Learn Before You Leap: 101 Case Studies for Youth Pastors

By Kevin Turner

Designed to introduce and promote the use of case studies and strategic intentional interviews into the growing and developing of present and future youth workers, Learn Before You Leap provides an argument for the use of “problem centered learning” strategies that are common practices in the areas of the social sciences, leadership and business but not yet publicly developed or resourced in the growing field of youth ministry education.

 

Learn Before You Leap also:

• Helps new youth workers process situations they’ll encounter through role play.
• Enables veteran youth workers to keep sharp and mentor younger youth workers and volunteers.
• Uses Problem Based Learning to help promote critical thinking and problem solving in the youth ministry context.
• Discusses the value and strategies for using interviews as a ministry development tool.

 

Includes ten case studies each addressing issues common to youth ministry organized by topical focus and a fully developed interview worksheet on the given topic—appropriate to a formal class room setting, an online threaded discussion, an informal youth ministry network lunch, a one-on-one internship discussion over coffee, or an individual reading.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Oct 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9780310890300

Kevin Turner

Kevin Turner is the Associate Professor of Youth Ministry and Theology at Colorado Christian University. He and his wife, Elizabeth, and their two kids live in Lakewood, CO.

Book preview

1

SO, YOU WANT TO BE A YOUTH WORKER …

HEARING THE CALL

You’re sitting in your office preparing your talk for the Wednesday night youth meeting when you hear a knock on your door. Looking up, you see the coach of the freshman soccer team at the local high school. He’s been a part of your congregation for some time, but you don’t know him well. After you invite him in, he begins to talk about a student on his team who’s been dealing with a lot of spiritual questions. Recently, the student made a profession of faith, and now the coach has been talking about Christ with the whole family. The coach tells you that nothing he’s ever done has been as fulfilling as ministering to this family. I guess I’m beginning to wonder, he says, if God might be calling me to full-time youth ministry. But how can I know for sure? What would you tell the young soccer coach sitting in front of