SimplyYouthMinistry.com NEW Products

Live Curriculum

We've created Live Curriculum as a cohesive, four-year plan for your small group ministry, using a 36-week ministry year. The lessons are designed to flow from one topic to the next, and each year builds on the previous years. But we know that every ministry is different. That's why we give you the option of taking it apart, shifting around the pieces, and using the lessons in whatever order you'd like. You can pick and choose which lesson you want to use when, if that's what works best for you and your ministry. It's all good!

Youth leaders will experience a bountiful abundance of benefits. (Wasn't that the name of an old hymn?) Because you'll have your long-range plans locked down, you can devote more time to equipping your volunteers and building excitement in students about upcoming topics through creative promotions. And of course, you'll save yourself countless hours of planning.

But wait! There's more! You know what your small groups will be discussing six months from now, so parents will gain more confidence in your ministry, and along the way, you'll provide them with resources to spark conversation and dialogue in the home. And if we're serious about getting families involved in our youth ministries, how can you go wrong with that?

You save hours of planning time. Your leaders are trained and prepared to teach. Your students are active and involved. And their parents become your biggest supporters. That's a win-win-win-win! (We checked; it's legal to have that much winning anywhere and everywhere!)

Fresh Start

Exhaustion. Loneliness. Pride. Regret. Disappointment. Rejection. Anger. Superficial friendships. What's keeping you from being the person God created you to be? Do you find yourself struggling with a person you can't forgive, a sin you can't conquer, a habit you can't break, or an attitude you can't shake? Are you longing to change but feel as though you're just spinning your wheels and going nowhere?

Doug Fields says, "It's not about trying harder; it's about plugging into God's transforming power." As He did for King David and Isaiah in the Bible, God is eager to provide that power - even more than once.

Fresh Start is your guide to moving from stuck to starting over. And it doesn't take a self-help program, positive thinking, or transcendental glow sticks to achieve it! Doug will demonstrate that when you are willing to cooperate with God and the possible, He has more than enough power to do the impossible and transform your life.

"'Stuckness,'" Doug writes, "was never part of the abundant life that Jesus promised." Indeed, He came so that we can move forward, "have life . . . and have it to the full" (John 10:10). So come on! Take the first step. Your fresh start begins today!

The Red Stuff

The Red Stuff is gonna help out two groups: small group leaders and students. For small group leaders, you'll get everything you need to run five weeks of video-based small group meetings. The video part is especially great if you love the relational part of youth ministry, but either don't have lots of time or aren't so comfortable with "teaching" stuff. The DVD has 5-10 minute talks given by junior high pastor Scott Rubin-freeing you up to lead the follow-up discussions and build relationships, rather than writing sermon notes.

For students, they get to dig in to the words of Jesus himself, the "Red Stuff". They'll take a look at five of Jesus' parables, uncover what His message was, and see how it still applies to their life today.

Lessons cover what Jesus said about:

The Bible
Our Talents
Pride
Persistent Prayer
Eternity

As a leader, you also get all the materials you need to run each meeting including DVD videos, discussion guides, promotional materials, and more-everything you need to save you time while teaching five Biblically-based lessons.

10 Minute Moments - The Red Stuff

If you've got 10 minutes (and I bet you can find them lying around), then you've got enough time to hang out with God.

10-Minute Moments: The Red Stuff is a 31-day devotional and journal that gets you into the words of Jesus - aka "The Red Stuff" - and keeps your spiritual journey on the path. You'll take a look at a short passage, spend a few minutes thinking about it, answer a few questions, and then get some ideas for prayer.

It's totally portable - do 'em on the bus, in the car, or in your room - and easy to understand.

Scott Rubin is the junior high pastor at Willow Creek Church outside of Chicago and has been on the staff there since 1991. The ministry he leads at Willow Creek is called Elevate. He's had a blast writing a few youth ministry resources and encouraging other middle-school ministers to explore what God can do in their ministry.

Grapple Jr High Winter 09/10

This resource includes the Grapple Pak which contains the Grapple Guide with leader guide and reproducible Bible studies for your students, plus the Grapple DVD with 3 discussion starter video clips and 3 countdown videos. PLUS, password-protected access to MyGrapple.com for you and your students.

