"You are Not Alone" (Jennie Allen)

TITLE: You Are Not Alone: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxious Thoughts and Believing What's True
AUTHOR: Jennie Allen
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: Waterbrook Multnomah, 2024, (192 pages).

Mental health is a big topic nowadays. Ever since the Covid pandemic, we continue to hear news reports and various mainstream articles talking about the need for proper mental healthcare. One of the best ways to cultivate good mental health is toward the young. Many problems arise out of a poor or traumatic upbringing. As the younger population becomes more exposed to the Internet, it is increasingly important to take steps to foster wisdom and tact when dealing with so much information, especially via social media. That is not the only concern. Children needs guidance in almost all areas of life. From discerning Truth from fiction to dealing with thoughts and all kinds of feelings, author Jennie Allen gives us tools and tips to guide the younger ones among us. It is easy to feel helpless with the continuing onslaught of information and mass misinformation out there. Thankfully, this resource helps us put things in perspective. Calling it a "Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxious Thoughts and Believing What's True," this book anchors readers on the foundation of all stability: The Bible. Written in three parts, Allen guides us with clear instruction and biblical wisdom on how to deal with life, and especially our spiritual upbringing.

"The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation" (Kevin DeYoung)

TITLE: The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation
AUTHOR: Kevin DeYoung
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2024, (48 pages).

Many churches are clamouring for more young people in their congregations. The average age of a North American Church today is above 40, and greying fast. This is a statistical parallel to an aging society. That is why many Church leaders desire young people to step up in leadership for the next generation and beyond. Desires however is one thing. Designing an appropriate strategy is another. Along with that is the inter-generational gaps that often lead to clashes and misunderstanding between the young and the old. Whether it is about the worship wars, traditional vs contemporary music, the generational makeup of leadership boards, the various programs for the young and not-so-young, the common theme is similar: Reaching the next generation is easier said than done. Is there a secret to doing that in the first place? Author and pastor Kevin DeYoung realizes that there is no simple answer to that important question. In trying to explain his strategies that to him is not so secret, but not to others, he titles this book with a catchy "not-so-secret" secret.

"Faith Beyond Youth Group" (Kara Powell, Jen Bradbury, and Brad M. Griffin)

TITLE: Faith Beyond Youth Group: Five Ways to Form Character and Cultivate Lifelong Discipleship
AUTHOR: Kara Powell, Jen Bradbury, and Brad M. Griffin
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2023, (224 pages).
 

What about the rest of the week? Is there more the faith than the weekly meetings? In recent times, there have been questions about what Church-goers do beyond Sundays. In marketplace ministries, this concern comes in the form of Faith beyond Sundays. Paul Stevens coins this as "The Other Six Days." Laura Nash and Scott McLellan write about this in "Work on Monday, Church on Sunday." Several other authors such as Wayne Jacobsen, Maurice Johnson, and Tony Carvalho word prefer to describe such emphases as "Beyond Sundays." All of these authors want to encourage believers to practice their faith not just on Sundays but every day of the week. What these authors have done, Kara Powell, Jen Bradbury, and Brad M. Griffin want to do the same for youths. Faith should not be limited to a mere once-every-weekend or regular once-a-week youth group meetings. It should be daily, or as often as possible. When interviewing youth ministry leaders, Powell et al note a common occurrence, that after a while, the enthusiasm loses steam. The "We agree it's not working" feedback is sending alarm bells across churches with conventional youth program models. Factor in the high burn-out rate of youth workers, perhaps, it is a good time for leaders to look at some of the more specific areas of concern beyond the mere rest of the week question. Questions such as:

• Are the lives of teenagers improved because of their time at youth groups?
• How is their faith strengthened?
• Are they becoming a positive force for the gospel? 
• Have they become more engaged in the spiritual disciplines in their personal time?
• How do we engage kids in such a way to form their faith in Jesus?
• ........

"The Liberating Arts: Why We Need Liberal Arts Education" (Jeffrey Bilbro and Jessica Hooten Wilson, eds)

TITLE: The Liberating Arts: Why We Need Liberal Arts Education
AUTHOR: Jeffrey Bilbro and Jessica Hooten Wilson, eds
PUBLISHER: Walden, NY: Plough Publishing, 2023, (224 pages).
 

