Theresa Plemmons Reiter
Thomas Nelson, 2012, 224 pp., $16.99

I appreciate Reiter’s experience and southern insightful approach to youth ministry in Nelson’s Youth Minister’s Manual. This youth ministry manual is a good 101 reference work for up and coming youth ministers and a refresher course for those of us who have served for several years. The obvious limitation with any written manual in an electronic age: the inability to access and manipulate the suggested forms or update suggested information. Maybe by adding a web source to the manual that offers updates by Thomas Nelson or interactions hosted by Thomas Nelson could expand the usefulness of this much needed text.
–Jeff Sagstetter

I feel there is much useful material in the book, as well as templates of forms to copy/modify to fit each group’s dynamic. I think it is very useful for full-time and volunteer youth ministers. I’ve already passed the book along to my assistant youth leader!
—Michael Whitcomb, Associate Pastor, Antioch Church, Windsor, Virginia

Have you ever been part of a panel? I’ll bet you have. Maybe it was a panel on grocery store couponing, or the best practices of educating your children on the finer points of dressing themselves or a panel on solar panels. I’m not sure what that last one would be like.

This may come as a surprise, but I have never been part of a panel. Until now. I received an opportunity to be part of the YouthWorker Journal panel review. I know, it sounds glamorous. You know what it means? I read a book. The book is called Nelson’s Youth Minister’s Manual. It is part of their series of ministry books. This one was written by Theresa Plemmons Reiter, a 30-year youth ministry veteran, who’ seen and done a lot of stuff and decided to go back and write about it.

It’s a short book, just over 200 pages, making this a handy resource for youth pastors. As I read through this book, my first thought was that none of this was rocket science. Then I remembered I’d been doing youth ministry for 14 years and had learned many of these lessons the hard way. I also realized a whole new world of youth ministry has been happening as my years have passed along.

For new youth pastors just starting out, there is no excuse for not learning from others. There never has been a good excuse for not learning from those who go before us, but now we have so much that is readily available. This book is a great example of that. Theresa offers chapters on handling interviews, arriving at and leaving a church, and keeping current with trends. She handles somewhat philosophical topics, such as understanding the different theologies in various denominations; but she also offers practical insight by providing good basic information on handling emergencies. No one book covers every scenario for every youth pastor and every church, but this youth pastor’s manual would be a good idea for any leader to have on his or her shelf for reference.
–Rick Nier,Pastor of Youth & Christian Education, Winona Lake Free Methodist Church

Nelson’s Youth Minister’s Manual by Theresa Plemmons Reiter is something I really can see a need for in my ministry. While it might be most helpful to volunteers and newbie youth ministers, the book may have insights for those who have been in the ministry for awhile, giving them a new perspective on things. I really did not know what to expect, but there was a wide variety of practical information ranging from mission trips and student safety concerns to overcoming challenges faced in youth ministry. Among the challenges we as youth leaders need especially to be aware of is that of working with parents instead of trying to replace them. There is good advice on forging relationships with parents as part of your ministry team.

My favorite part of the book came near the very end where it talked about youth pastors, youth ministers and youth workers seeing their calling as life changers. Obviously, we don’t do the changing; we allow God to use us as His vessels for that purpose. Though I have been an ordained youth pastor in our denomination for a little more than two years, I have worked with our church’s youth ministry team as a volunteer for six or seven, and there is still much to learn. This book should be part of your youth ministry library and required reading for anyone who works with your youth ministry team. I am going to recommend it to our association of churches.
–Rev. David C. Lannan, Youth Pastor, Indianapolis, Indiana

This is an amazing resource and must-have for any up-and-coming youth pastor. There is so much information that is needed in order to excel in ministry, and Reiter does a great job at summarizing the most important. I have several friends who are just starting in youth ministry, and this is a book that needs to be placed in their hands.
–Christopher Pope, Student Pastor, Cornerstone Community Church

The content of this book I would consider to be good to read quickly to learn or review different aspects of youth ministry. The author provides a number of resources/information to learn more about a topic discussed. Because of this content, it may be good for a youth worker to have as a reference for his or her group of youth workers. However, I have no idea if this book is for volunteer or professional youth ministers. No way is it a manual, as the title leads a reader to believe. There are many youth ministry topics the book does not address. Overall, this is not a book I would recommend to a volunteer or professional youth minister.
–Sam Yeager, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Nelson’s Youth Minister’s Manual contains a great overview of helpful material every youth minister needs to think about and know. Throughout the pages, you will find sample forms, helpful lists, questions to ask and simple information. If you are new to youth ministry or know someone who is, this is a great book to start with for practical tips and suggestions about how to be a youth minister.
–Mike Kupferer has been a youth minister for more than a decade. He currently serves at Bethel Church of Christ in Ohio.

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