Youth Books

Dr. Thom S. Rainer and Sam S. Rainer III statistically, scripturally, and sympathetically share a shocking evaluation of the situation in many church sanctuaries across the United States of America in Essential Church?: Reclaiming a Generation of Dropouts. They saliently and sagely show how we can reverse trends and see a revival of the work of the Lord. I sincerely recommend it!
Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, pastor, teacher, mentor, writer, and author of Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice

More than two-thirds of young adults between the ages of 18-22 leave the church - that's a disturbingly high figure. In this follow-up to the popular book "Simple Church", the Rainers spoke to those who left, the dechurched. What reasons did they give for leaving?

Top Ten Reasons Church Dropouts Stopped Attending Church

1. Simply wanted a break from church.
2. Church members seemed judgmental or hypocritical.
3. Moved to college and stopped attending church.
4. Work responsibilities prevented me from attending.
5. Moved too far away from the church to continue attending.
6. Became too busy though still wanted to attend.
7. Didn't feel connected to the people in my church.
8. Disagreed with the church's stance on political or social issues.
9. Chose to spend more time with friends outside the church.
10.Was only going to church to please others.

The premise of Essential Church is that the reason they leave boils down to this... "Churchgoing students drop out of the church because it is not essential to their lives."

Part 1: Why People Leave the Nonessential Church
Chapter 1: My Faith is Not My Parents' Faith
Chapter 2: Looking for a different kind of community
Chapter 3: That's Life! it changes
Chapter 4: A New Spin on hypocrisy
Chapter 5: All Eyes on the Main Man
Part 2: How Essential Churches Close the Back Door
Chapter 6: The Essential church and the Back door
Chapter 7: Simplify: Getting the Structure Right
Chapter 8: Deepen: Getting the content Right
Chapter 9: Expect: Getting the Attitude Right
Chapter 10: Multiply: Getting the Action Right
Conclusion: Building an Essential Church: A Case Study

The core of the book is on what is needed to reverse the trend. In short, an "Essential Church" focuses on these four critical areas:

Simplify - Deepen - Expect - Multiple

I thought the book was an excellent combination of research, insight, encouragement, and some practical steps churches should consider if they're serious about reversing the perception that church is irrelevant. It should also be an encouragement and challenge to youth ministry leaders. Whether or not you agree with the steps suggested here and in their earlier book 'Simple Church: Returning to God's Process for Making Disciples', I would definitely recommend 'Essential Church'.

Great book gave it to the grand kids wish the parents would make them read and act on it.

This book is really an instructors guide to use as you teach children some of the finer points of etiquette. The author goes over the basics of table manners, dining conversation, invitations, thank yous and more. Also, there is even more to learn in the back of the book in the section titled, "Teens at the Table". This book is a splendid way to indoctrinate children to the fine art of social graces. I'm looking forward to a companion book from Mrs. Reilly in the future. For some fine tuning, use this book with all of the young people in your life!

Sumaiya Beshir needs to be applauded for sharing first hand information about the challenges that face Muslim Teens.It makes for very compelling reading as the reader participates vicariously in the lives of these teens.Indeed the response is one of empathy .The range of issues explored from sibling rivalry,frienships,tragedY,misconception of Islam,peer-pressure, searching for identity in a plural society,parental intervention to fashions leaves one with a profound understanding of the complexities of growing up.
As the stories are short and emphatic this anthology will be an excellent prescribed texts for schools.Adults including educators sometimes forget the challenges of the teenage years-as they are too busy ponificating instead of listening.The challenges are far greater because of the media, the diminished role of the home and sadly the schools do not respond to the fears and needs of its learners.
The title is appropriate as the struggles are everyday and unrelenting.It is ,therefore,not surprising that teenagers feel a sense of alienation.What I particularly liked about the stories is the authenticity.Yes-real concerns and real issues were raised in a narrative style that is both exciting and at times poignant.



Kudos to Sumaiya and her peers for an insightful and indeed didactic anthology.

Edris Khamissa
Consultant in Education and Human Development
Cape Town

Imagine sitting quite calmly on the bus, reading a book, and suddenly finding yourself unable to contain your laughter. Passengers glance at you, perhaps wondering what has got you so tickled. "Everyday Struggles: The Stories of Muslim Teens" is a collection of short stories that illustrate the challenges faced by young Muslim girls in the West - all while bringing a smile to the reader's face. Whether it's fitting in with the 'in' crowd while trying to respect Islamic codes of modesty, or trying to correct a teacher's misconceptions about the faith, talented writers beautifully share the tears and the smiles that marked their teen years. It is a refreshing and rare glimpse at the world of Muslim youth in the West, in their own words.

It's an excellent book telling about how it's to grow up as a prodigy and thereby living a life betwwen older in the schools and at the same age when out playing. And besides allso becaurse the books is about living 100 years ago telling about how it was then, and the meating with many famous science person living then. Allso telling about other prodigys problems.

