Toward a Prophetic Youth Ministry: Theory and Praxis in Urban Context

by Fernando Arzola Jr.

Youth ministries in an urban context are too often left to their own devices. The resources available to them are overwhelmingly conceived, tested and produced exclusively in the suburbs, and bring little to bear on the realities of urban youth culture. As a consequence, youth ministries in large cities have tended to settle onto one of three paths--a traditional paradigm that jealously guards the spiritual formation of its young people, a liberal paradigm that concentrates exclusively on personal growth, and an activist paradigm that galvanizes youth around the social concerns surrounding them. While each of these emphases is important, too often they are pursued to the neglect of the others, and the urban church suffers. Fernando Arzola Jr. proposes a fourth way, a prophetic paradigm that integrates the three and cultivates young people who are spiritually rooted, emotionally mature and responsive to the needs of their community. In this pace-setting book he draws on various disciplines--from biology to sociology, from psychology to theology--to guide urban youth workers into an effective and transformational ministry to youth.

186 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2008

Reviews

[Holly Cavender · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book set out what I think it intended to do. It gave me a lot of perspective into urban ministry and how to relate to people and youth well in this context. Was not the most influential book but did give me some new ideas and perspective!

[Sean Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Towards a Prophetic a Youth Ministry is the Rosetta Stone to understanding working with people of color and in urban communities. What evangelical churches and organizations often miss is how to successfully contextualize the gospel to different community. Frank Arzola unpacks precisely how to do this. He engages in discipleship that contains spiritual, personal, and social paradigms--the way Jesus did in the Scriptures.
Easily one of the best books I have ever read. He spoke to my heart, my mind, my history, and my ministry context.

[C.H.E. Sadaphal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bottom line: Zeal masquerades as fact in this guidebook for youth ministry in the urban context.

The aim of Toward a Prophetic Youth Ministry can be found in the Preface: “to provide a theoretical and methodological framework for understanding youth ministry in the urban context.”

The book does accomplish to provide a framework. The question then becomes ... http://www.chesadaphal.com/toward-a-p...

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am really grateful to Fred Arzola for providing a well-considered approach to youth ministry in urban settings. The distinctions he makes are helpful. Great chapter looking at adolescents and brain maturation. It reads a little like a term paper; would have loved more narrative and fuller examples of his principles in practice, but am glad to have the book on my shelf.