It is no secret that many of the world's most talented people choose the sciences instead of the arts. Just take a look at the richest people on earth such as Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, or Bill Gates. They are both in the science and technology industry. In fact, many of the biggest companies in the world are in the technical stream, like AT&T, Amazon, Apple, FaceBook, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Tesla, Toyota, TSMC, etc. With money as a key driving force in the world economic system, no wonder many talented people are lured away into the sciences in search of monetary gains. Does that render liberal arts education irrelevant? Even professors in the liberal arts stream struggle with job insecurity. This is made worse by lower student enrolment in the liberal arts. If all the best people jump ship toward the technology sector, what would happen to the arts and liberal arts? While we are free to pursue any course of study up the tree of self-fulfillment, how about using that freedom beyond self-accomplishment toward the greater good? This book brings together a collection of essays to show us why liberal arts education remains highly essential and relevant to society at large. Not only that, the contributors attempt to show us that it helps model the conversations that we ought to have on a daily basis. Instead of providing "best practices," the articles demonstrate how the liberal arts open up opportunities for all spheres of life. It is time to highlight the importance of liberal arts education and this book argues for that through many different perspectives. They deal with the purpose of liberal arts.

"Centering Discipleship" (E. K. Strawser)

TITLE: Centering Discipleship: A Pathway for Multiplying Spectators into Mature Disciples
AUTHOR: E. K. Strawser
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2023, (224 pages).
 

What is the difference between a regular Church and a Discipleship-Making Church? Of course, most churches will claim to be doing some form of discipleship. The difference lies in the emphasis. Is Discipleship the center focus or is it merely peripheral to the Church? Pastor-Author, Eun Strawser hits the jugular when she points out that most churches tend to put discipleship at the peripherals. By declaring that discipleship is the heart of the mission of the Church, Strawser shows us the way to turning the nominal Church into a discipleship-making Church. This book is about the way to move discipleship from the peripherals to the center of Church life. This calls for a transformation of the Church at all levels. First off, Strawser calls for a shift from programs to pathways, which is a framework for discipleship. This framework is about adopting a life abiding in Christ, to grow in building a discipleship-making community toward fruitful lives that beget others to do the same for Jesus. In brief, it is to do what we can to help others follow and imitate Jesus. The first part is about self-denial followed by some paradigm shifts. We learn the differences between fan vs follower. We learn the emphasis on imitating Christ instead of mere Sunday sermon instructions. The author gives us several differences between what discipleship is and what it is not. This helps us to clear up the foggy Church scene which often confuses actual discipleship with Church activities. We learn about the marks of a mature disciple, which focuses on character, theology, wisdom, and missional living. 

"Youth Ministry as Mission" (Brian Hull & Patrick Mays)

TITLE: Youth Ministry as Mission: A Conversation About Theology and Culture
AUTHOR: Brian Hull & Patrick Mays
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Ministry, 2022, (264 pages).
 

Mention the word "Youth Ministry" and one might conjure up images of fun and games, or various activities associated with trying to be relevant to the needs of young people. Others might think about summer camps, retreats, Bible camps, sleepovers, and all kinds of fun outings for youths. As churches all over the nation age, the focus on youth ministry becomes more urgent. They would hire youth pastors, children's workers, and various support staff to attract young people to their churches and also parents of young children. However, youth ministries, and in particular, young people are going through massive changes in their offerings and expectations respectively.  In many cases, youth ministry strategies are not adapting quick enough to monumental changes in society and especially among young people. Having observed the Youth Ministry situation in many churches, authors Brian Hull and Patrick Mays have combined their knowledge and experience to point us to a crucial way of thinking about Youth Ministry: See YM as a mission field and Youth Ministry workers as missionaries. Like like conventional missionaries who study the history and work of missions, YM workers need to study the history and work of youth ministry. Missionaries begin by learning about the different cultures and contexts. YM workers too need to learn about the different cultures and contexts of young people today. Hull and Mays lead us through their reasoning via several detailed descriptions and applications of missiology for youth ministries. They answer basic questions like:

"Signals" (Cherilyn Orr)

TITLE: Signals: How Brain Science and the Bible Help Parents Raise Resilient Children
AUTHOR: Cherilyn Orr
PUBLISHER: Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2022, (224 pages).
 