NOTE: Web access is available for 16 weeks each quarter:

Fall - August 15 - December 15
Winter - November 15 - March 15
Spring - February 15 - June 15
Summer - May 15 - September 15

With Grapple Jr. High, you get the most age-relevant and innovative tool available for helping junior highers navigate through and find the answers to their biggest questions about God, others, and themselves. Your junior highers have inquisitive minds and an overwhelming desire for real relationships--give them a place to investigate that speaks their language and makes them feel safe.

With Grapple's help, you can...

Tackle the tough questions your junior highers are asking about their own relationships with God, others, and themselves.
Captivate their attention when you dig into the real-life issues they are dealing with every day.
Engage their participation through attention-grabbing lessons, thought-provoking videos, fun games, and deep, life-changing Bible lessons.
Inspire kids to connect throughout the week with their very own safe and secure online community at MyGrapple.com.
Encourage faith practice with weekly challenges that dare junior highers to apply what they've learned in simple yet effective ways.

Each quarter you get...

12 attention-grabbing, easily adapted Sunday school lessons that plunge junior highers into the Bible to get answers to their biggest questions about relationships. Each topic is approved by a Junior High Panel, so you'll stay relevant, Sunday after Sunday. From Why should I even trust God? to What if I really mess up?, junior highers will grapple with real-life issues.
Grapple DVD featuring 12 discussion-sparking video segments. Also included: 3 opening video countdowns perfect for playing as kids arrive.

My Relationship with God: The Sixth Sense

How Am I Supposed to Know?
What Does God Want?
What's Up With the "Shepherd"?
What if I'm Scared?

My Relationship with Myself: It's My Life

How Do I Say It?
Who Do I Tell?
What Matters?
Can I Say It Wrong?

My Relationship with the World: War and Welfare

Is War Ever OK?
Isn't It Their Fault?
Shouldn't Everyone Be Green?
Are We Really All the Same?

Middle School Ministry

Many people run scared from the middle school youth room. But (thankfully!) there are people out there who are actually drawn to those young teens. Although often times they're not equipped to deal with the unique challenges that middle school ministry presents, or they're just not sure what to do when a room full of young teens (who are "part child, but not quite adult") are running around the youth room. Finally, there's a comprehensive guide to middle school ministry, from two veterans of this unchartered territory.

Mark Oestreicher and Scott Rubin help youth workers understand the importance of middle school ministry, the development process for young teens and their implications for ministry, and how to best minister to these sometimes misunderstood students. They share their experiences (as middle school pastors and parents of middle schoolers), giving youth workers he encouragement, hope, and training they need to succeed in middle school ministry.

Mark Oestreicher (Marko) is the president of Youth Specialties and a life-long youth worker. He has worked with middle schoolers for about 28 years, both in paid and volunteer positions. Marko has written dozens of books for students and youth workers and speaks to thousands around the world each year.

Scott Rubin has been on staff at Willow Creek Community Church for 18 years, and he's currently the director of Elevate, the junior high ministry at Willow Creek. Scott, along with an entirely-fantastic team of staff and volunteer leaders, has the privilege of helping young adolescents follow Jesus. He also co-authored two books in the Middle School Survival Series with Mark Oestreicher.

All My Belongings

There's some serious power in the word "belonging". Cliques, clubs, teams... there is always some group or another that students are trying to belong to in order to be connected and find value. But what the world offers easily is ultimately fleeting. Only what God provides-and the belonging that comes from being in him-can truly satisfy.

In this five-week super-series, you'll expose some of the world's more deceptive lies about belonging. On the flip side, you'll also give them a picture of how the church can be a place where everyone belongs.

Students will be challenged with questions like:

What groups do I automatically associate myself with?
Are my groups healthy? Smart?
What do my choices say about who I am and what I value?
Does God have a better plan for helping me feel loved and cared for?

