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Staying Power: Essentials for Longevity in Youth Ministry
128 pages, Paperback
Published June 15, 2025
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7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 15, 2025
Quite honestly, these principles are valuable for any ministry, education, etc. Wherever you wish to endure these essentials can be applied.
December 10, 2025
An important topic for sure. Some practical wisdom to be gained to do student ministry for the long haul.
February 3, 2026
This book serves as a great supplement to much of the mainstream youth ministry material out there. While he covered many essentials you can find in most every youth ministry book, he also takes a decent amount of time to discuss things many of those mainstream books simply don’t talk about.
July 21, 2025
In a culture where the role of youth pastor has a fast turnover, just about every two years, it is so important to walk into this role with the mindset of being there for the longer haul. It is much more beneficial for youth to have a consistent pastor over them then not. If you work in youth ministry to any capacity, read this. The teenagers we love deserve more than games and pizza.
July 18, 2025
Great book for anyone in ministry youth ministry or not! I have served as a college minister for 6 years and there was a lot of great encouragement and challenge in this book! I would encourage anyone in ministry to read it.
July 13, 2025
Short read with good nuggets of inspiration and thought. Youth ministry isn’t something to take on just for fun, and this book gives a theological foundation for youth ministry and the why. It also brings up some practical guidelines in order to continue ministry in one place for a longer period of time. There isn’t a step by step programming laid out, but challenging thoughts and questions to get you moving in the right direction.
August 11, 2025
If you’ve been in youth ministry for any length of time, you know it’s not just pizza parties and late-night lock-ins. It’s the hard conversations with parents, the heartbreak when a student drifts away, and the constant pressure to keep things fresh while staying faithful to God’s Word. That’s why Staying Power resonated so deeply with me. It felt like Jody Livingston had been peeking into my ministry journal.
Jody writes like a fellow traveler, someone who has sat in the youth pastor’s office at 9:30 p.m. wondering if they still have what it takes to do this another year. His 10 “essentials” aren’t gimmicks. They’re rooted in Scripture, shaped by experience, and offered with the kind of gentle honesty that says, “I’ve been there.”
One of the biggest takeaways for me was the reminder that youth ministry is a calling, not a stepping stone. In a world where leaders often burn out or bail out, Jody calls us back to the long view—playing the long game with students, relationships, and our own walk with Christ.
The book is short enough to read in a couple of sittings, but you’ll want to slow down and let each chapter sink in. It’s less like gulping down a sports drink and more like sipping coffee with a mentor who’s been where you are and made it to the other side still loving Jesus and loving students.
If you’re tired, discouraged, or just wondering how to keep going without losing your soul, Staying Power isn’t just a good read; it’s a timely companion. It reminds you why you started and helps you believe you can keep going.
Jody writes like a fellow traveler, someone who has sat in the youth pastor’s office at 9:30 p.m. wondering if they still have what it takes to do this another year. His 10 “essentials” aren’t gimmicks. They’re rooted in Scripture, shaped by experience, and offered with the kind of gentle honesty that says, “I’ve been there.”
One of the biggest takeaways for me was the reminder that youth ministry is a calling, not a stepping stone. In a world where leaders often burn out or bail out, Jody calls us back to the long view—playing the long game with students, relationships, and our own walk with Christ.
The book is short enough to read in a couple of sittings, but you’ll want to slow down and let each chapter sink in. It’s less like gulping down a sports drink and more like sipping coffee with a mentor who’s been where you are and made it to the other side still loving Jesus and loving students.
If you’re tired, discouraged, or just wondering how to keep going without losing your soul, Staying Power isn’t just a good read; it’s a timely companion. It reminds you why you started and helps you believe you can keep going.
August 3, 2025
A quick, easy read that I highly recommend to anyone in youth ministry! As someone drawn to the practical, nitty-gritty details of growing in ministry through the “tools of the trade”, the first 5 chapters were a very welcome reality check. I appreciated that this book is less of a “how to build a ministry that lasts through these 10 tips” and more of a “how to become the kind of person that can minister healthily and effectively for years”
June 26, 2025
Staying Power: Essentials for Longevity in Youth Ministry is an inspiring and practical guide that equips youth leaders with timeless strategies for sustained impact. Its heartfelt insights and actionable advice make it a must-read for anyone committed to thriving in youth ministry.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews