Tash McGill reviews Inside the Mind of Youth Pastors

Tash McGill my friend from New Zealand has written a very generous review of "Inside the Mind of Youth Pastors".

Link

Here are a few bits.

Chapters, Highlights, Sidenotes...You'll Notice..

Endorsements.. There are a pile of them. And from good quality people, who come from a wide range of places and perspectives. Most praise both Mark the person and the work. Which is always a good sign. There are so many endorsements that actually - you ought to read them for their own sake.

Short Chapters.. Busy people will be reading this book, but while these short chapters are easy to read - they require thoughtful response and ask brilliant questions. My overall sense was that there are no words wasted. Stories are well placed but not overdone.

He Gets It.. Mark legitimately does get inside the mind of youthworkers from all walks and variance of experience, in addition to really understanding the driving motivations behind a lot of church youth ministry stories. He does a good job of identifying not just the wrestles of youthworkers and youth ministry, but the ongoing demands placed on senior leadership in the broader scope of church to deliver on certain expectations. And he unpacks the internal motivations of us all as leaders. *Reading this book in fact, was a little bit of a personal healthcheck.

Great Centerfold Diagrams.. This book isn't just about seeking the Spirit and relying on discernment, feelygood feelings. No, there's actual HR theory, relational theory and communication theory woven right through the core. Reading this book, even just the centerfold, will make you a better parent, friend, boss, employee and romantic love interest.

Discussion Questions.. From the outset, Mark addresses that you may be reading this book in order to put something in place, to instigate change, or healthy process, to invigorate and build trust with your staff team. So he gives you great, cut to core discussion questions to use, and guides you through the process of implementation and building relationship. This is like a pastoral book that wants to give you really helpful tools.

Process, Practicalities and Positioning Statements.. Mark really clearly addresses the process of deciding why, how, who, what and when that a church goes through in appointing staff, no holds barred, healthy and unhealthy, from every angle. Gives you a look to think about to fit your own circumstances into the spectrum. You'll feel good and bad. That's ok. He then speaks practically about basic things to get right and to avoid in the interview and employment process for both sides!! Yes, two ticks. Then he also makes some brave and brief positioning statements about practical choices.. especially in regards to ..

Catalytic Leadership (pg.78) - Most churches want the fruit of catalytic leadership, that looks to them like engaged and passionate young people ought to look, but rarely are they prepared or wanting the chaos and turmoil that a Catalytic Leader brings.

Ideal Youth Pastor Age (pg.81) - Mark puts forward a brief but well constructed, legitimate argument for maturity in youth pastors.

Healthy Churches .. - There is a clear picture of what a healthy church is/isn't, does/doesn't. Including the approach of self-revelation it takes in the interview and employment process.

Tomorrow the Blog Tour Continues with Marko interviewing me!