Delighted: What Teenagers Are Teaching the Church about Joy

by Kenda Creasy Dean, Wesley W. Ellis, Justin Forbes

What would youth ministry look like if it were based on a pursuit of authentic Christian joy?

Joy is not often a word young people associate with church—but it should be. By reimagining three common practices in youth ministry through the theological lens of joy, veteran youth workers Kenda Creasy Dean, Wesley Ellis, Justin Forbes, and Abigail Visco Rusert demonstrate how to shift this association and become more honest about what youth ministry can, and can’t, do to support young people and their faith. Grounding youth ministry in joy rather than in fear also models a way forward for the church. It reminds us that youth ministry is not a tool for anxious congregations to use to ensure their survival.  Rather, youth ministry—like all ministry—is a way to help people name and experience God’s delight, free from fear and anxiety about their futures. 

Delighted is the first book to emerge from the Yale Center for Faith and Culture’s Adolescent Faith and Flourishing project, offering a sustained reflection on joy’s practical importance for youth ministry. With reflection questions offered at the end of each chapter, Delighted is easy for youth ministers, volunteers, and pastors to pick up and use immediately—tapping into young people’s instinctive desire for joy for the entire church, as well as for ministry with teenagers.

Genres: Theology

176 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2020

About the author

Kenda Creasy Dean is an ordained elder in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference (United Methodist) and professor of youth, church, and culture at Princeton Theological Seminary, where she works closely with the Institute for Youth Ministry. A graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary, she served as pastor in suburban Washington DC and as a campus minister at the University of Maryland-College Park before coming to Princeton Seminary. She is currently appointed as the coordinating pastor of Kingston United Methodist Church in Kingston, New Jersey.

Reviews

[Rachel Ramey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book while searching for books about "delight" and, although it wasn't exactly what I'd set out to look for, I was intrigued by it. Chances are, I would disagree with the theology of most of these authors' churches. For one thing, there's a pretty hefty representation of female pastoring here, and that's not something I consider biblical. Yet despite the signals that I would likely find fundamental disagreements with their theology, when it comes to the topic of the book itself, the content is remarkably solid.

The tone of it is a little hard to describe. In some ways it feels more like it came out of a psychology department than a theology department -- yet not in a way that comes across as wishy-washy or "psychobabble." More like it's focused more heavily on people than on doctrines -- which is a pretty good summary of the point of the book, I think.

Don't get me wrong; the book never suggests that doctrine doesn't matter. The message here, though, is that the heart of ministry is supposed to be relationship -- relationship between the ministers and those they're ministering to and, ultimately, relationship between them and God. There's a refreshing emphasis here on relationship-building, and on building our ministries to serve the needs of those we're pursuing relationship with, in contrast to the all-too-popular approach of sort-of seeking relationships in order to serve the ministries we've built. The entire book is a passionate, creative reminder to get back to the foundations of what makes ministry ministry.

(The same principles all apply to whole-church ministry, as well.)

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who attempted to begin a youth group at our church (a month before the pandemic), this book has helped me reframe the why of starting a youth ministry. Why do youth ministry? According to the authors, the purpose of youth ministry is joy--to delight in teens in whom God delights, and to help them see God's delight in them. This opens the door for more creative youth ministries. It helped me begin to reimagine what this might look like in my church.

[Barry Saylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title might sound like a light read, but the subject matter is quite heavy. Dean and her colleagues address the issue of “joy” challenging youth pastors to lead students into the joy of the Lord, rather than creating false joy. This book has some of the most honest, transparent discussion I have heard and I highly recommend it. See my full review in the Journal of Youth Ministry fall 2020 volume.

[Haley Rhoads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used this book for our ministry and it’s super good. Some of the language is very pastoral but there were some great ideas in here that we took to our ministry and would definitely encourage others to use. I like the psych aspect to all of it as well.

[Jordan Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stuff. Lots to ponder and consider.

[Ryan Blackman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great insights, but sometimes having multiple authors made it read too much like a textbook.

[Micah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent philosophy of Ministry, and one of the best practical youth ministry books in years.

[Jen Bradbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

At this point, it should come as no surprise that books by Kenda Creasy Dean always challenge and delight me. I particularly enjoyed wrestling with Delighted with my adult leaders.

[Matt Weiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid integration of critical theological reflection and practical theology. Joy and friendship, delight, even though the work can be exhausting and hard at times - all at the core of youth ministry. These folks at Princeton seminary approach this field without asking the readers to check our brains at the door. Always appreciate Kenda Dean and now grateful to “know” these other practitioners.