You’re the youth sponsors for your church, and the dozen kids sitting in front of you are almost daring you to impress them. You think back to your own adolescence, trying to recapture what it was that impressed you back then. So you valiantly try to be “cool.” But everything has changed from when you were their age. Your idea of cool has long since been supplanted by new looks, words, fashions and sounds.

You’re confused, and not only because you’re a newcomer to the youth culture. You haven’t the faintest idea of how to run a youth ministry. No one’s there to help shoulder the load, and the material you’ve been given to use appears a little out of touch.

But, this is your ministry -- God’s calling for the ten hours a week you have to give. So you try the best you can, and ignore the sense of frustration that gnaws at your heart. After all, the ministry is supposed to be rewarding and fulfilling, isn’t it?

Somewhere, there must be someone who can help you put this thing together. There must be someone who will show you the ropes, help you plan, and train you to be effective with these kids. Until now, you’ve settled for reading books, listening to tapes and attending conferences... most of which seem geared to the professional youth worker.