Youth, Faith & Culture

 This book comprises of diverse perspectives of youth ministry. On the psychological perspective, the author examines some indications of developmental changes that take place in the life of the teen in the process of growth from late childhood to late teenhood. Here the author deals with physical, cognitive, sexual and social developments as they unfold in each stage. Faith perspective analyzes how youth embrace the faith, the challenges of faith during adolescence stage and the relational meanings that the adult world can utilize in nurting these teens. It also examines some of the ways teens’ faith is nurtured and how teens get involved in church ministries, how they express the faith experientially, theologically and practically. Cultural  perspective examines the juxtaposition of the aspects of societal, youth, and faith culture what is normally known as Supraculture or a culture above other human cultures. The parenting perspective and its association to the practices of youth ministry is another approach that the author utilizes in this book. The missional approach/perspective is also covered in this book basically looking at how teens get involved in mission work, their role and calling to accomplish the Great Commission. In this area the author defines such terms as mission, missions and missionary then goes a head to show how teens in churches ought to be part of this mission task. In general it will be realized here that the book has dealt with issues such as who is who to be a youth pastor/worker? Qualities of a good youth pastor/worker, case studies on pastoral care skills to teen patients and teens from divorced families covered. By exploring the dynamics that such an overlaying conditions presents it becomes fascinating to any reader interested in ministering to youth in whichever context. In short, this book provides psychological, anthropological, cultural, missiological and Spiritual aspects of youth ministry as it provides practical and theoretical issues on the challenges that teens face in every culture today. It specifically provides an African pespective. However, there are five other distinct perspectives that the author conveys in this book. The book is adescriptive analysis of one national church's attempt to do right by its youth, but it is much more than that. It is a guidebook for all those who work with youth in crisis, whose ministries try valiantly to address teens with the moral and ethical dilemmas of the twenty-first century from places of oppression and social devaluation.  It is a call for transforming the training of youth ministers in Africa and throughout the world.  And it is a book with heart: a work borne of one pastor’s love for and dedication to the struggling teens he has encountered in his ministries in his homeland and in the United States.  Read it with your mind, but also with your heart, and its wisdom and compassion will become evident. You better enjoy it!