Purpose-Driven Youth Ministry (PDYM) is one of those foundational books that I would encourage any serious youth worker to read. Written by Doug Fields, an experienced youth worker and ministry builder, it covers the gamut of youth ministry topics in a coherent, systematic way.
###Overview
I was first introduced to PDYM when I was a volunteer at our youth ministry three or four years ago. Unfortunately, I didn’t make the time to read it. It wasn’t until I listened through Covenant Seminary’s youth ministry course (which, incidentally, is available for free online) that I was reintroduced to the book.
The book’s subtitle gives the thrust of the book: *9 Essential Foundations for Healthy Growth*. In it, Fields lays out a framework for doing youth ministry in an intentional way. The nine components are:
1. The Power of God
2. Purpose
3. Potential Audience
4. Programs
5. Process
6. Planned Values
7. Parents
8. Participating Leaders
9. Perseverance
The chapters on student leadership and adult volunteer leadership are worth the price of the book alone. And overall, the book provides a helpful starting point for thinking through a systematic approach to youth ministry.
###The Details
Fields builds on the Purpose-Driven paradigm first coined by Rick Warren. The basic idea is that the Great Commandment and the Great Commission provide us with five purposes for ministry: evangelism, worship, fellowship, discipleship, and ministry. A youth ministry must address these purposes in their programming. Purpose leads to programming, rather than having aimless or good-but-unintentional programs.
Fields goes further to consider different audiences and suggests that the combination of the appropriate purpose with an audience should give birth to a meaningful and focused program.
The remainder of the book fleshes out this framework, adding the other needed components: adults, parents, and other youth ministry concerns.
###Why I Liked It
One of the greatest challenges in beginning in ministry is knowing *what* to do and *why* to do it. I wish that ministry only consisted of studying and preaching, but there is so much more that has to take place to disciple-making than just giving a message. Without disparaging the place of biblical, gospel-centered preaching, there simply are other things that have to be considered. And it can be a daunting task to figure out where to begin and how to begin. PDYM provides a helpful starting point. It addresses many important aspects of youth ministry in a cogent, logical progression. I don’t know that I agree with Fields at every point, but PDYM forces one to think through those points that might otherwise get left out.
It was helpful to consider what the purpose of ministry is and to verbalized that purpose. I think that it is a helpful baseline for measuring success as well as the direction of youth ministry. Without some central statement of purpose or mission, it is easy to drift from one focus to another.
###Final Words
This is one book I encourage serious youth workers to read and engage at a critical level. It is a helpful reference and nearly exhaustive primer for youth ministry.