Resources for Youth Leaders
Resources for Youth Leaders
Youth Ministry Leader Handbook
A guide for youth ministry leaders and their congregations which includes
forms, job description and compensation guidelines, safe conduct information, and much more.
Forms
Word document files of the permission (and other) forms found in the Youth Ministry Handbook.
Hiring a Faith Formation and/or Youth Ministry Leader
A guide for both local congregations and faith formation & youth ministry leaders
Covenant for Church Youth Ministries
A covenant for both youth ministry leaders and the congregation's youth ministry programs
Young Adult, Adult, and Small Group resources curated by The Ministry lab
Youth resources curated by The Ministry Lab
J.P. Webster Library
Housed at the First Church in West Hartford, CT, books, book sets, DVDs, faith formation
resource materials, and much more may be borrowed.
Assets & Relationships Resources from Search Institute
55 Ideas for Deepening One-to-One Relationships
Developmental Relationships Framework
Getting Relationships Right
Identifying Asset-Building Priorities
Relationships First: Creating Connections That Help Young People Thrive
What's Different About Asset-Building?
Bibles for Teens
The CEB Student Bible
The Learning Bible: Contemporary English Version
Blogs & Articles
Building Faith
A practical resource blog for Christian education. Type “youth ministry” into the Search box
Do You Know the 12, 12, 12 Rule?
It will guarantee a strong youth ministry in your church
Five Ways to Engage Families as Partners in Ministry
This will help you to maintain a strong youth ministry that will adapt to our constantly changing culture
Relationships First: Creating Connections That Help Young People Thrive
Twin Calamities: Declining Churches, Struggling Youth
When To Do Youth Sunday? EVERY Sunday
Why Your Youth Group Needs an Adult Sponsor Team
Books
Exploding Stars, Dead Dinosaurs, and Zombies: Youth Ministry in the Age of Science
by Andrew Root
Root, a renowned expert on adolescent spirituality, shows how science overstates its claims on truth, while faith often understates its own claims. Both faith and science frame the experience and reality of teenagers, and both have something valuable to offer as adolescents develop.
The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul-Tending for Youth Ministry
by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster
A youth ministry classic, recharting a course for youth through the classical spiritual disciplines of the church.
OMG: A Youth Ministry Handbook
edited by Kenda Creasy Dean
Contributors include: Kenda Creasy Dean, Mike Carotta, Roland Martinson, Rodger Nishioka, Don Richter, Dayle Gillespie Rounds, and Amy Scott Vaughn
Sticky Faith
A series of books and resources by Kara Powell and Chap Clark of the Fuller Youth Institute
“A ministry framework backed by practical and proven ideas to help develop long-term faith.”
Sustainable Youth Ministry: Why most youth ministry doesn't last and what your church can do about it
by Mark DeVries
From the founder of Youth Ministry Architects, DeVries shares the wisdom and knowledge offered by this coaching service.
Sustainable Young Adult Ministry: Making it work, making it last
by Mark DeVries and Scott Pontier
From the founder of Youth Ministry Architects, DeVries shares the wisdom and knowledge offered by this coaching service.
Beyond the Screen: Youth Ministry for a Connected But Alone Generation
by Andrew Zirschky
“Provides a deeper glimpse into the world of teens and social media and gives new direction and directives for ministering to Millennials.”
Right Click: Parenting Your Teenager in a Digital World
by Art Bamford, Brad Griffin, & Kara Powell
“Practical answers to the most-often asked questions about how to handle social media.”
Confirmation
Curriculum Overview for Youth Formation
Devotional Resources
Daily devotionals for teens online
Downtime: Helping Teenagers Pray by Mark Yaconelli
Health, Wellness, and Mental Health
Interfaith
Interfaith Youth Initiative
Kids4Peace Boston
Mental Health Support for Teens & Young Adults
from the National Alliance on Mental Health
Blessed Youth: Breaking the Silence About Mental Illness with Children & Teens
by Rev. Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund
Download a free study guide here!
A curated list of ministry resources for Covid-19
Safe Conduct Resources
For the congregation
Policies
Social media
Miscellaneous safety resources
Supervision for Non-Binary Youth
Inclusion Practices for All Gender Expressions from 4-H
All-Gender Cabins at Silver Lake Camp and Retreat Center in Sharon, CT
Science & Faith Curriculum
Science for Youth Ministry
A free download that includes 4 sessions, student sheets, videos, & a leaders guide.
A great supplement for your Confirmation program!
Sexuality Education
Training for Youth Ministry Leaders
Faith Formation Leadership (Certificate) Program for Youth Ministry & Faith Formation Leaders (SNEUCC)
Center for Youth Ministry Training
Convergence - Youth Ministry That Transforms Your Whole Church
Lifelong Faith Training Videos (from Lifelong Faith Associates)
Free video-based training to guide leaders in designing and leading faith formation with all ages and generations:
Adolescent Faith Formation
Young Adult Faith Formation
Family Faith Formation
Intergenerational Faith Formation
Milestones Faith Formation
Community & Relationships
Faith Formation Pathways
Faith Formation Playlists
Hybrid Faith Formation Design
Organization & Planning
Implementing a Plan
Practical Resources for Churches Webinars
Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry
Yale Youth Ministry Institute
Videos
Bible Project - free, short, well-animated videos of Bible stories, as well as other Bible resources
Great Games for youth ministry
Websites
Convergence - Youth Ministry Course
A self-paced online course led by the Center for Progressive Renewal staff
Download Youth Ministry
Youth-tested materials submitted by youth ministry leaders; some resources are available for free.
Fuller Youth Institute
The home of “Sticky Faith,” research, books, and free resources to help churches form their teens in a faith that sticks
Ministry Architects - Youth Ministry
A webpage of helpful tips. Visit their "Services" and "Resources" pages for more.
Practical Resources for Churches
Free access to recorded webinars and "booklets" on youth and young adult ministry
Yale Youth Ministry Institute
Free lectures, video recordings of Summer Symposium presenters, and other resources