What is the connection between brain science and child development?  Can this help us in parenting our children? If so, how much? How does stress affect children's behaviour? Based on her learning from "The Spotlight Approach" ministry, author Cherilyn Orr shares powerful insights about how brain science can help us in our parenting. Using the Red, Yellow, and Green colour method, we learn about what it takes to move from an aggressive and chaotic red to a calm green. This has benefits not only for the individual parent or child but also for the whole family. Recognizing signals from the brain is a big step up toward greater understanding. At the same time, being aware of a brain's neuroplasticity helps in reminding us about acceptance and healthy tolerance. Orr describes the different parts of the brain and their functions to give us an overview of their operations. She then goes on to describe the different colour signals used. Red Brain means there's anger and overwhelmed state of emotion which requires parents to stay calm and gentle. Yellow Brain means the child is in a state of irritability and parents should then slow down and focus on connecting with them, to make them feel valued. Green Brain signals readiness to learn. By becoming effective brain detectives, parents will then be able to adjust their parenting strategies and emotions accordingly. Following that, readers will get to dig deeper into the purposes, the processes, and the parenting strategies associated with each of these signals.

"Home for Christmas" (Various Authors)

TITLE: Home for Christmas: Stories for Young and Old
AUTHOR: Various Authors
PUBLISHER: Walden, NY: Plough Publishing House, 2021, (339 pages).
 

Twenty short stories. Twenty contributors. One theme. As many popular singers croon the Christmas song, "I'll Be Home For Christmas," this collection of stories warms the hearts as many people prepare for another busy Christmas season. Just like many of us remember well how a song goes, we too could remember stories better than mere theories or concepts. Stories like "Brother Robber" remind us about forgiveness. The "Three Young Kings" tells of the gospel touches us in spite of our mischiefs and misdeeds. Madeleine L'Engle writes about a "Sister Egg" whose name is often a conversation starter as she ministers to the homeless on the streets. Nikolai Lesskov shares the story of how one could be eloquent about the faith and yet unable to overcome the hurts over injustice. It takes a new revelation of the meaning of Christ's coming that unlocks the path toward healing. Pearl S Buck shares the story of a Christmas Day morning and how a son gave his father a lovely Christmas surprise. Henry Van Dyke begins the story of the three wise men before dropping in a surprise fourth "Wise Man." This man journeyed in faith, playing catch-up after failing to keep up with his three other friends. Adding some drama into the gaps between the birth of Jesus and the trial of Jesus, the story details how this man follows the Person and Life of Christ, to offer his gift of ministry. All the stories were told around what was revealed in Holy Scriptures. From the birth narrative of Jesus, the parables Jesus taught, to the life of Jesus' ministry, the twenty authors focus on a unique theme of the coming of Jesus to show us a compelling picture of the reason why Jesus came to earth. 

"Full Circle Parenting" (Jimmy and Kristin Scroggins)

TITLE: Full Circle Parenting: A Guide for Crucial Conversations (3 Circles)
AUTHOR: Jimmy and Kristin Scroggins
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: B and H Publishing, 2021, (240 pages).

One of the most challenging life events is none other than parenting. Kids try parents in so many different ways. When young, they wear down parents physically. When they get into trouble, they create headaches. When they do not do their homework or necessary chores, the parents would have to either discipline them or show them tough love. When they turn teenagers, their emotional changes could drive parents up the wall. Yet, there are plenty of rewards for bringing up children. They give us joy and lots of memorable moments. Like what Proverbs 29:17 teach us, "Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire." Indeed, parenting requires a full range of skills that include discipline, devotion, dedication, determination, and delight. They are given to us for a reason and this reason is to love them well, that they may also love others well. Parenting is not for wimps. Well said. For there are no "fail-safe" methods. Neither are there easy equations to fill or formulas to follow. Most parents learn on the job. They experience the highs and lows. They encounter different behaviors at different times. They frequently need help at critical junctures of their children's growth. The authors of this book are experienced parents willing to share with us a guide to facilitate better communications and conversations with our children. Called the "3-Circles" tool, it helps parents initiate, navigate, interact, and sustain crucial conversations with their kids. 

"Why You Matter" (Michael Sherrard)

TITLE: Why You Matter (Perspectives: A Summit Ministries Series): How Your Quest for Meaning Is Meaningless without God
AUTHOR: Michael Sherrard
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2021, (194 pages).

