Theresa Plemmons Reiter
Thomas Nelson, 2012, 224 pp., $16.99
Nelson’s Children’s Minister Manual is a concise and helpful tool for those who work with children in the church. While it is written primarily to full-time children’s ministry workers, it would be helpful for anyone who works with children. This practical guide covers the various areas of children’s ministry and provides helpful tools for children’s ministry. This guide is also helpful for youth workers, especially those who also work with or oversee children’s ministry. Many of the principles in this book can be applied to youth ministry. This book also could be useful to help build stronger relationships between youth and children’s ministries in the church. This book is a helpful tool that is worth reading.
—Marcus J. Carlson has worked with children and youth for more than 13 years and is a spiritual director. He current serves as associate pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The only thing wrong with the resource is that someone didn’t publish it before now. Each chapter covers something meaty for children’s ministers to sink their teeth into whether personal motivation, church relationships, parental connections or child safety. It also contains an appendix of resources that alone could validate the book, but what makes it a true winner is the encouraging spirit that permeates every ounce of wisdom offered.
–Tony Myles, author, ministry coach, volunteer youth worker and lead pastor of Connection Church, Medina, Ohio.
I found Nelson’s Children’s Ministry Manual to be a helpful tool for youth workers. It was easy to read and apply the information to our ministry. Youth workers would find this book helpful for the topics it covers such as serving on a church staff, discipline and recruiting volunteers. It also includes various sample forms that are helpful for everything from planning events to emergency contact sheets. The book is most helpful to those, myself included, who work with younger children as a part of our ministry. Specifics are given for topics such as child protection policies, childcare and avoiding pitfalls in ministry.
–Alisa Laska
Nelson’s Children’s Minister’s Manual is a handy book, perfect for any children’s minister. Each chapter is filled with practical tips and ministry-tested advice. With the variety of topics covered (i.e., volunteers, discipline, counseling, longevity to name a few) you will find several nuggets of truth that can be applied to your ministry right away. As with all manuals, simply reading the material is not enough; you will only benefit from applying what you learn. Because it is a well-written, quick read on children’s ministry, I would recommend sharing it with anyone you know who works with children.
–Mike Kupferer has been in full-time ministry for more than 10 years. He currently lives in Ohio with his wife and three kids.
###
