple read that leaves me contemplating on each chapter for days. This is on my annual reading list to keep me fresh in asking the right questions while keeping me honest.

Church Next by Eddie Gibbs and Ian Coffey is the heavier book of the three. However, it is a book that is written about asking and addressing the right questions that the church faces in a postmodern / postchristian world. There is so much in this book that can really benefit someone that is involved in youth ministry and shaping the future generations of leaders in the church.

Irresistible Revolution by Sahane Claibourne. This is a completely honest book challenging Christ followers today. When you read this you find yourself uncomfortable at times and at other times in complete agreement. This quickly become a great book for me to pass onto others that are asking the question “Is what I experience at church all there is to my faith?” If you are one of those people or know of students that have grown up in a Christian home then this is a highly recommended read that will hopefully push you to want to know more about Jesus, be more like Jesus, and do life more for Jesus. My favorite quote from this book is “Jesus wrecked my life.” Scott Goosen