Lessons include:

Week 1 - Where Do I Belong?
Week 2 - Belonging to God
Week 3 - The Church
Week 4 - Belonging to Me
Week 5 - Belonging to the World

Labels

She's a typical cheerleader. He's a stupid jock. They're nerds. Dorks. Emo. Ghetto. Preppie. Every day, students are being labeled and throwing around labels to define and categorize their peers. The end result? Viewing others and themselves as less than what God intended. In this easy-to-prep and quick-to-teach 2-week series, you'll give your students a God's-eye view of who we were all created to be-loved by him and designed to love like he does.

Lessons include:

Week 1 - The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Week 2 - Ephesians 2

In the end, your students will have a healthy, caring picture of how God sees us and how we should see others.

Break Free

This series will help students identify and talk about the things in their lives that can inhibit spiritual growth. Obviously, there are different hot buttons of temptation and sin for each person, but these lessons will tackle some root issues that can affect every Christian. Teenagers often feel overwhelmed and trapped as a result of poor choices, temptation, and sin. Simplify the trap and you will simplify their ability to break free. This three-week series will show your students how to recognize traps, avoid traps, and mature in their relationship with God, who possesses the ultimate keys to true freedom.

Lessons include:

Week 1 - The Desire Trap (Romans 1:22-25)
Week 2 - The Word Trap (James 3:2-12)
Week 3 - The Sin Trap (Luke 7:36-50)

Elijah

Elijah was a great man and a great prophet. He performed miracles, followed God's commands, and preached about God. His life has a lot to teach us. This series will look at four stories from his life and help your teenagers learn more about themselves in the process. Looking at two of Elijah's successes-his confidence in God on Mount Carmel and his lifelong service to God-will challenge your teenagers to follow his example. But we also will look at two major struggles Elijah faced: being afraid of Jezebel and feeling lonely. These stories can teach your teenagers about following God during tough times.

By looking at how Elijah dealt with and reacted to the situations around him, your teenagers will gain a better understanding of how they can respond.

Lessons include:

Week 1 - He Was Confident in God (1 Kings 18:16-39)
Week 2 - He Battled Fear (1 Kings 19:1-8)
Week 3 - He Battled Loneliness (1 Kings 19:9-14)
Week 4 - He Was a Lifelong Servant (2 Kings 2:1-11)

Trusting God

Life is difficult. Being a teenager is hard and can be confusing at times. One struggle many teenagers face is trusting others. This series is designed to show students the benefits of trusting God. Teenagers can trust God with the past, the present, and the future. Only with this complete trust will they experience life to the fullest.

It isn't always easy to trust God in these areas. Each lesson focuses on one area and provides practical tips or reasons to fully trust God in that area. Through these lessons, students will discover that God has never broken a promise and never will. Because God can be trusted, students have the opportunity to live their lives in a new way.

Lessons include:

Week 1: With Your Past (1 John 4:10)
Week 2: In the Present (Ephesians 4:22-24)
Week 3: With Your Future (2 Corinthians 5:6-10)

ePods - Blind Faith

Is the Christian faith a blind faith or a reasoned faith?

This stand-alone, video-based resource delves into faith and reasoning, exploring some of the evidences for God found around us and within us. Teens will role play how to share these evidences with their friends.

Each [e]PODS Resource includes a 7-10 minute video and a discussion-driven group curriculum with:

An icebreaker activity
ALT-ernative Discussion Questions
Music/Media Option

ePods - God's Word

Is the Bible just a bunch of myths or is it truly the inspired Word of God?

This stand-alone, video-based resource explores some of the internal and external evidences for the inspiration of Scripture, including archeology, prophecy, science and the continuity of the Bible story across centuries of writers. It will challenge your teens to take the Bible seriously and share its message with their friends who don't know Jesus.

Each [e]PODS Resource includes a 7-10 minute video and a discussion-driven group curriculum with:

An icebreaker activity
ALT-ernative Discussion Questions
Music/Media Option

ePods - Trusting Jesus

What is "trusting Jesus" really all about? Many teens call themselves Christians because they were born into a Christian family, not because they've made a conscious choice to trust in Jesus.

