Raising Up Young Heroes: Developing a Revolutionary Youth Ministry
"Efrem Smith has committed much of his life to challenging and equipping ordinary young people to live extraordinary lives of influence. And that's whatRaising Up Young Heroesis 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)"Informative, practicalandrelevantare the words that come to mind as I reflect onRaising 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 Heroesis 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 wordholisticfor a while, but Efrem shows us how to implement a real-life ministry that truly is just that." (Mark Oestreicher, President, Youth Specialties)"Raising Up Young Heroesprods 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)