Youth Ministry Leader Resources

OverviewBy Joshua Griffin with Doug Fields When you use the right youth ministry leadership training, your small group undergoes a transformation. Lives are changed. Important decisions are made. Spiritual growth is enhanced. Jokes are shared. Lifelong...

OverviewBy Group Publishing Teens face difficult, painful stuff in life—and they shouldn't struggle alone. But what do you say? How do you help? What if you make things worse? This rapid-response youth leadership training book gives you and your youth...

OverviewBy Group Publishing Teens face difficult, painful stuff in life--and they shouldn't struggle alone. But what do you say? How do you help? What if you make things worse? This rapid-response handbook gives you and your youth group the confidence to...

OverviewBy Rick Lawrence Volunteers have the power to shape a ministry, so youth ministry leadership development and training are extremely important. Through the use of youth leadership training books, you can strengthen your volunteer team, and in...

OverviewBy Rick Lawrence If you're a volunteer in youth ministry, you've likely wondered: "How did I get here?" No matter how you'd normally answer, one thing's for sure: You're "here" because Jesus nudged or maybe even dragged you here. That's because...

OverviewBy Rick Lawrence There's a surging hunger among teenagers for Jesus. New research shows that they want a clearer understanding of what Jesus really said and did, and how faith in God matters in their lives. In fact, that desire is so deep, it's...

OverviewBy Mark DeVries and Jeff Dunn-Rankin Today's youth ministry volunteers are clamoring for training, yet many of them won't show up for tons of meeting. So how can youth workers equip their teams? Youth Leader Training on the Go is an easy, proven...

OverviewBy Jake and Melissa Kircher Ministry is such a rewarding experience, but why does it create so much strain on marriages? Jake and Melissa Kircher have learned some valuable lessons (often the hard way!) about building a healthy marriage amid the...

OverviewBy Brian Berry Is criticism inevitable in life? Maybe you've asked that question because you're tired of the relentless, nagging voice in your head saying you should quit, or you're inadequate, or your shortcomings are what people will remember...

OverviewBy Toby Rowe You're excited about the chance to work alongside teenagers on a mission trip. You're energized to see how God challenges and changes these young people through the experience. Your leaders have equipped you for your role. Yet...

OverviewBy Doug Franklin Every time you walk out of your senior pastor's office, you leave with a sense of bewilderment and confusion. "Did I just waste the last hour? Did he really hear what's going on with our students? Is youth ministry really a...

OverviewBy Tony Myles with Doug Franklin Take a look around at the brokenness in this world and its spiritual poverty. Jesus wants to change all of that, and he's looking for teenagers who want that change to start in them. Youth worker, that's where you...

OverviewBy Mark Oestreicher with Kami Gilmour Parents are the biggest influence on the lives of teenagers—a fact that research has proved again and again. Yet interactions with parents can be one of the trickiest areas for a youth worker to navigate well...

OverviewBy Shawn Harrison When it comes to ministering to gays and lesbians, far too many churches have chosen silence over service, or a reactive stance over proactive involvement. But congregations must abandon their comfort zone and minister to a...

OverviewThis stuff works. That's because the ideas in this book--hundreds of them—come from people like you: people in the thick of youth ministry. These are best-ever ideas from the pages of Group Magazine's Try This One section. These youth group...

OverviewFew teenagers think of slavery as a modern-day issue. It's something they read about in history books-a painful, troubling chapter from the past. Unfortunately, slavery remains a 21st century reality in the form of sex trafficking. Around our...

OverviewAccording to Doug Fields, the number one question people ask him is "How do I start an effective small group program?"; This resource is his answer. Everything Doug and his ministry partner Matt McGill know about launching small groups has been...

OverviewBy Doug Fields Six Reproducible Student Leader Audio Trainings (15 Minutes Each) Helping develop spiritually mature, ministry-focused student leaders is one of the most effective ways you can spend your leadership energy. There are big payoffs...

OverviewBy Doug Fields Leaders are, by their nature, often busy and don't have a lot of time. Because of this, Doug Fields records training sessions and puts them on CDs for the volunteers at Saddleback Church. They are able to easily listen to these...

OverviewBy Jonathan McKee and Thomas W. McKee The world of volunteers has changed. But have you changed, too? Across the country, volunteer ranks continue to grow, but people are volunteering differently. They're working online, seeking flexible...

OverviewBy Jonathan McKee and Thomas W. McKee The world of volunteers has changed. But have you changed, too? It might be time to rethink your approach to youth ministry leadership development... Across the country, volunteer ranks continue to grow, but...

OverviewBy Steven Tighe and Syler Thomas Real ministry happens when volunteers/small-group youth leaders are equipped and empowered to reach and develop relationships that make a difference in the lives of the teenagers. But so many don't feel like...

OverviewBy Jeanne Mayo If a youth group fails the "friendliness test," teenagers won't come back. Yet building a friendship culture is easier than you think—especially with this in-depth and amazingly practical youth ministry leadership...

OverviewBy Thom and Joani Schultz and Group's Amazing Team of Creators Now you can do more than just teach—you can reach. Like the book of Proverbs is jampacked with short nuggets of wisdom, this practical little book shares a wealth of knowledge on how...

OverviewReward your volunteers and staff with these fun and easy-to-use certificates of appreciation. With 13 different certificates to choose from, you will find just the right one for each person. Every design can be personalized (editable PDF) and you...

OverviewTeenagers Teaching Children provides a meaningful way to help your teenagers communicate the gospel message to the next generation. Your teenagers will study Jesus' teachings methods, then use those same methods to teach simple gospel lessons to...

OverviewHearing From Jesus Every Day With the ALL-NEW 2026 Jesus-Centered Planner, you’ll hear from Jesus each week as you read notes from Jesus based on his parables and teachings in the Gospels. You’ll see how you, too, can hear from Jesus in your...

OverviewEncountering Jesus in My Everyday Life With the ALL-NEW Jesus-Centered Planner 2025, you’ll focus your life around Jesus as you invite him to shape, guide, and inspire your plans. You’ll live each day more powerfully as your routines, goals, and...

OverviewHelp people identify their gifts so they can serve with purpose and passion! "God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another" (1 Peter 4:10). The Spiritual Gifts Discovery assessment...

OverviewBy Mikal Keefer and Jeff Storm Navigating Your Future With Jesus Give graduates the gift that matters most: a deepening faith! The first few months after graduation are a mine field. There are new social pressures, increased responsibility,...