This stand-alone, video-based resource explores what "trusting" really entails, and the promises in God's Word regarding what happens when someone puts their trust in Jesus. Teens will learn about their position in Christ and be challenged to share this amazing Good News with their friends.

Each [e]PODS Resource includes a 7-10 minute video and a discussion-driven group curriculum with:

An icebreaker activity
ALT-ernative Discussion Questions
Music/Media Option

ePods Bundle

Save with this ePods bundle!

Blind Faith
Is the Christian faith a blind faith or a reasoned faith?

This stand-alone, video-based resource delves into faith and reasoning, exploring some of the evidences for God found around us and within us. Teens will role play how to share these evidences with their friends.

Each [e]PODS Resource includes a 7-10 minute video and a discussion-driven group curriculum with:

An icebreaker activity
ALT-ernative Discussion Questions
Music/Media Option

God's Word
Is the Bible just a bunch of myths or is it truly the inspired Word of God?

This stand-alone, video-based resource explores some of the internal and external evidences for the inspiration of Scripture, including archeology, prophecy, science and the continuity of the Bible story across centuries of writers. It will challenge your teens to take the Bible seriously and share its message with their friends who don't know Jesus.

Each [e]PODS Resource includes a 7-10 minute video and a discussion-driven group curriculum with:

An icebreaker activity
ALT-ernative Discussion Questions
Music/Media Option

Trusting Jesus
What is "trusting Jesus" really all about? Many teens call themselves Christians because they were born into a Christian family, not because they've made a conscious choice to trust in Jesus.

This stand-alone, video-based resource explores what "trusting" really entails, and the promises in God's Word regarding what happens when someone puts their trust in Jesus. Teens will learn about their position in Christ and be challenged to share this amazing Good News with their friends.

Each [e]PODS Resource includes a 7-10 minute video and a discussion-driven group curriculum with:

An icebreaker activity
ALT-ernative Discussion Questions
Music/Media Option

Shift

Whether you have a full-blown family ministry in place or you're just getting started, Shift gives you a practical, workable plan that equips parents to be faith influencers in their homes--and you won't have to reconfigure your entire ministry to make it happen! Shift gets you in gear with tools that make better use of seven rites of passage your church is most likely already celebrating...already marking as families move through their faith journey together.

The birth of a baby, faith commitment, preparing for adolescence, commitment to purity, passage to adulthood, high school graduation, and life in Christ.

As you tap into the natural patterns of child development and family, you'll motivate parents when they're most open to shaping their children's faith. Shift puts family discipleship at church and at home on one simple, common path. One home at a time, you can move a fledgling family ministry effort to one that's firing on all 6 cylinders! This is a family ministry approach that's attainable and sustainable.

Brian Haynes is the associate pastor overseeing spiritual formation at Kingsland Baptist Church in Katy, Texas. He is the creator of the Legacy Milestones strategy that inseparably links church and home to equip the generations. Brian earned a Doctor of Ministry for his work in discipleship and family ministry. Learn more about Brian and the Legacy Milestones at legacymilestones.com.

99 Thoughts for Youth Workers

Youth workers always need three things: prayer, ideas and inspiration. And maybe a case of Red Bull. In this easy-to-read book, author and high school pastor Josh Griffin sifts through years of little sleep working in the trenches of youth ministry to share personal reflections on youth ministry. The result is a resource packed with practical advice and useable ideas on every page that will help make your work simpler and your ministry more successful. Get the caffeine fix of your choice and step into Josh's world.

Over the past couple of years Josh has been journaling his youth ministry learnings in his Moleskine and on his blog. The good, the bad and the ugly - this is a collection of those thoughts.

NOTE: There are actually 113 thoughts in this book, not 99. We just thought that 99 Thoughts was a more clever title than 113 Thoughts for Youth Workers. But hey, you like freebies, right?

