Raising Up Young Heroes: Developing a Revolutionary Youth Ministry

by Efrem Smith

Overview

How can you move beyond youth group? You already know that youth ministry is about much more than Sunday night Bible study and lock-ins. It's about changing the lives of youth and empowering young heroes to change their world. In this book Efrem Smith provides you with a model for holistic ministry that addresses all the needs of youth—body, soul and spirit. Powerful stories from Smith's urban multiethnic context shape the content of Raising Up Young Heroes. He shows how the fashion, music and lifestyle of the hip-hop culture are permeating youth culture and how you can enter that culture to help your youth meet Jesus. The principles that are the foundation of Raising Up Young Heroes are designed to serve the whole body of Christ. So whatever your own youth group context, you can benefit from the Smith's rich storehouse of experience and his huge heart for today's youth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780830832095
Publisher:	InterVarsity Press
Publication date:	05/10/2004
Pages:	125
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Efrem Smith is senior pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has also served as executive director of The Park Avenue Foundation (Minneapolis) and urban ministry director of Minnesota Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Smith is a member of the CORE seminar training team of Youth Specialties and a speaker with Kingdom Building Ministries. He is also the author of Raising Up Young Heroes.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Biblical: God Loves Young People
2. Revolutionary: Adult Dreams Fuel Young Visions
3. Holistic: Reaching Spirit, Soul and Body
4. Courageous: Raising Boys to Take On Giants
5. Warfare: Raising Up Young Queens
6. Leadership: Developing Young Leaders for God
7. Multiethnic: The Hip-Hop Influence on Youth Culture
8. Serving: Nurturing Young Kingdom-Builders
9. Collaboration: The Empowerment of Young Heroes
Conclusion

What People are Saying About This

Dr. René Rochester

"Informative, practical and relevant are the words that come to mind as I reflect on Raising Up Young Heroes. Efrem's story-telling style of sharing biblical truth and words of encouragement to today's youth worker is on point! I am appreciative of his efforts to empower adult leaders with tools to minister to multiethnic diverse youth populations."

Dwight Robertson

"Efrem Smith has committed much of his life to challenging and equipping ordinary young people to live extraordinary lives of influence. And that's what Raising Up Young Heroes is all about. It's a practical guide to helping teens become spiritual influencers--heroes for God--in their neighborhoods, schools, churches and anywhere that God has given them influence. It flows from Efrem's years of ministry experience and his passion to see young people live up to their God-given potential as kingdom builders. Come catch his contagious enthusiasm and grab hold of his powerful insights!"
— Dwight Robertson, President, Kingdom Building Ministries

Fred D. Lynch III

"Raising Up Young Heroes is on point! Once you read it you'll want to get out there where teens really live and help them embark on a journey that can ultimately CHANGE THEIR WORLD. Efrem has captured a timely truth in these pages that the church desperately needs to hear. Based on biblical principles, these practical solutions will inspire, inform and equip parents, youth workers and pastors to become the revolution."
— Fred D. Lynch III, Urban Ministry Coordinator, Josh McDowell Ministry

Mark Oestreicher

"In a youth ministry world where what normally passes for new is really recycled stuff from the 70s and 80s, Efrem Smith stands out: he's an original thinker. Sure, people have thrown around the word holistic for a while, but Efrem shows us how to implement a real-life ministry that truly is just that."
— Mark Oestreicher, President, Youth Specialties

Dr. René Rochester

"Informative, practical and relevant are the words that come to mind as I reflect on Raising Up Young Heroes. Efrem's story-telling style of sharing biblical truth and words of encouragement to today's youth worker is on point! I am appreciative of his efforts to empower adult leaders with tools to minister to multiethnic diverse youth populations."
— Dr. René Rochester, Senior Director of Community Ministries, Youth for Christ, and President and Founder, Urban SET

Marv Penner

"Raising Up Young Heroes prods us to a whole new way of looking at youth ministry. Efrem's life has been all about seeing the potential of young people in a variety of ministry contexts, and he calls youth workers everywhere to stir a generation of lively young revolutionaries into action. His whole- person approach to ministry moves us beyond programs and activities into a relational approach that sees kids as fully integrated beings who can and will change their world. This is an invitation to proclaim to contemporary students a genuine gospel of the kingdom that touches every area of their lives and frees them to serve their world as God intended."
— Marv Penner, D.Phil., Chairman, Youth and Family Ministry Program, Briercrest College and Seminary

Editorial Reviews

"Raising Up Young Heroes is on point! Once you read it you'll want to get out there where teens really live and help them embark on a journey that can ultimately CHANGE THEIR WORLD. Efrem has captured a timely truth in these pages that the church desperately needs to hear. Based on biblical principles, these practical solutions will inspire, inform and equip parents, youth workers and pastors to become the revolution."

