Table of Contents

Contents Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction COMPONENT ONE: The Power of God 1.Healthy Youth Ministries Have Spiritually Healthy Leaders COMPONENT TWO: Purpose 2.Discovering the Five Purposes for Your Youth Ministry 3.Why a Purpose Statement Is Important and How to Create One 4.Conveying Your Purpose and Leading by Example COMPONENT THREE: Potential Audience 5.Identifying Students' Commitments COMPONENT FOUR: Programs 6.Reaching Community Students Fulfilling God's Purpose of Evangelism 7.Keeping Crowd Students Fulfilling God's Purpose of Worship 8.Nurturing Congregation Students Fulfilling God's Purpose of Fellowship 9.Preparing Committed Students Fulfilling God's Purpose of Discipleship 10.Challenging Core Students Fulfilling God's Purpose of Ministry 11.Five Characteristics of Healthy Youth Programs COMPONENT FIVE: Process 12.Using a Visual Process to Communicate Your Spiritual Growth Plan COMPONENT SIX: Planned Values 13.Defining and Communicating Important Values COMPONENT SEVEN: Parents 14.Teaming Up with Parents for a Family-Friendly Youth Ministry COMPONENT EIGHT: Participating Leaders 15.Finding the Leaders Your Students Deserve 16.Helping Potential Leaders Become Ministers COMPONENT NINE: Perseverance 17.Handling Pressure, Projects, and Time Demands 18.Disciplining Positively 19.Initiating Purpose-Driven Change Appendix A: Your First Two Years Appendix B: Differences Between Junior High and High School Ministries at Saddleback Church Appendix C: Getting Students Into the Bible Appendix D: Guide to Programs Appendix E: Finding your S.H.A.P.E. in Student Ministries Appendix F: Volunteer Application Packet Appendix G: Youth Ministry Staff Commitments Appendix H: Calendars Appendix I: Further Resources Index

About the Author

Doug Fields has been a leader in youth ministry for over 30 years. In addition to being a youth pastor at two churches for 11 and 20 years, Doug is the founder of Simply Youth Ministry, the co-founder of Downloadyouthministry.com, the author of more than 50 books, and is currently working with Youth Specialties & Azusa Pacific University (HomeWord’s Center for Youth/Family). More information about Doug is available at www.dougfields.com.