For every "what" there needs to be a "why." For some of us, we need more than simply an answer to the latter. For many of us, this is essentially a quest for meaning and significance of our lives. What makes life meaningful? How are we part of the grand plan of significance? The key thesis in this book is that God exists, and that is why we matter. With the ongoing pandemic, many people are dealing with disruptions, loneliness, deaths, sicknesses, health issues, in particular mental and spiritual well-being. These might lead them to question the meaning of life. Then comes racial issues which led to the rise of the "Black Lives Matter" as well as an "All Lives Matter" reaction by some quarters. Even in societies that pride on equality and freedom of expression, many people still go through crises of various types. Author and pastor Michael Sherrard focus on a "crisis of meaning" to probe behind the reasons why people insist their lives matter in the first place. Once we can understand that, the rest will come into place. He helps us go beyond mere feelings as a judge of our worth. For feelings are often too subjective to be reliable. Rather than letting our feelings, our skills, or our subjectivity determine our life's meaning and identity, why not go back to our Creator? How is that meaningful? In the quest for such answers, we start by observing the culture and society we are living in. Can our present situation of secularism and godless society bring everlasting meaning? What are the promises of atheism? What about morality? The author helps us take a critical look at the society we are in, on the emptiness of the "good life" we often assume we are in. Gradually, he switches gear to help us envision a world with God. Sherrard essentially says the following:  

"The Gap Decade" (Katie Schnack)

TITLE: The Gap Decade: When You're Technically an Adult but Really Don't Feel Like It Yet
AUTHOR: Katie M. Schnack
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2021, (224 Pages).

What do I want to do with my life? The immediate answer is: That depends. It depends on are our life circumstances. It depends on our dreams and aspirations. Most crucially, it depends on what stage of life we are in and how God is speaking to us. Waiting is one of the most difficult things we will face. In an increasingly distracted and impatient world, many people find waiting a chore. This is especially at the life stage of a young person moving toward adulthood. In a heartwarming, honest, and humorous manner, author Katie Schnack shares her many moments of waiting. Calling it the ten years between young adult and adulthood, these are the transitional years of waiting and working out on what one needs to do with one's life. She shares how she got to meet her future husband. One major challenge was the school years when their schools were at two different places. Her boyfriend's at South Dakota while hers was in Florida. Despite the challenges, they got married at 21 years of age in Minnesota even before they finish school! Life after that was filled with more questions surrounding graduate studies, careers, housing, starting a family, etc. The big shock of all was the question of calling never stops being asked. She describes seven major transitional phases in terms of her dating life; work choices; paying taxes and other adult duties; moving across states (5 states for her!); marriage; mental health matters; and parenthood. While each of them are unique challenges, the common denominator is in terms of what the best decision needs to be made with regard to one's calling and God's guidance. 

"Preaching to People in Pain" (Matthew D. Kim)

TITLE: Preaching to People in Pain: How Suffering Can Shape Your Sermons and Connect With Your Congregation
AUTHOR: Matthew D. Kim
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2021, (240 pages )
 

What type of sermons should pastors preach more of? Should it be more rah-rah "success-driven" high-fives or the more solemn sermons on pain and suffering? Arguing that success only happens to a minority while suffering is universal, author and professor Matthew Kim believes that sermons on suffering are more relevant for our world. Drawing from his pastoral and personal experience, this book shows us how we could walk with people in pain. Through the preaching of the Word, he models for us the way to "preach less pain-free sermons and to preach more pain-full sermons where preachers disclose their own su­ffering and pain." Designed more as a corrective rather than a directive, Kim is concerned about the way many pulpits celebrate sermons about success which in turn could lead to more individualism and materialism. He begins with his personal story that shapes his preaching narratives today. In pastoral ministry, he laments how pastors themselves experience rarely some care from their congregation members. Most care is unilateral from pastors outward. The same thing applies to seminary contexts where students expect their professors to constantly be at a top spiritual and emotional level. For both situations, the fact is that pastors and professors are human too. They need care as well. He shares about the pains some pastors go through. One was battling cancer. Another was going through a painful marriage. Still, another was experiencing unimaginable tragedy. Sadly, the culture we live in chooses to avoid instead of engaging. Suffering is ubiquitous, success is not. 

"Emerging Gender Identities" (Mark Yarhouse and Julia Sadusky)

TITLE: Emerging Gender Identities: Understanding the Diverse Experiences of Today's Youth
AUTHOR: Mark Yarhouse and Julia Sadusky
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2020, (256 pages).