Sections cover:

Vision & Leadership
Programs & People
Small Groups & Events
Everyday Ministry

Josh Griffin is the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California and been on staff there since 2004. Don't let his rugged good looks fool you, he's a youth pastor not a model (though if you see him in person be sure to check out his calves). Get the book now and then join him for daily thoughts about youth ministry at www.morethandodgeball.com

Thriving Youth Groups

If a youth group fails the "friendliness test," teenagers won't come back. Fortunately, building a friendship culture is easier than you think - especially with this in-depth and practical guide from renowned youth ministry expert Jeanne Mayo. Her four decades of in-the-trenches experience are poured into this idea-filled book to help even the busiest youth workers create a truly magnetic ministry - and a true "youth family." Jeanne's field-tested insights encourage both spiritual and numerical growth!

Filled with practical ministry-booster ideas that help youth feel welcomed, valued, and loved!
Includes "Now What?" questions to help leaders evaluate their ministries and strategize how to make theirs magnetic!
Gain both spiritual and numerical growth when you focus on real, authentic relationships!

Group Magazine Subscription - Full Year

Group Magazine is packed with practical information and insightful ideas to help you impact teenager's lives. You'll get cutting edge advice and mentoring from today's youth ministry experts to help your ministry thrive.

Each bi-monthly issue of Group Magazine provides:

Tested Bible studies
Powerful devotions
Discussion starters and game ideas
Strategies that really work with teenagers, leaders, and parents
One-of-a-kind insights into the forces driving today's youth culture
Exclusive articles on youth ministry salaries, leadership development, and reaching difficult kids

Group Magazine is the most widely read resource in youth ministry-but don't just take our word for it!

Click here to get a FREE TRIAL ISSUE!

Please allow 6-8 weeks for your order to arrive. International orders will take additional time to arrive.

Nooma 024 Whirlwind

There aren't nice, neat answers for why certain things happen to certain people. Often the perspective of a friend can help, but when there is nothing more to say, where do we turn? Maybe it's when there is nothing more to say that God finally speaks.

Jesus lived with the awareness that God is doing something, right here, right now, and anybody can be a part of it. He encouraged his listeners to search, to question, to wrestle with the implications of what he was saying and doing. He inspired, challenged, provoked, comforted, and invited people to be open to God's work in this world. Wherever he went, whatever he did, Jesus started discussions about what matters most, because for Jesus, God is always inviting us to open our eyes and join in.

NOOMA is a series of short films that explore our world through the teachings of Jesus. Join the discussion ... search, question, and engage on what matters most.

NOOMA films don't claim to hold all the answers, but they do claim to start the conversation.

Nooma 023 Corner

Can success separate us from those who could use our help? Can it create a wall between those with and those without? Maybe we are only really successful when we can actually see who could use our help. And maybe when we give to those we see, we are reminded of what we have been given.

Jesus lived with the awareness that God is doing something, right here, right now, and anybody can be a part of it. He encouraged his listeners to search, to question, to wrestle with the implications of what he was saying and doing. He inspired, challenged, provoked, comforted, and invited people to be open to God's work in the world. Wherever he went, whatever he did, Jesus started discussions about what matters most, because for Jesus, God is always inviting us to open our eyes and join in. NOOMA is a series of short films that explore our world from the perspective of Jesus.

NOOMA is an invitation to search, question, and joint the discussion. Why is it that often when we get what we want, we still feel empty? We work so hard to succeed, but our lives just end up becoming more about us. Can success turn on us? Can we get caught up in a smaller world where our lives are all about the things that we want? Or is there another way to live? Where life is about more than just us. Where we see people in need and we do something about it. Where our world is expanding because we are sharing our success. And maybe in attempting to save someone else from their suffering, we find out that we are actually the ones being saved.

The $5 Youth Ministry

It seems like no matter how good the economy is, there's never enough money in the youth budget. That's why The $5 Youth Ministry is packed cover to cover with effective, easy-to-implement ideas-that all cost about $5 or less. You'll get tons of quality ideas for small groups, weekend retreats, worship services, outreach, fundraising, communication strategies and so much more. And most importantly, this book goes beyond just icebreakers and games-every page is written to help build and grow relational youth ministry. You'll get low-cost tools, not gimmicks, that you can put to use at your next meeting to help engage and develop your students.

