Teenagers Matter: Making Student Ministry a Priority in the Church

Youth, Family, and Culture

by Mark W. Cannister

Teenagers matter! When they are valued, they bring life to nearly every sector of society, including the church. Although student ministry has come a long way in the last century, few churches have made it a high priority.

Veteran practitioner Mark Cannister brings together the latest ideas and research on adolescence to champion student ministry as integral to the life of the church. He shows how connecting teenagers into the church's larger intergenerational community enriches the entire congregation, casting a prophetic vision for what the church can become when it truly values its young people.

This comprehensive yet accessible addition to the award-winning Youth, Family, and Culture series has been field tested and written in close consultation with youth pastors. It outlines the resources necessary for a vital student ministry and includes sidebars and discussion questions.

Genres: Church

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Mark Cannister (EdD, University of Pittsburgh) is professor of Christian ministries and cochairs the department of biblical studies and Christian ministries at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. He previously served in church and parachurch organizations and helped create the Association of Youth Ministry Educators (AYME). Cannister is editor of the Journal of Youth Ministry and is on the advisory boards of Youthworker Journal and the Journal of Student Ministries.

Reviews

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teenagers matter! When they are valued, they bring life to nearly every sector of society, including the church. Although student ministry has come a long way in the last century, few churches have made it a high priority.
Veteran practitioner Mark Cannister brings together the latest ideas and research on adolescence to champion student ministry as integral to the life of the church. He shows how connecting teenagers into the church's larger intergenerational community enriches the entire congregation, casting a prophetic vision for what the church can become when it truly values its young people.

This comprehensive yet accessible addition to the award-winning Youth, Family, and Culture series has been field tested and written in close consultation with youth pastors. It outlines the resources necessary for a vital student ministry and includes sidebars and discussion questions.

--My thoughts. What a great book for anyone in the ministry or wanting to know how to make teenagers a priority in the church, which is greatly lacking these days. Great discussion questions for church leaders, engaging ones, that really lead to some wonderful thinking -- Communication is key, I love many of these topics. I think all churches should have a copy of this book, we would do better if we made them an integral part of the church, they are after all our future.

I received this book as a part of Goodreads first reads program in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Kelly Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cannister writes a comprehensive yet user friendly book about the value of a well-planned teen ministry. It is well written and would be a great trade book for any youth minister or supplemental textbook for classes on youth ministry. Taking a look at how the 20/80 principle is not enough for the ministry.