Fred D. Lynch III

"Informative, practical and relevant are the words that come to mind as I reflect on Raising Up Young Heroes. Efrem's story-telling style of sharing biblical truth and words of encouragement to today's youth worker is on point! I am appreciative of his efforts to empower adult leaders with tools to minister to multiethnic diverse youth populations."

Dr. René Rochester

"In a youth ministry world where what normally passes for new is really recycled stuff from the 70s and 80s, Efrem Smith stands out: he's an original thinker. Sure, people have thrown around the word holistic for a while, but Efrem shows us how to implement a real-life ministry that truly is just that."

Mark Oestreicher

"Raising Up Young Heroes prods us to a whole new way of looking at youth ministry. Efrem's life has been all about seeing the potential of young people in a variety of ministry contexts, and he calls youth workers everywhere to stir a generation of lively young revolutionaries into action. His whole- person approach to ministry moves us beyond programs and activities into a relational approach that sees kids as fully integrated beings who can and will change their world. This is an invitation to proclaim to contemporary students a genuine gospel of the kingdom that touches every area of their lives and frees them to serve their world as God intended."

Marv Penner

"Efrem Smith has committed much of his life to challenging and equipping ordinary young people to live extraordinary lives of influence. And that's what Raising Up Young Heroes is all about. It's a practical guide to helping teens become spiritual influencers—heroes for God—in their neighborhoods, schools, churches and anywhere that God has given them influence. It flows from Efrem's years of ministry experience and his passion to see young people live up to their God-given potential as kingdom builders. Come catch his contagious enthusiasm and grab hold of his powerful insights!"

Dwight Robertson

"Informative, practical and relevant are the words that come to mind as I reflect on Raising Up Young Heroes. Efrem's story-telling style of sharing biblical truth and words of encouragement to today's youth worker is on point! I am appreciative of his efforts to empower adult leaders with tools to minister to multiethnic diverse youth populations."

--Dr. René Rochester, Senior Director of Community Ministries, Youth for Christ, and President and Founder, Urban SET

"Raising Up Young Heroes prods us to a whole new way of looking at youth ministry. Efrem's life has been all about seeing the potential of young people in a variety of ministry contexts, and he calls youth workers everywhere to stir a generation of lively young revolutionaries into action. His whole- person approach to ministry moves us beyond programs and activities into a relational approach that sees kids as fully integrated beings who can and will change their world. This is an invitation to proclaim to contemporary students a genuine gospel of the kingdom that touches every area of their lives and frees them to serve their world as God intended."

--Marv Penner, D.Phil., Chairman, Youth and Family Ministry Program, Briercrest College and Seminary

"Efrem Smith has committed much of his life to challenging and equipping ordinary young people to live extraordinary lives of influence. And that's what Raising Up Young Heroes is all about. It's a practical guide to helping teens become spiritual influencers--heroes for God--in their neighborhoods, schools, churches and anywhere that God has given them influence. It flows from Efrem's years of ministry experience and his passion to see young people live up to their God-given potential as kingdom builders. Come catch his contagious enthusiasm and grab hold of his powerful insights!"

--Dwight Robertson, President, Kingdom Building Ministries

"Raising Up Young Heroes is on point! Once you read it you'll want to get out there where teens really live and help them embark on a journey that can ultimately CHANGE THEIR WORLD. Efrem has captured a timely truth in these pages that the church desperately needs to hear. Based on biblical principles, these practical solutions will inspire, inform and equip parents, youth workers and pastors to become the revolution."

--Fred D. Lynch III, Urban Ministry Coordinator, Josh McDowell Ministry

"In a youth ministry world where what normally passes for new is really recycled stuff from the 70s and 80s, Efrem Smith stands out: he's an original thinker. Sure, people have thrown around the word holistic for a while, but Efrem shows us how to implement a real-life ministry that truly is just that."

--Mark Oestreicher, President, Youth Specialties

From the Publisher

"Informative, practical and relevant are the words that come to mind as I reflect on Raising Up Young Heroes. Efrem's story-telling style of sharing biblical truth and words of encouragement to today's youth worker is on point! I am appreciative of his efforts to empower adult leaders with tools to minister to multiethnic diverse youth populations."

Dr. René Rochester

"Informative, practical and relevant are the words that come to mind as I reflect on Raising Up Young Heroes. Efrem's story-telling style of sharing biblical truth and words of encouragement to today's youth worker is on point! I am appreciative of his efforts to empower adult leaders with tools to minister to multiethnic diverse youth populations."

Doctor - Rene Rochester