I haven't written about this very much because the process has taken quite a bit of time but I signed a contract to write my first book this month. I'm pretty excited to be working with Zondervan to make this book a reality.
I know that my book will probably not be the best seller that my mom would like but the nice thing is that I'm not writing it to get rich. I am writing a book about youth ministry because it's something I actually know quite a bit about. But, before you think I'm declaring myself an expert let me say that most of my stories and writing come out of failure and learning things the hard way not out of begin a golden boy for whom all things go right.
Since I'm all about transparency too let me just say that the book is really a resource book aimed at giving people in youth ministry some help to know how to do things for cheap. But, I've taken some good natured hits from friends already who are making fun of me for writing a book called "Youth Ministry on a Shoestring: How to do more for less" because I don't work at a church that lacks in resources.
So why am I writing this book? There are a couple reasons. First in this economy most of us have had our youth ministry budgets cut in the last few years. My own youth budget was cut 35% for programs and we cut around 40% of our staffing budget. But, if you didn't know those cuts had happened you would think that nothing significant has changed. We still do the same type of ministry and we still have a lot of people around to help us do it. I've figured out ways to maintain the same level of excellence and ministry just for a whole lot less money.
The "Shoestring" approach as I'm writing it starts from the point that you will want to do things in your ministry that take money to pull off. I'm going to attempt to give some ideas that will help you save money and still do those things. Just pick anything like "missions" and I'll give you some tips to save money and still have great experiences for students.
My home church growing up had a youth group of about 12 consistent kids. We had our ups and downs and by my senior year we didn't have a youth pastor anymore and 4 of us were still regularly meeting with the senior pastor (also known as the only pastor). We did a lot of hiking, biking and beach fires and we loved our youth group.
So my goal is to help people think about resources in a whole new way. To get beyond the belief that the only resources in youth ministry that matter are money, staff and space.
I'm sure I'll take some heat when the book comes out next year from people who know the church I work at. I'm ok with that. It just means though that I need to wright a book that totally doesn't suck and the content is so good that they'll look beyond the community I live in and the resources I have available and say "that book was really helpful."
Oh yea so I'm speaking at both of the National Youth Workers Conventions this fall. Two of my seminars are all about resources. The Shoestring one will be about the book and how to save money and the other one is all about how to ask people to borrow their private jets. (just kidding sort of)
Would love to connect with you at either San Diego or Nashville.