The issue of gender identities is one of the most controversial topics in our cultures today. With political lobbying, gender identity is increasingly becoming a political tool. Some even use science to prove their point of view. Others blame it on psychological profiles while still others point to genetic makeup, questioning links between chromosomes and emotional well-being. It is becoming a confusing array of opinions and arguments. What used to be clearly male and female is not so clear today. There are accusations of liberal gender-switching as well as confusion over what exactly is gender. Some take the scientific approach to try to make sense of gender confusion. This may pass the chromosomal tests raises doubts about their direct relevance to emotional attachments. The notion of gender being classified either binary or not is increasingly challenged even as society grows more tolerant with gender definitions that transcend conventional thinking. For authors Yarhouse and Sadusky, they call it nuancing gender identities. One of the key ideas is "gender dysphoria" which zooms out of gender identity discussions and zooms into the "distress experienced" by the persons. In other words, the authors propose addressing the emotional distress so that we could discuss "alternative gender" instead of "assigned gender." They cite studies about such emerging gender identities to highlight the need to go beyond mere binary assumptions. Research suggests distinguishing "biological sex, gender identity, and sexuality." Gender identity is sometimes not assigned per se but applied using political force to the point that transgenderism has become an umbrella term to cover all non-binary interpretations of gender. In order to clarify what gender identities are, one needs to be free from the political pressure to conform to certain expectations. This means we need to understand how political pressure leads to public identity; and factors such as the sexual revolution, feminist movements, deconstruction of sex, and others.

"Not Done Yet" (Elizabeth Donigan Seversen)

TITLE: Not Done Yet: Reaching and Keeping Unchurched Emerging Adults
AUTHOR: Elizabeth Donigan Seversen
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020, (250 pages).

Every generation comes with their own sets of challenges. Put together multiple generations and the challenges are multiplied. As the Boomer generation ages, the Millenials and the Gen Zs are starting to take center-stage in many parts of society. The same applies to churches as well. Here is the problem. More of the younger generation are either "nones" or "dones." The former are those who claim to believe but do not state any church affiliation. The latter are those who are pretty fed up with Church per se and seek to find new and greener pastures. Worse, the numbers for both "nones" and "dones" are growing. In this hopeful book, the author and scholar Elizabeth Donigan Seversen believes that there is still hope for those in churches before they become a "done." The way is to learn from churches who have successfully reached out to the younger generation in their communities. The author hopes to help us see and understand emerging generation of adults, especially those who have never stepped foot into a Church. She compiles "nine initiatives" that we can all benefit from.

"The End of Youth Ministry?" (Andrew Root)

TITLE: The End of Youth Ministry?: Why Parents Don't Really Care about Youth Groups and What Youth Workers Should Do about It (Theology for the Life of the World)
AUTHOR: Andrew Root
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2020, (240 pages).

What is youth ministry for? What is its purpose? Some say it is for helping young people not waste their lives, to learn to be good people. Others say it is for God. Still, others, especially parents would want them to learn something good for the soul, on top of other priority activities. Still there are those who think that youths need their own space. So they carve out a ministry for young people and call it youth ministry. Does it work? According to Andrew Root, he thinks that times have changed. The youth ministries we have known in the past are now dwindling fast. Not only is it difficult to sustain the model of the past, it is impossible to see it growing in the future. Rather than to immerse ourselves into some archaic dying model, we are challenged to rise above these things of old to embrace the central motivation for ministry: Joy. Author and professor of youth and young adult ministry, Andrew Root has seen many signs of the "somewhat directionless" youth ministry. The title of the book is essentially a challenge for all to re-examine the implications of such a shift in the ministry. The purpose of such a ministry is clear: To reach out to the young for Jesus. Yet, the methods and strategies need to be adapted in order to meet the needs of changing times. By understanding the reasons behind the cultural changes, it is hoped that not only will we refresh our outreach to this generation, we will also learn about what it means to live a good life. The central concern of this book is two-fold: First, it is to refresh our understanding of the purpose of youth ministry. Second, it is to tie together parents' vision of a good life and how such a vision influences and impacts their children. Root's central thesis is that any such ministry must be led by joy and to progress toward true joy. This whole book is thus an "ode to joy."

