As For Me and My Crazy House: Learning to Protect Your Heart, Marriage, and Family From the Demands of Youth Ministry

by Brian Berry, Mark Oestreicher (Foreword)

In this book, youth pastor Brian Berry pours out his thoughts on why it's so tough to build a healthy life, a healthy marriage, and a healthy family in the midst of ministry craziness. He focuses on the three best gifts you as a youth worker can Just reading this book won't transform you into a youth worker with a healthy self, marriage, and family. But reading this book will guide you, challenge you, and inspire you as you ponder the stuff that we all wrestle with as followers of Jesus, the stuff we strive for as spouses, and the stuff we yearn for as parents.

156 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 2012

Reviews

[Eric Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what I was going to get from this book when I picked it up. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found in the pages. This book is a wonderfully honest discussion on family and ministry. I love Mr. Berry's candid remarks throughout the book. I found myself reaching for my highlighter more than I expected. Here are some takeaways that I have from this book:

1. I really want to work on taking my kids out for one-on-one conversations weekly.
2. It was a good reminder to me that my marriage and family need to be strong in order for role in the ministry to be strong.
3. He reminds those of us in ministry that family must come first.
4. As a parent, I am the biggest influence on my child's life.

None of these things are earth shattering or profoundly new, but it was good to be reminded of all of them. This was such a refreshing book and I would recommend it to anyone that asks about it.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian Berry has written a good book here. There were moments when I wondered if he had cameras in my home. Because if there is a crazy house, it's the one I live in.

As For Me and My Crazy House is written by a youth pastor for youth pastors. The subtitle says it all; Learning to protect your heart, marriage, and family from the demands of youth ministry.

While many of the thoughts are geared towards those in youth ministry, the elements discussed in this book could be easily applied to any profession. Brian divides the book into 3 sections.

The Best Gift I Can Give My Marriage is a Healthy Self
The Best Gift I Can Give My Family is a Healthy Marriage
The Best Gift I Can Give My Community and Ministry is a Healthy Family

These divisions may seem to make sense, although many people don't actually practice their lives in this way. But Brian is far from predictable. I'll allow you to read the details, but he never seems afraid to disagree with current themes and buzzwords.

Brian becomes very passionate at points and with good reason. We have one opportunity with our ministry, our family, our marriage and our self. We need to get it right and I think Brian Berry gets it right.

[Jessica Kristiansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title says "youth ministry" but this book can really be for anyone who is involved in ministry at all or anyone who finds themselves too busy. A great read on prioritizing yourself, your marriage and your family so that they can be as healthy as possible.

[Emily (emilyreadsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone in ministry who wants to prioritize a healthy life and family