Jeffrey Wallace
Group, 2011, 176 pp., $49
The name of this book, Urban Ministry Start to Finish, would lead you to believe the content would apply only to those who have a passion and vision for urban ministry. Not so. I found the principles and tools in this training manual adaptable to adolescent ministry in just about any context.
Chapters focusing on ministry assessment, developing vision, mission and core value statements, scriptural foundations, recruiting, building and retaining a great team, developing goals and objectives, budget development and marketing your ministry certainly resonate with most youth ministries. However, I especially enjoyed the brief section “Urban Ministry Misconception” in which Wallace helps readers better understand the uniqueness of urban ministry.
Part two of the book is rich with job descriptions, release forms, covenants ready for signatures, application forms, background check forms and many more resource tools designed for immediate use. There is a CD included in the back of the book filled with PowerPoint template backgrounds, customizable forms and a complete digital version of the book! If you are sensing God’s call to start a youth ministry from scratch (urban or not), this manual would be well worth the investment.