This is the story of the childhood and youth of a genius. Norbert Wiener who would go on to become an important mathematician and one of the principal developers of communication theory, and his own specific discipline 'cybernetics' tells here the story of his most unusual childhood and youth. At the center is his relation to his father Leo Wiener who was a Professor of Slavic Languages, and an extraordinarily ambitious person. He pushed his son from an early age in much the same way that John Mill pushed John Stuart Mill. In the process he was often cruel. "He would begin the discussion in an easy, conversational tone. This lasted exactly until I made the first mathematical mistake. Then the gentle and loving father was replaced by the avenger of the blood.... Father was raging, I was weeping, and my mother did her best to defend me, although hers was a losing battle." The father pushed Wiener so well that he enrolled in Tufts University at the age of eleven finished four years later with a degree in Mathmematics. The father was also a publicity - hound who publicized his son the genius, and claimed it had nothing to do with any genetic quality or special gift of his son, but rather was solely attributable to his own educational methods. The father too saw too it that the son had a family life, and selected one of his students to be his son's wife, and practical daily life manager.
Wiener despite all this went on to become a distinguished MIT professor of Mathematics, an original genius and a highly respected teacher.
This autobiography is one of two and there is another work by Wiener covering his later years.
However anyone who wishes to know the life- in full should also look at the biographical literature, that contains much about the life of genius he himself did not apparently wish to tell.

The author of this book takes a uniquely different approach to putting together a collection of daily biblical devotions. This is an excellent book for young adults because it speaks to them from the extreme point that many find themselves in and then provides a scripture reference. The book is outlined for daily reading, but offers an alphabetical subject index for those who can't commit to daily reading.

This is a great devotional for teens. It's written like we talk. Topics like chat rooms and extreme sports make it totally not boring. I really recommend it if you are looking for a new devotional.

My 15 y.o. daughter announced that she needed a more "grown up" bible, having outgrown her preteen bible. She REALLY likes this bible and says it's awesome. The cover is gender neutral and doesn't look too trendy. The content (questions, etc.) is very challenging and biblically sound.

This item was all I expected it to be for a young man who has recently begun a walk of faith.

I found this book provided innovative and real solutions to the various problems I've faced at my children's baseball and hockey games over the past several years.

I am very fortunate that I have two sons that are naturally talented
athletes and are always selected to be on travel and all-star teams. When I
read Fair Play I was surprised to find that despite the success my sons have
had I learned that they could be excelling and learning more if they were
invovled in programs such as the book suggests and illustrates. This is
truly a book for every parent to read.

I read this book and was so impressed with it that I started a similar(much smaller scale) program in North Carolina. Roger helps young men that have already been involved in gangs get jobs my idea is to help young men with alternatives(parttime jobs so they can finish school) before they get into gangs.

I have bought numerous copies of this book and have given them to people I believe might be able to help young men either get out of gangs or not get into them. If you care about our future you will buy this book read and do likewise.

Roger himself has been an inspiration and constant light for me as I got my program started. He is truley a man of God.

If God is calling you to help young at risk youth, get this book.

Suzanne

Law abiding citizens look at gang members with disgust and anger. Most would be satisfied if they were all locked up and forgotten. But not Rev. Minassian. Gangs to Jobs portrays the true story of hope, even for the hopeless. The book clearly shows how gang members can be rescued from a life of crime and how tax-burdens can become tax-payers and responsible members of our society. Read this book for a new (and proven) perspective on solving the issue of crime in America!

PHYLLIS HOLLAND SWEEPS YOU INTO HER FAMILY HISTORY AND THE STORIES AND FOLKLORE OF THE OLDEN DAYS OF SOUTH GEORGIA IN THIS WONDERFUL BOOK OF SHORT STORIES. YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE GONE BACK IN TIME AS YOU READ THESE ACCOUNTS OF WILD HORSES IN SMALL TOWNS, OLD CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS, MYSTERIOUS LIGHTS IN THE SUMMER NIGHT SKY, AND THE HEALING TOUCH OF MEN AND WOMEN OF LONG AGO. THIS BOOK IS TRULY A FAMILY HERITAGE PUT INTO WORDS AND HAS CAPTURED THE INTEREST OF ALL AGES FROM 9 TO 90! A MUST READ FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO HEAR STORIES OF LONG AGO AND FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO FEEL CONNECTED TO THE PAST! I CAN'T WAIT FOR A 2ND EDITION!

This intriguing book of short stories from times past brings back memories and raises questions that go beyond logical explanation. Are there connections to relatives long gone from this earth? The writers style is like listening to the folks portrayed within the stories...humurous...curious...and down right hair raising at times... Ghosts, magic and sixth senses are woven into this literary journey through the back roads of the south. A wonderful collection of stories for anyone who has even the slightest interest in the past or abnormal occurances. Enjoyable for all ages. My twelve year old devoured the book in one reading...my 87 year old grandmother enjoyed reliving her past... A must read!

Our family has been using these Walk Thru the Bible devotions for years and were happy to see them being compliled into books. Each lesson has a Bible reading, a key verse (which you can memorize as a family), an introductory illustration and a life application area. There are five devotionals per week, each week is a separate theme. Our children look forward to our nightly devotional time - and so do we! It is clearly the most age-adaptable family devotional we have found.

Our family really enjoys this devotional. It is geared toward our hectic lives as it is written for 5 days a week. We do them after breakfast each morning Monday - Friday. Works out perfect for us. The stories are timely and have often spoken directly to an issue our family was dealing with or seeing around us. God is working in our lives through this book. Highly recommend it for families with 3rd graders and older.