GenerationS Volume 1: How to Grow Your Church Younger and Stronger. The Story of the Kids Who Built a World-Class Church


Book Description

This is the story of the kids who built a world-class church — Heart of God Church started as a divine experiment to build a prototype Youth Church. Now it has developed into a proof of concept that Youths can build a STRONG CHURCH. GenerationS is a mindset-shifting, heart-changing book that shows you how to raise up generations of young people in your church to build His kingdom. After over 20 years, this youth church, operated by youths, for youths to reach youths, still has an average age of 22. “I see a great struggle in the global churches in keeping the young people… At Heart of God Church, things are different. After ministering in the biggest churches and conferences all over the world, what I’ve witnessed at Heart of God Church is unlike anything I have experienced before. What Heart of God Church has wonderfully modelled for us all should not only be applauded and admired; it should also be reproduced everywhere.” – JOHN BEVERE, International bestselling author The Bait of Satan, Co-Founder, Messenger International “On my most recent visit, one of my band was so wowed by the environment of the visual/video tech room – where he saw not just one operator at each station, but three... (This) was so impressive – there was one operator, one trainer and one trainee. These were people in their mid to high teens, some as young as 12 or 13... Considering the amount of responsibility a video/visual team carries in a large service, and how much specialised technical skill there is to learn... he was amazed. There was a beautiful trust being placed in these young people... and ultimately it’s the Jesus model of discipleship.” – MATT REDMAN, Two-time Grammy Award winner, singer-songwriter and worship leader Bonus #1: Contributors and ‘Inside Stories’ Read 1,000+ word contributions from 13 other contributing writers that provide an ‘inside look’ and 360º view of HOGC.

  • Director of Global Relations, a Westerner’s perspective on an Asian church
  • Board member in his 60s, on what older people do in a youth church
  • Chief of Staff, on what goes on inside the Senior Pastors’ Office
  • Head of Global Partnerships, on what co-senior pastoring looks like
Bonus #2: Comes with Digital Companion Go beyond the chapters! Access 100+ bonus content and interactive materials when you scan QR codes from within the book.




GenerationS Volume 1


Book Description

This is the story of the kids who built a world-class church - Heart of God Church started as a divine experiment to build a prototype Youth Church. Now it has developed into a proof of concept that Youths can build a STRONG CHURCH. GenerationS is a mindset-shifting, heart-changing book that shows you how to raise up generations of young people in your church to build His kingdom. After over 20 years, this youth church, operated by youths, for youths to reach youths, still has an average age of 22. "I see a great struggle in the global churches in keeping the young people... At Heart of God Church, things are different. After ministering in the biggest churches and conferences all over the world, what I've witnessed at Heart of God Church is unlike anything I have experienced before. What Heart of God Church has wonderfully modelled for us all should not only be applauded and admired; it should also be reproduced everywhere." - JOHN BEVERE, International bestselling author The Bait of Satan, Co-Founder, Messenger International "On my most recent visit, one of my band was so wowed by the environment of the visual/video tech room - where he saw not just one operator at each station, but three... (This) was so impressive - there was one operator, one trainer and one trainee. These were people in their mid to high teens, some as young as 12 or 13... Considering the amount of responsibility a video/visual team carries in a large service, and how much specialised technical skill there is to learn... he was amazed. There was a beautiful trust being placed in these young people... and ultimately it's the Jesus model of discipleship." - MATT REDMAN, Two-time Grammy Award winner, singer-songwriter and worship leader Bonus #1: Contributors and 'Inside Stories' Read 1,000+ word contributions from 13 other contributing writers that provide an 'inside look' and 360° view of HOGC. Director of Global Relations, a Westerner's perspective on an Asian church Board member in his 60s, on what older people do in a youth church Chief of Staff, on what goes on inside the Senior Pastors' Office Head of Global Partnerships, on what co-senior pastoring looks like Bonus #2: Comes with Digital Companion Go beyond the chapters! Access 100+ bonus content and interactive materials when you scan QR codes from within the book.




GenerationS Volume 1


Book Description

This is the story of the kids who built a world-class church - Heart of God Church started as a divine experiment to build a prototype Youth Church. Now it has developed into a proof of concept that Youths can build a STRONG CHURCH. GenerationS is a mindset-shifting, heart-changing book that shows you how to raise up generations of young people in your church to build His kingdom. After over 20 years, this youth church, operated by youths, for youths to reach youths, still has an average age of 22. "I see a great struggle in the global churches in keeping the young people... At Heart of God Church, things are different. After ministering in the biggest churches and conferences all over the world, what I've witnessed at Heart of God Church is unlike anything I have experienced before. What Heart of God Church has wonderfully modelled for us all should not only be applauded and admired; it should also be reproduced everywhere." - JOHN BEVERE, International bestselling author The Bait of Satan, Co-Founder, Messenger International "On my most recent visit, one of my band was so wowed by the environment of the visual/video tech room - where he saw not just one operator at each station, but three... (This) was so impressive - there was one operator, one trainer and one trainee. These were people in their mid to high teens, some as young as 12 or 13... Considering the amount of responsibility a video/visual team carries in a large service, and how much specialised technical skill there is to learn... he was amazed. There was a beautiful trust being placed in these young people... and ultimately it's the Jesus model of discipleship." - MATT REDMAN, Two-time Grammy Award winner, singer-songwriter and worship leader Bonus #1: Contributors and 'Inside Stories' Read 1,000+ word contributions from 13 other contributing writers that provide an 'inside look' and 360° view of HOGC. Director of Global Relations, a Westerner's perspective on an Asian church Board member in his 60s, on what older people do in a youth church Chief of Staff, on what goes on inside the Senior Pastors' Office Head of Global Partnerships, on what co-senior pastoring looks like Bonus #2: Comes with Digital Companion Go beyond the chapters! Access 100+ bonus content and interactive materials when you scan QR codes from within the book.




