I'm 54 pages into this book and so far have been enjoying it more than I would have thought.
I have gone through the Purpose Driven Life, series and didn't think much of it, but I guess that could have had more to do with my spiritual funk than the content of the book.
It is driving away from becoming a program oriented youth ministry and one that actually shoots for effects from your programs. A couple of comments that I've liked so far:
1. When sharing about some frustrations with an early part of his youth ministry, the author makes the following comment: 'I had left God out of the equation and had been doing youth ministry, using my own power. My heart had become hard, and I was spending all my time doing the work of God without being a man of God.'
Man that speaks to me so much. Really where I had been over the last 4 years. I was busy trying to do God's work, without relying on him for my joy.
2. When diving into what the five purposes of a youth ministry and church are, the author states the following; 'A church may be driven by tradition, personality, finances, people, or programs, but none of these will build health in your church.'
Yeah... I've seen that in action over the years :-/