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The Godbearing Life, Revised Edition: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry
A generation ago, The Godbearing Life charted a new course for youth ministry to fuel the faith both of young people and the adults who minister with them. It is founded on the truth that we are all Godbearers to one another, and therefore youth ministry is more about people than programs. Youth ministry is ministry that invites young people into deep soul work and spiritual friendships. Like the original, The Godbearing Life, Revised Edition is conversationally written, grounded in scripture, and grows out of all three authors' own pastoral experience. The update addresses the profound shifts in society and ministry over the past twenty-five years--from the interconnection of technology to the professionalization of youth ministry. This book reimagines the means of Godbearing youth ministry in a post-pandemic digital age in the twenty-first century while holding on to the fact that young people are continuously transformed by the message. The Godbearing Life, Revised Edition offers a new generation of church leaders the same depth of spiritual wisdom that shifted the ground for youth workers two decades ago. The basic message is this: young people need adults who practice faith alongside them.
270 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1998
20 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Kenda Creasy Dean
26 books18 followersKenda 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 11, 2024
Excellent reading for anyone in youth ministry. I am glad it was recently revised, ensuring its place as a classic across time and denominations. Expect it, and allow it to be personal spiritual reading as well as professional reading.
April 3, 2009
"The Godbearing Life" is an essential read for anyone in youth ministry. It is simply written and the questions after each chapter help you apply the concepts in the chapter to your own life and ministry. I should probably read it every few years to evaluate myself and my ministry. Read it thoughtfully and journal thoughtfully while you read, and this will be an invaluable tool for working with youth.
May 23, 2010
Essential read for youth ministry.
January 10, 2020
I liked the basis of this book and how it address the question of how to live incarnationally for youth ministry. At some places it was a little bit hard to grasp and I really wish there were a newer edition of this with more up to date facts, statistics, advice, etc. There are some points where the book is a little bit hard to focus on but for the most part it was very helpful even for being over 20 years old.
March 6, 2024
Wow, this book was encouraging, grounding and practical. I've started to implement some strategies into my youth group and I've seen positive responses almost immediately.
This is a book I see myself returning to again and again as I work with youth and attempt to help them understand and navigate their faith.
Worth reading for anyone working with youth.
This is a book I see myself returning to again and again as I work with youth and attempt to help them understand and navigate their faith.
Worth reading for anyone working with youth.
November 12, 2018
This is an excellent book for anyone who works with youth. In addition, many of the principles could be utilized by anyone during discipleship ministry to help keep the right perspective and purpose.
January 22, 2022
This is a really good book on ministry. It’s both informative and concise. It provides multiple ideas and strategies for effective youth ministry and also for self-ministry. My one knock is that it’s occasionally dry and hard to read, but all in all, it’s a great book!
April 28, 2019
The heart of ministry!
August 23, 2020
So boring and obvious.
September 25, 2021
loved this book but I totally forgot to update my goodreads... whoops
December 29, 2021
Very useful for youth ministry
July 9, 2022
A great book for people serving in Christian youth ministry or Christian ministry in general. Especially if you’ve been serving for some years, there are great insights into life and ministry.
March 7, 2023
There were some good nuggets here and there, well written, but organizationally inconclusive.
July 13, 2010
Kendra Creasy Dean has her finger on the pulse of the spiritual side of youth ministry. i chose to read The Godbearing Life as part of my Sabbatical study. Although i found parts of this book a little outdated (published in 1998 - a lot has changed in the lives of youth with technology, etc. since then) I still found this book useful for understanding the deeper side of youth ministry.
i particularly liked chapter 3 titled Heeding While Herding. As youth leaders/pastors/volunteers we are more than just a shepherd - there to protect and 'look out for' our flock of teenagers. our job (or should i say 'calling') goes beyond that.
"protection is for naught unless the flock follows the shepherd home."
Jesus Christ is the 'home' we aim to lead our adolescent youth to. but with that calling come barriers.
Barrier 1: Me Tarzan, You Jane (i.e. The Messiah Complex)
youth leaders cling to the idea that 'we must fetch youth and save them.' the problem with that is that it can lead to a ministry that begins and ends with the youth leader - not Jesus. The Godbearing alternative: Entrainment. stopping and listening to the breath of the Spirit within us (that is the breath of God) and aligning our rhythm with Him.
Barrier 2: McFaith (i.e. the Manager complex)
when we feel like our need is to be efficient - we run the risk of making faith 'easy' for teens. Sort of a drive-thru mentality can invade our way of managing our ministry. We end up managing chaos - trying to keep every aspect of the youth ministry afloat. We know that our teens are used to everything instantly... now. and thus we attempt to give them a faith that is fast and easy.
The Godbearing alternative is teaching students (and maybe ourselves?) to wait... patience is needed and essential to one's Spiritual life. We need times of rest and times of sabbath. we need time to process our faith. we need to wait on God. with expectant hearts...
Barrier 3: Called but Clueless (i.e. the "Duh" Complex)
We affirm youth (rightfully so). We encourage them and boost there self image - as self esteem is such a difficult thing for most teens - but do we affirm them with the absence of expectation does not enhance one's self image.
i loved the example laid out in the book of Mary, the mother of Jesus. the neat thing is that while Mary expected God to move (as promised by Gabriel) God expected Mary to fulfill her calling. As much as Mary believed in Him, He believed in her.
The Godbearing alternative is discernment. We need to pay attention and call attention to God. If we encourage youth - we must empower them as well. show them we believe in them. Show them that God believes in them.
Profound stuff for anyone who works with teens.
