More Lost than Found: Finding a Way Back to Faith
Jared Herd
ThomasNelson, 2011, 208 pp., $15.99

More Lost Than Found challenges the status quo and tidiness of Christian culture with a challenging yet practical call to refocus on the foundation of the Christian faith. Jared Herd helps to define the different aspects of a personal belief system that need to be anchored down, traded-in, renovated and/or demolished all together. Particularly in a younger demographic, the perception and understanding of Jesus is skewed because the viewpoints are simply inherited from past generations and adopted from culture.

Many teachers and leaders put the utmost emphasis on the process of communicating beliefs to others. While that is extremely important, Herd recognizes that many people in culture today don’t have a firm grasp of what they believe or why they believe it.  That vagueness makes the presentation of faith void of any passion and conviction. When inherited beliefs morph into personal faith, then its advancement becomes contagious and aggressive.

This is a great resource for youth leaders and young adults. The basic foundational beliefs in faith and Jesus change everything: salvation, view of the church, outlook on missions and the urgency of the gospel message. Herd’s story resonates with youth and young adults today, as well as points people away from faith that simply agrees with a set of beliefs and toward an authentic relationship with Jesus.
—Nathan Cline, Teaching Pastor, REVO Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

More Lost than Found by Jared Herd takes a story-packed meandering walk through culture, Christianity, adolescence, church and faith. More storytelling than philosophy, Herd gently guides the reader along his own faith journey. While addressing the same topics and discussions many are having about church and faith, Herd does it through the power of story. The book is full of great quotes and illustrations to make his point clear. There is no big a-ha conclusion to wrap it all up; he simply challenges us stay anchored while giving us permission to take our own journeys of faith. It is an easy and fun read. The book includes great discussion questions in the back, making it a good tool to use for leaders and students. The book would be best used in a small group setting as an additional discussion resource. I happened to be reading this book while in the middle of teaching a series on faith. It gave me some food for thought and a challenge as I prepared for the coming weeks of teaching.
—Daniel Istvanik, Jr. High Youth Pastor, Surge, Berean Baptist Church, Mansfield, Ohio.

In his book More Lost than Found, Jared Herd focuses on the topic of Christians (particularly young adults) questioning their faith and trying to figure out how to come back to the faith they once had. He shares his personal journey of faith as a pastor’s kid, as a believing teenager and his young adult years to establish his connection with the reader throughout his book in order to communicate that they are not the only ones who struggle with reconnecting with God. The chapter topics do well covering issues that are prevalent in someone searching for faith in God in modern society. I particularly enjoyed his chapter of drip art versus sketch art (chapter 3), which as an artist (musically) I could relate to very well. Herd writes with conviction and experience with working with this target age group. I would recommend this book simply for chapter 3 as a reference for those who work with youth and young adults. I also would recommend this book for pastors’ kids who are struggling with connecting with God on their personal terms and not their parent’s vocation.
–Chris Ensley, Youth Pastor, Marion Christian Church; Adjunct Professor, Tabor College, Christian Ministry Program; when off the job, he is enjoying time with his wife, Jessica, and two daughters, Shaliah and Anani; as well as working out, playing his guitar and reading.

I can remember only a few books I have read in one sitting, but I just added one more: More Lost than Found. I read through the 165 pages as if I were waiting for the murderer to be revealed. There is no murderer, but there was a culprit: religion and her accomplice, disillusionment. Jared tells his story with such fluidity and honesty, anyone who has a tough time with faith, life or church will think he’s written the book for them or about them. I grew to love this book because there were no easy or answers. Jared does not patronize his readers or romanticize his pain. My favorite line from the book says, “God stops making sense because we equate Him with fulfillment, not hardship” (p. 60). It’s thoughts susch as this one and Jared’s practical observations that will keep you turning the pages.
–Paul Turner

I think for the most part this book would be good for youth leaders. It deals with many of the issues and divides students’ struggles within taking ownership of their faith, navigating culture and having a bigger and better understanding of who God is. However, I think some of Herd’s concepts are about five to 10 years behind. In my context in the northeast, these were the main issues we were wrestling with then. For instance, my students flow so naturally from the sacred to the secular that to address that God is in both is not an issue. My students are pretty postmodern in that sense. I did appreciate the fresh images and illustrations this book provided to better explain and connect with teens.
–Nithin Thompson

More Lost than Found is a book for anyone who is wondering how to get back to true Christianity. In a world where everything seems to be getting further and further from God, this book is about finding the way back. Excellent! I enjoyed reading it and definitely would recommend it. This is a book that not only youth workers can use, but any Christian who is trying to find a way back themselves or help others find their way.
–D.J. Pittman, Youth Family Minister, Branches of Christ, Acworth, Georiga

It is no secret that young adults are either leaving church or trying to find their way back to a church community. In either case, both groups are looking for authenticity within the church. For one reason or another, this is not being found. As we all would agree, this surely was not God’s intension for His body. We are to be a people with a voice and life that influences the world around us. Jared Herd is such a voice.

Herd’s book More Lost than Found offers an authentic discussion to those who have been put off by the church. His approach is conversational, and his heart is seen on every page. His goal with the book is simple: to help reconnect people with God, which should be the goal we all share in ministry. Though this book isn’t directed to students in junior or senior high, the book proves to be beneficial for college-age or young adults. The principles and insight Jared offers, however, will help youth workers better understand the climate of those still in high school, as well as those beyond. This book also will help youth workers talk about issues that are troubling students now rather than later. More Lost than Found should compel ministry leaders to be proactive instead of reactive.
—Shawn Harrison, Student and Family Ministries, Saint Marys, Ohio.

In More Lost than Found, Jared Herd vents his deeply-felt pains and frustrations with religion. Many young people’s hearts will resonate with the thoughts and emotions Herd uses, but the cynical undertone throughout may not bring the reader to a healthy understanding of or experience with authentic Christianity. While it may be a resource to help youth workers better relate to current young adult thinking, it actually may reinforce the pain, isolation and individualistic approach of those already struggling with their faith.
–Andrew Hedges

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