"Emblems of the Infinite King" (J. Ryan Lister)

TITLE: Emblems of the Infinite King: Enter the Knowledge of the Living God
AUTHOR: J. Ryan Lister (with Anthony M. Benedetto)
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2019, (192 pages).

What is the key to unlock the fountain of truth and ideas? Is there an accessible way to reveal the truths of God's Word? How can we explain difficult theological truths in simple terms, so that kids could understand? Surely, theology should not be restricted just for adults. With pictures, illustrations, and creative use of familiar symbols, author Ryan Lister gives us the metaphor of locks and keys. Making the use of keys to unlock eight fundamental theologies, Lister shows us fascinating ways to learn about the doctrines of God; humanity; sin; Christ; Holy Spirit; Salvation; Church; and the last days.

Keys are given to us. We ought to pick up these keys to open the lock and to enter into the truths God wants to reveal to all of us. For God is the "Key-keeper." Each key opens us to a particular room. The "Throne Room key" opens the door to theology, the Doctrine of God. We learn about worship in celebration and song. We move from ourselves to God, to see that the most important thing in the world is not us, but God. God wants to bless us, but we must let Him do so. Subtly, we are reminded that the king is not us, that God alone is king. The "Dust Key" reminds us that we are nothing until God came along. We are made from dust into the image of God, but we are still creatures needing God. Yet, God has made us his highest prize and desires to bless us. The "Serpent Key" is about sin and how mankind has fallen into brokenness and despair. It reminds us of Adam and Eve who fell into the deception of the serpent.  Lister spends time to describe various images of pride (Tower of Babel); and the stain of sin from Genesis to depict the fallenness. Instead of worshiping God, man ends up worship other gods, even himself.

"Walking With Jesus on Campus" (Stephen Kellough)

TITLE: Walking with Jesus on Campus: How to Care for Your Soul during College
AUTHOR: Stephen Kellough
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2019, (192 pages).

Institutes of higher learning are places of diversity. Ideas are shared. Perspectives are debated. Knowledge is shared. Friendships are cultivated. Yet, college years are also times in which one could experience stress, loneliness, emotional highs and lows. For believers in Christ, there is an added pressure of keeping the faith in a world of conflicting ideas. As college chaplain, author and pastor Stephen Kellough has seen a lot of things happening on campus. He has walked with different people from all walks of life. He not only understands the challenges of students going through their academic pressures, he knows how it impacts their faith. How do we care for our soul in our college years? It all starts with this one big question: "What is the most significant spiritual challenge on campus these days?" Is it a lack of Bible knowledge? Is it the anti-Christian climate? Is it secularism? Idol worship? The answer might surprise readers. It is something so fundamental and basic. The author finds out that it is essentially "to know that they are loved by God." Taking this as a central focus, author Stephen Kellough, a campus chaplain at Wheaton College for over 25 years shares from both knowledge and experience with students through the years. He looks at love from the viewpoints of the Bible to help us recognize that God embraces us with his love. He also draws from the experience of spiritual writers like James Bryan Smith, AW Tozer, John Stott, and others, to probe and ponder about the movements of love. This most significant challenge is just the first out of ten other challenges that Kellough mentions in this book that is soaked in his experience as a campus chaplain. Other challenges include:

"The Pastor in the Secular Age" (Andrew Root)

TITLE: The Pastor in a Secular Age: Ministry to People Who No Longer Need a God
AUTHOR: Andrew Root
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2019, (336 pages).

Some authors address youth concerns from a program-centered and activity standpoint. They address the symptoms of youth boredom well. Other authors analyze the challenges of youth ministry from an experiential standpoint. Still there are those who interviews youths in order to find a better fit between faith and life. Unfortunately, many of these efforts fail to get beyond the aesthetics. Questions need to be asked not just about what the young people or the next generation need, but why things are happening as they are. Contextual understanding needs to come before any attempt at solutions. In this deeply philosophical book, author and professor Andrew Root carries on his analysis of the culture affecting youthful minds with a concentration on the increasingly secularized society. All the efforts about engaging youths through authenticity, through authority, through activity, and others, cannot be sustained without a clear theological vision to guide us through a secular age, let alone any age. This is the crux of this book that peruses the historical past; probes the present context; and proposes a path forward for the future. The reason for the focus on youths is mainly because they are the ones most likely to "no longer need a God." Until we address this area of concern, youth ministries will continue to reach out merely at surface level. Root goes much more than mere youth ministries. He looks at how pastors are affected and ways to address their ministry concerns. These two concerns, one to young people and the other for ministers, drive the writing of this book.