Without Rival


Book Description

Now a New York Times bestseller! There is a reason we look at others as rivals and limit ourselves to comparison and competition. We have an enemy assaulting our mind, will, and emotions in the hope that we'll turn on ourselves and each other. It's a cycle that isolates us from intimate connections, creates confusion about our identity, and limits our purpose. In Without Rival, bestselling author Lisa Bevere shares how a revelation of God's love breaks these limits. You'll learn how to stop seeing others as rivals and make the deep connections with your Creator you long for--connections that hold the promise of true identity and intimacy. With biblically sound teaching filled with prophetic insight for our day, Lisa uses humor and passion to challenge you to · Flip rivalry so it brings out the best in you · Stop hiding from conversations you need to be a part of · Answer the argument that says women are unfit, easily deceived, and gullible · Dismantle gender rivalry and work with the men in your life It's time to step forward to live a life without rival.




A Biblical Theology of Youth Ministry: Teenagers in the Life of the Church


Book Description

Michael McGarry explores the foundation of youth ministry in the Old and New Testaments and brings that together with Church history in a compelling way. McGarry presents a thorough biblical framework to think about youth ministry as the church's expression of partnership with the family for co-evangelizing and co-discipling the next generation.




Growing Young


Book Description

Unleashing the Passion of Young People in Your Church Is Possible! Churches are losing both members and vitality as increasing numbers of young people disengage. Based on groundbreaking research with over 250 of the nation's leading congregations, Growing Young provides a strategy any church can use to involve and retain teenagers and young adults. It profiles innovative churches that are engaging 15- to 29-year-olds and as a result are growing--spiritually, emotionally, missionally, and numerically. Packed with both research and practical ideas, Growing Young shows pastors and ministry leaders how to position their churches to engage younger generations in a way that breathes vitality, life, and energy into the whole church. Visit www.churchesgrowingyoung.org for more information.




Already Gone


Book Description

NATIONWIDE POLLS AND DENOMINATIONAL REPORTS ARE SHOWING THAT THE NEXT GENERATION IS CALLING IT QUITS ON THE TRADITIONAL CHURCH.




Sticky Faith


Book Description

Sticky Faith delivers positive and practical ideas to nurture within your kids a living, loving faith that lasts a lifetime. Research indicates that almost half of high school seniors drift from their faith after graduation. Struck by this staggering statistic, and recognizing its ramifications, the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) conducted the "College Transition Project" in an effort to identify the relationships and best practices that can set young people on a trajectory of lifelong faith and service. This easy-to-read guide presents both a compelling rationale and a powerful strategy to show parents how to actively encourage their children’s spiritual growth so that it will stick with them into adulthood and empower them to develop a living, lasting faith. Written by Fuller Youth Institute Executive Director Dr. Kara E. Powell and youth expert Chap Clark--authors known for the integrity of their research and the intensity of their passion for young people--Sticky Faith is geared to spark a movement that empowers adults to develop robust and long-term faith in kids of all ages. Further engage your family and church with the Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family, Sticky Faith curriculum, and Sticky Faith youth worker edition. Sticky Faith is also available in Spanish, Cómo criar jóvenes de fe sólida.




Almost Christian


Book Description

Based on the National Study of Youth and Religion--the same invaluable data as its predecessor, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers--Kenda Creasy Dean's compelling new book, Almost Christian, investigates why American teenagers are at once so positive about Christianity and at the same time so apathetic about genuine religious practice. In Soul Searching, Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton found that American teenagers have embraced a "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism"--a hodgepodge of banal, self-serving, feel-good beliefs that bears little resemblance to traditional Christianity. But far from faulting teens, Dean places the blame for this theological watering down squarely on the churches themselves. Instead of proclaiming a God who calls believers to lives of love, service and sacrifice, churches offer instead a bargain religion, easy to use, easy to forget, offering little and demanding less. But what is to be done? In order to produce ardent young Christians, Dean argues, churches must rediscover their sense of mission and model an understanding of being Christian as not something you do for yourself, but something that calls you to share God's love, in word and deed, with others. Dean found that the most committed young Christians shared four important traits: they could tell a personal and powerful story about God; they belonged to a significant faith community; they exhibited a sense of vocation; and they possessed a profound sense of hope. Based on these findings, Dean proposes an approach to Christian education that places the idea of mission at its core and offers a wealth of concrete suggestions for inspiring teens to live more authentically engaged Christian lives. Persuasively and accessibly written, Almost Christian is a wake up call no one concerned about the future of Christianity in America can afford to ignore.




Being an Intergenerational Church


Book Description

There is a growing realisation across mainstream churches that age-segregated models of connecting with children, young people and families are not working. Drawing on their extensive experience, Suzi Farrant and Darren Philip set out a vision for bringing the generations back together to become the intergenerational church we are designed to be. In conversation with the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, they develop a theological rationale for intentional intergenerational relationships of mutuality lived out within the core activities of the church. Through an exploration of the Christian practices of humility, hospitality, participation, discipleship, joy, worship, discernment and testimony, they call the church to re-discover its DNA as an all-age community of transformation.