Reading Report III
(Student Ministry Essentials)
Presented to
Dr. Stephen Vandegriff
For
CHMN 301 – D01
Foundation of NextGen Ministry
Introduction
Student ministry is crucial not only for the future of the Church but also for the relevant
disciple needs of young people. All if not most of us will be a student. For the Church, whether it
is a parachurch of a Church – based student ministry, the goal is the same: Equipping and
Discipling the young to grow in Jesus Christ and to be effective stewards of God’s gifts to them.
Yet, the years in school are supposedly limited and brief. Apart from the busy academic work
expected, there is also the challenge of balancing one’s time and resources against the many
competing needs and conflicting distractions. In a book that aims to reach, to equip, to lead, and
to nurture student leaders, authors Steve Vandegriff and Richard Brown have come together to
share their knowledge and wisdom about practical discipleship development; leadership skills;
partnership strategies; visions and dreams.
Summary
The authors state their goal in the preface, “So what we have attempted to do in this book
is present what we feel, are the critical elements of the essentials that will enable you to influence
students for the kingdom” (10). To accomplish this task, Vandegriff and Brown divide their book
into three parts: Leading, Nurturing, and Reaching. The first section focuses on the student
minister and his leadership. They define from a biblical perspective who a student minister is and
what his or her ministry entails. I enjoyed the dedicated chapters to developing and leading
volunteers and serving parents. The second section unpacks the essentials of working among
students, understanding them, and helping them grow into the image of Jesus Christ. The
chapters in this section helpfully provide a survey of adolescent development, spiritual
formation, teaching students, and more. The last section seeks to unpack the programming and
event planning aspects of student ministry.
Conclusion
Personal Response
I have not been in student ministry for long. I am enjoying the involvement and
interaction with the students at the local church where I attend. I believe to have been called to
such a ministry. I really found this book to be very helpful in my position in student ministry.
There were several statements that offered me a path to help connect and be more effective with
our students. I recognize and realize that student ministry require lots of hard work and
dedication. There are many hours of prayer, planning, and people resources behind the hard work
and dedication. Even for those individuals who are not directly involved, they can learn how to
pray for them as they learn about the several challenges and promising aspects of working with
students, student leaders, and adult facilitators.
One of the things that I can remind the student workers at my local church is to share
both our good and bad experiences with them that will become beneficial in their lives. It is
given the book, “We cannot and should not prevent young people from learning about dangers of
this world. But like the young of my species, our teens require the care, protection, and guidance
of parents and adults.”1 The importance of sharing my experiences with students in ministry is a
blessing. There was a teenage boy who went through some difficult things. Today Daquon, who
is now an adult, was able to share some his difficult experiences from his childhood with a young
man who is going through very similar difficulties currently in his life right now.
1 Steve Vandegriff & Richard Brown, Student Ministry Essentials: Reaching. Leading. Nurturing., (Chicago: Moody
Publisher, 2015), 20.
It is important to have student ministry. It a method for young people and their parents to
know more about Jesus Christ as God. It is a wonderful book that every youth worker
should thoroughly read through as it talks about almost every phase of student ministry.
There is so much to learn about student ministry in the present generation. While young
people are exposed to so much negativity, the sharing of the gospel message necessary
and timeless.
Bibliography
Steve Vandegriff & Richard Brown, Student Ministry Essentials: Reaching. Leading.
Nurturing. Chicago: Moody Publisher, 2015.
1.