Cultivating Teen Faith (Richard Osmer & Katherine M. Douglass, eds)

TITLE: Cultivating Teen Faith: Insights from the Confirmation Project
AUTHOR: Richard Osmer & Katherine M. Douglass, eds
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 2018, (240 pages).

One of the most important aspects of Christian leadership is about the preparation for the next generation of leaders. However, there are major obstacles that stand between the young and the Church. The pattern is similar. The young are simply not interested about the Christian faith. Youth ministries often have limited success.  Even if the children who grew up in Church are not keen to come. Such similar concerns spark the confirmation project, a three-year study of over 3000 congregations in America, spanning five different denominations. The twelve researchers gather both empirical data as well as apply their reflection on practical theology. Those who responded include parents, youths, workers, and leaders of church ministries. The name "confirmation" is traditionally used to symbolize the beginning of youth ministry. The researchers discover that youth ministries cannot be reduced to a one-time program or experience. Instead, they must be a process of intentional discipleship strategies. Using qualitative research methodology known as portraiture, they whittle down the selections to 12 success stories. It is also encouraging that youths who participated in the research find the following topics important for confirmation programs: God, Bible, The Lord's Prayer, Death & Resurrection, Experiencing God, Apostles' Creed, Meaning of Life, History, and Miracles. Interestingly, it was found that young people strongly mirror the faith of their parents. Those who participate in confirmation ministries are also more religious than their peers. At the same time, learning more about their faith does not mean they automatically grow. Significant factors include regular attendance at youth programs, VBS, Sunday worship, and camps. Youths who attend Sunday services regularly also feel a greater sense of belonging. The contributors take these five major findings and propose five ways to cultivate teen faith.

"Faith Formation in a Secular Age" (Andrew Root)

TITLE: Faith Formation in a Secular Age: Responding to the Church's Obsession with Youthfulness (Ministry in a Secular Age)
AUTHOR: Andrew Root
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2017, (240 pages).

We live in a secular world, or some may say, an increasingly secular society. For religious people, it is a concern because of the lack of faith formation. Young people are leaving their churches in droves. With the non-affiliated group (NONES) rising rapidly, many leaders are concerned that their existence are under threat. Without the youths and youthfulness, the churches will not only decline but will eventually lose their relevance. So many churches embark on programs for the young, hire youth workers, pour huge sums of money to build up infrastructure to make their churches attractive for younger people, so that they would stay and remain in their churches. This is not simply a problem about young people leaving the church. Neither is it about the lack of relevance and programming by many churches around the world. It is simply a challenge of faith formation in a secular age.

The author begins with the classic statement of the Canadian philosopher, Charles Taylor: “Why was it virtually impossible not to believe in God in, say 1500, in our Western society, while in 2000 many of us find this not only easy, but even inescapable?” In other words, 500 years ago, it is difficult not to believe. Now, it is difficult to believe. This book is essentially an expanded response to Taylor’s work, “A Secular Age,” using his understanding of secularism as a way for us to understand the context of faith formation in an increasingly challenging secular climate. Due to this secular age, churches are fighting a losing battle when they fight the wrong enemy. Without understanding the underlying currents of the secularizing effect, they launch themselves into energy sapping programs in order to attract the uninterested, the unimpressed, and the uninitiated.  For adults, they gravitate toward programs that reflect the MTD coined by Christian Smith, that Christian communities are buying into moralistic, therapeutic, and deistic beliefs and seeing them as more relevant that faith itself. Root indicts our modern church programs by saying:  “The problem with our faith-formation programs is our oversimplified contention that plugging the drain will retain the faith of our youth. Yet, as we saw in Part 1, our issue is much deeper.” Deeper because the modern realities are no longer the same as historical facts. We have given in to a culture of fear, a fear of losing our young; a fear of losing our present shape; and a fear of not doing enough to retain people. When we give in to such fears, we become more interested in people retention rather than faith formation. Of course, some people may say we need both, especially those who argue that retention must exist before formation could happen. Yet, these efforts seem doomed to fail later, if not sooner.