Book Review: “99 Thoughts for Youth Workers” by Joshua Griffin
Review by Ryan C. Nielsen
Josh Griffin has written a small book that is full of HUGE ideas and has the potential for GREAT impact. Josh is the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church in California and maintains a daily blog about ministry. His blog, www.morethandodgeball.com , is filled with incredible insights, hints, helps, and reflection about life and ministry. It is one of the blogs that I read every week. “99 Thoughts for Youth Workers” has taken many of the ideas Josh has presented on his blog and condensed it into short snippets to help the youth worker in various aspects of life and ministry.
There are a lot of aspects I really like about Josh’s new book. It is organized in a very clear and concise manner. It is laid out in short snippets, and grouped into topics making it flow clearly and allowing for bite-sized points to consider and digest. It is a very practical book and addresses not just ideas, but practical living as a youth worker – in various aspects of the job, but also with personal and family life as well.
“99 Thoughts for Youth Workers” is separated into four sections:
1) Vision and Leadership
2) Programs and People
3) Small Groups and Events
4) Everyday Ministry
These different categories also allow for a focused look at the various aspects of life within student ministry. I also love that throughout the book, on some of the “thoughts” Josh will ask some thought-provoking questions to help the reader meditate on the issue.
Just because something is small, does not mean it can’t carry a big punch – and that’s what “99 Thoughts for Youth Workers” did for me. It is both an encouragement and a convicting book at the same time. It has some great ideas to help me keep focused, to keep improving, to feel encouraged, and to share with others. And it is definitely worth more than the $4.99 price tag. Great book, great thoughts, and a great buy. In fact, just to make it even more with the money, Josh included an additional 14 thoughts for free – making it not just 99 thoughts, but 113 (and anyone who knows me and my website, pastor2youth.com knows how much I love FREE!) I would recommend anyone working in student ministry – full-time, part-time, volunteer, parent, professional, spouse, and even Sr. Pastor to buy and read this book.
Purchase the Book HERE:
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