Youth Ministry in a Multifaith Society: Forming Christian Identity Among Skeptics, Syncretists and Sincere Believers of Other Faiths - Softcover

Kageler, Len

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0830841121 ISBN 13: 9780830841127

Publisher: IVP, 2014

Synopsis

In simpler, more homogenous times, youth ministry was a relatively straightforward activity. The church's youth gathered (occasionally inviting their unchurched friends from school), played together, sang together and listened together to a message from a bright, engaging youth minister, selecting from a relatively defined set of topics: "What does it mean to follow Jesus when it comes to _______?" Now Christian youth must make sense of their faith, with its exclusive claims, in light of their close friends who are Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, atheist, "other" or even "none." And increasingly other religions are taking their cues for rooting and establishing their youth from Christian ministry practices, so that our kids are being invited to outreach events sponsored by other faiths. Veteran youth minister and researcher Len Kageler digs into the data surrounding this exciting multifaith era and offers surprising confidence that our kids can be guided into mature Christian faith while simultaneously learning to love their neighbors of other religions.

About this title

About the Author:

Len Kageler is professor of youth and family studies and associate dean of faculty development at Nyack College in New York. He has authored a dozen books, including The Youth Ministry Survival Guide and The Volunteer's Field Guide to Youth Ministry.

Review:

"It's so refreshing to learn how other faiths participate in youth ministry. Len points out the global context and commonalities that can refresh your youth ministry and encourage you to see that kids are cared for all over the world. This is a very important book for those of us who care about kids and youth ministry." (Doug Fields, youth pastor, author, cofounder of DownloadYouthMinistry.com)

"With a contagious passion for both quantitative research and Christology, and particularly the challenging interrelationship between the two, Len Kageler invites Christian youth ministers around the globe to rethink youth ministry in a multifaith society. Although writing out of a North American context, Kageler offers thoughtful reflections, insights and ideas that may prove helpful for youth ministers in other parts of the world who are faithfully seeking to develop a pastoral theology for youth ministry in an emerging multifaith society." (Bård Eirik Hallesby Norheim, associate professor of practical theology, NLA University College, Bergen, Norway)

"Len Kageler's book is a must-read for youth work practitioners and educators in these contemporary, multicultural times. It is more important than ever to understand and celebrate the diverse nature of our communities. But forming young people as Christian disciples can be daunting given the difficult questions that may arise when considering the different beliefs of others. Kageler provides an excellent resource that will equip the youth minister sociologically and theologically to consider their practice in sensitive and creative ways." (Jo Griffiths, director of the Cambridge Institute for Children, Youth and Mission)

"Youth Ministry in a Multifaith Society is truly an original contribution to the academy and the church. Making an unexplored area of inquiry accessible and probing it brilliantly puts us all in Leonard Kageler's debt. One might be still more grateful if there was more to be grateful for--;I wanted this book to be twice as long!" (Leonard Sweet, bestselling author, professor at Drew University and George Fox University, and chief contributor to Sermons.com)

"In a culture of hyperbole, it's important to recognize when a book really is 'one of a kind,' and Youth Ministry in a Multifaith Society is just that. In addition to a rich and detailed overview of the spread of youth work among Christianity's 'competing' religions, Len Kageler offers prophetic perspective on why it's good for Christian teenagers to have a better working knowledge of other world religions as an invigorating catalyst for their own faith in Christ, and he throws in rich perspective on the rising tide of 'nones' in our culture--young people who've given up on religious life altogether. This book is a needed primer for youth ministry in the real world." (Rick Lawrence, executive editor of GROUP Magazine)

"Youth Ministry in a Multifaith Society is a must-have for all youth workers, especially those living in international or urban contexts. With the global rise of postmodernity and pluralism, it is essential for youth workers to understand the foundations of other religious traditions and the importance of youth religiosity. Dr. Kageler's in-depth research and statistical analysis is the most comprehensive look thus far into this social and religious phenomenon from the perspective of youth culture and ministry. Living in France, I can assure the viewpoints expressed in this book are commonplace and will be the majority understanding among younger generations in the United States. With grace and truth, Kageler discloses the core beliefs and impact of other faith traditions, while exploring how Christianity can both come alongside these faiths in partnership while also remaining a transformative agent in today's youth culture. This book is not only informative but has inspired me to reaffirm and appreciate my own faith and the call to help students flourish spiritually with a viable faith that makes a difference in their lives and the world." (Rev. Dan Haugh, pastor of youth and young adults, The American Church in Paris, France)

"Youth Ministry in a Multifaith Society is a timely and relevant resource, especially for our part of the world, where we brush shoulders with those of various faiths (or of no faith) on a daily basis and where many of our youth are growing up biblically and doctrinally illiterate and confused, unable to discern truth from falsehood, at a loss to defend their faith and incapable of 'dividing the word of truth' properly. Furthermore, the predominant culture encourages them to exercise extreme tolerance toward other faiths (lest they be branded religious bigots) and even encourages a religious-smorgasbord attitude, where they feel free to dabble in the 'best of the best' of other religions and integrate it with their own. This book would greatly aid youth ministers, professors and Christian educators in establishing our students in the faith, while ministering to those whose faiths are different or nonexistent." (Anne De Jesus-Ardina, faculty/director for youth studies and Christian education, Alliance Graduate School, Metro Manila, Philipines)

"In a vivid description Kageler gives different perspectives on youth ministry in a reality that affects us all: multifaith. His elaboration on and suggestions for the complex field of religiosity, youth and pluralism are innovative. After reading this book, one will consider one's own views on pluralism and approaches in youth ministry from a christological point of view. This is an informative and relevant book for the contexts of Europe and the United States. I highly recommend it." (Rev. Ronelle Sonnenberg, Protestant Church in the Netherlands, coordinator of the Research Centre for Youth, Church, and Culture)

"Through disturbing statistics, delightful stories and a deep study of Scripture, Dr. Len Kageler unpacks a distinctive way youth ministry ought to be done in our different-religions-embracing, diverse world. My mind started unlearning while my heart started burning when I read this brilliant book!" (Duke Jeyaraj, evangelist and founder, G4 Mission, India)

"Len Kageler has created an important resource for everyone involved in youth ministry in this century, youth pastors, parents, youth ministry educators and students of youth ministry alike. This well-written masterpiece provides coverage of a number of important issues and techniques that are not commonly treated in youth ministry textbooks. For the first time, this book shows youth workers how to ground their young people in their faith while encouraging their relationships with friends of other faiths. Anyone involved in youth ministry will treasure this book because it provides another avenue to help youth workers become reflective, observant and engaged in doing youth ministry in a multifaith society. If you are in any way concerned with the future of global youth ministry, you owe it to yourself to read this book!" (Rev. Nathan H. Chiroma, lecturer in youth ministry and Christian education, ECWA Theological Seminary, Jos, Nigeria)

About this edition

• Publisher: IVP
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0830841121
• ISBN 13: 9780830841127
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224