It is possible to "do more with less" and this book will blow your mind with the possibilities.

"One thing that I don't see changing anytime soon [in youth ministry] is our need for ideas that work. And in the book you now hold in your hands, Todd has provided a boat load of practical ministry ideas that will work in virtually any context."

-Kurt Johnston
Jr. High Youth Pastor, Saddleback Church

College Ministry 101

For many churches, there is a generation gap where a good number of 18-25 year olds are missing. But there are practical ways to solve this problem, and and effective college-age ministry is a vital part of the solution. There are many spiritual battles fought during the college years, and the church must be there to help.

If you're involved in a church where this generation gap is occurring, or if you're part of a church that's just beginning to explore or launch a college ministry, you'll find useful tools and valuable insights in College Ministry 101. You'll learn how to bridge this generation gap by:

recognizing the church's failure in assimilating teenagers after high school, and developing practical ways to correct that failure.
understanding the specific needs of college-age people as they figure out who they are--specifically as they seek meaning and truth in their lives.
learning basic principles on how to effetively minister to 18-25 year olds on a day-to-day basis.
teaching others to minister effectively to college-age people.

College-age people don't necessarily need another weekly program or service--the key is to provide mentors who are available and willing to walk with them during the life challenges they are facing. This book will givey ou the tools to do just that. Once you apply the steps outlined in this book, you will reach 18-25 year olds in a way that will impact their lives and faith, and they will engage and remain connected to the body of Christ during and long after their college year.

Chuck Bomar's vision is for every church to embrace college-age ministry as a vital part of their church. The found of CollegeLeader and author of several resources for college ministries, Chuck also helped churches start or develop college-age ministries. After starting a college ministry from scratch and serving for nine years as a student ministry pastor, he is now lead pastor of Colossae in Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife, Barbara, and their two daughters, Karis and Hope.

Confident Christian

Lead your students from cultural confusion to faith-filled confidence in Christ! In Confident Christian, six thought-provoking sessions help teenagers examine WHY...

being a "good person" has almost nothing to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jesus and his death are needed for salvation.
all roads don't reach the same destination.
no one can be "born saved."
believing in God just isn't enough.
secrets of cults can't compare to true Christianity.

Each lively, interactive lesson features: Leader Insight and background information... Warm-Up activities... "Investigating the Evidence" discussions... Bible Focus... Life Application... and more.

Confident Christian is perfect for youth group Sunday school, small groups, coffee shop outreach, midweek meetings, and anywhere teens are gathered. Use it with your students today.

Bonus! Includes reproducible "Basic Beliefs Chart" for at-a-glance comparisons of Christianity and other religions.

Stripped Clean

Give your teenagers a guilt-free, up-close look at materialism--one that strips away the overwhelming messages of a consumer society. You'll see authentic changes in readers as they tear out pages to use in Jesus-centered activities.

From the back cover:

Do you own your stuff... or does your stuff own you?

Like you, Jesus had stuff. Unlike you, it didn't have him.

Take a guilt-free, life-changing look at what you have... what it means... and discover how to tread lightly in the world as the steward Jesus calls you to be.

Oh yeah: and don't get too attached to this book. As you change, it changes, too.

Get free. Get stripped clean. Get down to nothing but Jesus.

Storm is a designer, artist, dreamer, dad, and recovering materialoholic who still doesn't have a flat-screen TV... but he wants one. Still on the wagon, man, one day at a time.

Through the Bible

Reading the Bible is one thing. Understanding it is another...

Your young people need to see the Big Picture when they read the Bible-God's story rolling our throughout history, throughout lives.

Share these 12 one-hour sessions with your teenagers and you'll see light bulbs pop on as they "get it"-and discover...

How a collection of ancient books interlock-revelaing a master plan
What picture of God emerges from his interactions with people
Where they fit into the continuing story--now and in the future.

If your teenager still think of the Bible as a disjointed jumble of stories and history lessons (trust us: they do), give them the perspective they need. Ground their faith and confidence in God's Word.

All 12 lessons are highly experiential! Your teenagers will create a mural and add to it each week. By the end, they'll have a panoramic view of God's story as revealed in the Bible!