This book is a worthwhile book and should be a must read for any new youth worker. It very well may enable them to connect with teens on a deeper, spiritual level.
i particularly liked chapter 3 titled Heeding While Herding. As youth leaders/pastors/volunteers we are more than just a shepherd - there to protect and 'look out for' our flock of teenagers. our job (or should i say 'calling') goes beyond that.
"protection is for naught unless the flock follows the shepherd home."
Jesus Christ is the 'home' we aim to lead our adolescent youth to. but with that calling come barriers.
Barrier 1: Me Tarzan, You Jane (i.e. The Messiah Complex)
youth leaders cling to the idea that 'we must fetch youth and save them.' the problem with that is that it can lead to a ministry that begins and ends with the youth leader - not Jesus. The Godbearing alternative: Entrainment. stopping and listening to the breath of the Spirit within us (that is the breath of God) and aligning our rhythm with Him.
Barrier 2: McFaith (i.e. the Manager complex)
when we feel like our need is to be efficient - we run the risk of making faith 'easy' for teens. Sort of a drive-thru mentality can invade our way of managing our ministry. We end up managing chaos - trying to keep every aspect of the youth ministry afloat. We know that our teens are used to everything instantly... now. and thus we attempt to give them a faith that is fast and easy.
The Godbearing alternative is teaching students (and maybe ourselves?) to wait... patience is needed and essential to one's Spiritual life. We need times of rest and times of sabbath. we need time to process our faith. we need to wait on God. with expectant hearts...
Barrier 3: Called but Clueless (i.e. the "Duh" Complex)
We affirm youth (rightfully so). We encourage them and boost there self image - as self esteem is such a difficult thing for most teens - but do we affirm them with the absence of expectation does not enhance one's self image.
i loved the example laid out in the book of Mary, the mother of Jesus. the neat thing is that while Mary expected God to move (as promised by Gabriel) God expected Mary to fulfill her calling. As much as Mary believed in Him, He believed in her.
The Godbearing alternative is discernment. We need to pay attention and call attention to God. If we encourage youth - we must empower them as well. show them we believe in them. Show them that God believes in them.
Profound stuff for anyone who works with teens.
This book is a worthwhile book and should be a must read for any new youth worker. It very well may enable them to connect with teens on a deeper, spiritual level.
October 10, 2011
Kenda and Ron have articulated the practice, passion and pitfalls of youth ministry to a "T." Having never been formally trained as a youth pastor, I felt validated by this book and the ministry I currently offer and share with youth as an ordained pastor. It is a "must read" for workers of youth. It is a "must read" for pastors who are inspired to offer the most to their church's young people. There are just a few outdated illustrations related to the changes in modern media since the mid-90's when the book was published. But it is still a vital resource and motivator for those who minister and serve the Church's youth.
October 18, 2012
I was very impressed with this book. Focusing on relationships with the youth versus entertaining them, the authors give a very good alternative for youth ministry as well as ministry in general. It was quite a poignant point when they point out how currently educational and catechetical methods currently found in most modern Christian churches fail to integrate the youth with the congregation. The result is a feeling that one is graduating out of their belief systems versus being inducted into a new way of life. Dean really focuses on providing guidance to youth and raising expectations for youth as well as a give them an insight into how they should live their lives.
January 9, 2014
Very worth the read...it talks about all the important things that are easy to forget in ministry. It's not a "how to" kinda book, but it will challenge you to reconsider some of how you approach youth ministry or reinforce and help to clarify why you do what you're already doing. The only reason I gave it four stars is because it's a bit dated. It also is written from the perspective of vocational pastors and to vocational pastors. That said, the underlying principles are timeless and widely applicable, even to part-time or volunteer youth leaders. Basically, if you're in youth ministry, you're attempting to be a God Bearer...you should probably read the book.
December 23, 2011
This is a helpful discussion of practicing the faith with youth. Adults are encouraged to live the faith we try to teach our students to live. "If we are not shaped by practices that point to the God who is perfect, then we will be shaped by practices that point to imperfect gods instead." I love the focus on perfection as process not product.
It's a book to read and re-read until we get it right.
It's a book to read and re-read until we get it right.
August 25, 2014
Refreshing Wesleyan approach to youth ministry. The first seven chapters were just an affirmation of what I already know - youth ministry is far more than a babysitting or entertainment service, and if you're going to care for the souls of others you need habits that tend to your own soul's fire. If you're looking for solid God-bearing practices jump in at chapter 8.
February 4, 2016
This book got me excited to be going to pastor a church where there is a small but engaged youth group. It was a helpful confirmation of the fact that I do not need to be a wizard at hilarious games or ice breakers but just need to be genuinely interested in who they are and where they are seeing God at work in their lives.
February 3, 2012
One of my favourites, for sure 10/10. Shows how to reach the heart of youth, and how they reach ours. Makes you re-think who you considder as part of your sphere of influence / responsibility. Age doesn't apply. Will definately read it again. Amazing amount of depth and clarity.
May 17, 2007
Talbot Course: Trends in Youth Ministry
February 26, 2008
books about youth and youth groups are always good. this one has given me plenty of discussion starters.
May 16, 2011
good introduction to a more relational approach to youth ministry. somewhat meandering, though.
May 29, 2017
This was an assigned text for a Youth Ministry class I took. It was amazing aplicable it is to personal life as well as facilitating youth ministry.
May 2, 2012
A must read for youth ministers!
May 4, 2021
Excellent book regarding philosophy of ministry. Highly recommend.
October 22, 2007
another must for youth pastors
March 15, 2008
I loved this book!
May 5, 2013
Loved the first part and wrote down a bunch of quotes. The last half was not as compelling.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews