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Resource: Youth Ministry in City Churches
Eugene C. Roehlkepartain
Thom Schultz
Publications, Loveland, CO, 1989.
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What is the purpose of this resource?
To begin to educate the reader on the concept of urban youth groups, their particular nature and the possibility of success in starting up an urban youth group. It does this by first educating the reader about urban settings and youth, and then moving into planning and implementing procedures. - How does this resource define youth ministry?
What are the key elements of youth ministry in this resource?
It is essentially the outreach of a church into its surrounding neighborhoods, especially to those in which the neighborhood has changed overtime. It defines youth ministry in terms of reaching the statistics seen in reports on poverty by adding real human qualities to them, to make them persons capable of being reached, but only by properly understanding them first. Learning what an urban youth is, and how similar this youth is to rural/suburban youth as well as how different. It tells of what to expect from these children, and what can be done with them. It is all about gained knowledge of a subject not studied before. - How are youth defined? (age group)
This resource defines youth by ethnic, social and economic categories. The age group is unspecified, but the content of the book seems to indicate an older group, from ages 8-9 year olds to late teenager, and possibly, young adult. The resource intends to reach a large portion of the people in urban settings, covering poor to rich neighborhoods. Its data is dated somewhat, but the change in statistics do not alter the results of the book. - What understanding of young people is present in
this resource?
This book tries to paint them as they probably really are: kids facing too much input that they have no control over, and are expect to maneuver through without getting hurt. It states these kids have needs that a good program can meet, and ones that a good program can instill values and leadership in them. The author tries to inform the reader of the general intelligence these kids have, and the strong personalities they can develop in order to survive, without scaring away the reader. - Do you see any particular theological perspective
or agenda within this material? If so, what is it?
No specific denominational agenda, but rather, a resource to aid any church to begin to reach these kids. That kids belong in a church sponsored youth group, with the aim of instilling a faith in God. - How could this resource be used and by whom?
This is a good first reference book for someone seeking to define city youth ministry. It is set up in chapters, with review/discussion questions at the end of each chapter. The target readers appear to be for a group of volunteers/staff/parents to begin to lay the foundation for youth endeavors in a city setting. It could used to gain a general understanding of urban youth groups. - What is included when you purchase this resource?
What is the cost of this resource?
This is one book on the topic. - What is your overall evaluation of the resource?
(strengths and weakness, etc.)
As stated earlier, it is a good first resource. It has a broad base of information that explains urban life to the reader. It tries to expand on ethnic, racial, social, and economic descriptions of people in order to orient the reader to understanding them. It is a relatively short book (245 pages or so), so there is not too much depth in the planning and implementing section. It is also a little dated, so the statistics have to be taken as examples at best. It is well footnoted, which opens the door to further research. The study questions at each chapter seem good to stimulate discussion, and to aid in evaluating current activities in a church in this area.