Jenny Baker is a writer and creator of resources with a background in teaching and youth work . She is a founder of the Sophia Network for women in youth ministry and a member of Grace, an alternative worship community in west London, UK. She is a triathlete and is currently studying for a postgraduate degree in gender and society.

Since 1906, Urban Saints has connected children and young people (ages 5 to 18+) to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Based in the U.K., this organization hosts weekly youth groups, special events, community projects, and training programs to help people realize their full, God-given potential as they journey from childhood to adulthood. Visit www.urbansaints.org to learn more.

The Space Between

When you started out as a parent, chances are you felt completely unprepared to deal with the challenges of a child. But at some point in your journey, you've probably found yourself feeling confident in your parenting role and abilities. The routine and predictability of your child's life became manageable and fairly easy to navigate. Now that your child is a teenager (or soon-to-be teen), you may be feeling overwhelmed at times with fear, confusion, frustration, and a lack of understanding. It almost feels like you're starting all over with a screaming, needy, and sometimes whiny child (only much taller and with more attitude!).

The changes of adolescence, while normal for every teen, feel completely abnormal to parents and teenagers, often leaving you feeling like a helpless bystander. But you're not alone, and there is hope to help you (and your teen) get through these challenging, changing years.

For more than 30 years, Dr. Walt Mueller has studied adolescents and the culture they're surrounded by. His expertise was put to the test when his own children became teenagers. Now he's bringing wisdom from research and his own experience to help other parents through the tumultuous years of adolescence.

With empathy and practical tools, this book will help you understand the changes your teen is experiencing, and help you effectively parent them as you explore how to:

create a smoother adolescent period for your teen
begin to break through the walls of confusion, fear, frustration, and misunderstanding
be a positive and proactive bridge-builder into the life and world of your teenager

Dr. Walt Mueller is the founder and president of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding, a nonprofit ministry organization that has served churches, schools, and community organizations worldwide for more than 30 years. He's a sought-after authority on youth culture and family issues and has appeared on CNN, Fox News, and the BBC.

Prepare. Go. Live.

Few things will bring the gospel to life for your students like heading out onto the mission field. Spending a day, weekend, or longer in service to God, for his love, and with people in need brings the calling of Christ vividly into focus. With this easy to implement 3-part missions trip curriculum, you'll get everything you need to get your students ready (Prepare), devotions for the trip (Go), and follow-up materials (Live) to make their experience part of an ongoing, godly lifestyle. And what good would we be if we didn't include helpful stuff for leaders to make the whole trip more fun for everyone? No good at all, so we've given you plenty.

1 Leader Guide with CD-ROM

5 Prepare Student Journals

Mission Includes Me
Mission is about the Kingdom
Mission is about the Team
Mission Never Ends

5 Go Student Journals: Study on the Book of James

Pushup Perseverance
Workouts Aren't for Whiners
Discernment Dash
Tongue Crunches
Pushing to the Peak
Pushing to the End

5 Live Student Journals

The Journey Home
New Directions
Connected to a Cause
Life on a Mission

Files on the CD-ROM include:

Desktop Backgrounds
Slide Backgrounds
Ecards
Sticker Designs
Editable Letters
Editable Postcards
Promotional Materials
GO Luggage Tags
PDFs of the Leader Guide & all 3 Student Journals

Make Their Day

***This item is expected to ship July 21, 2009***

Give teens the recognition they crave! This practical, fun guide includes 101 ideas for encouraging teens. From the super simple to the sensationally supreme, pick & choose what fits your teens...and watch them burst with confidence and faith! Uplift teens throughout the year with affirmations and activities you write, say, or do together.

New ideas! A fun read! You'll get an instant creative boost and discover how to value teens the way God does.
Great value! For just over a dollar each, you can hand out a power-packed book of ideas to leaders and volunteers.
Empower parents! Parents and leaders want to affirm teens in a memorable way. Help is here! Hold a parent meeting, hand out copies of Make Their Day, and challenge parents to use this resource to encourage their teenagers throughout the year.