Liberty Theological Seminary

Middle School Ministry Made Simple Book Critique

Presented toDr. Jim Graham

YOUT 510 - B02

Submitted By

Shamyra Kennedy-JonesSeptember 29, 2013

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Author Information

Kurt Johnson is a junior high pastor at Saddleback Church which is located in Southern

California.1 Johnston has served in the middle school ministry for over twenty years.2 Johnson

and is family currently lives in Orange County, California, where he spends majority of his time

ministering to middle schoolers. 3 Johnson stated that, “his middle ministry began when he was

twenty-two and was in the process of trying to finish college”.4

Content Summary

Johnson wrote this book as a guide to help people to be able to minister to the young

people in middle and junior high school.5 He did this, out the love that he has of ministering to

young people.6 Because of his over twenty years of experience that author provides rader with

information that is based on.7 In this the book Johnson wants to provide additional assistance to

what you are doing to make your middle school ministry that much better.8

The book begins by, Johnson having a “please read this chapter” section, which gives a

brief overview of some of the discussing topics.9 Johnson in this book tries to give the reader

advice on how to be a leader, and he reminds the reader that they to was once in middle school.10

1. http://www.simplyyouthministry.com/resources-adult-leaders-development-middle-school-ministry-made-simple.html Retrived September 27, 2013.

2. Ibid.3. Ibid.4. Johnston, Kurt. Middle School Ministries Made Simple. Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing, 2008.5. Ibid.6. Ibid.7. Ibid.8. Ibid.9. Ibid.

10. Ibid.

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One of the things the author reminds us is that, "It's important for junior high students to

recognize that God has given them unique gifts that he hopes will be used to minister to

others."11 We need to have quality programs which is better than having a larger number of

programs that do not meet the needs of the middle schoolers.12 When talking to students try to

avoid sayings that students do not like such as, "When I was your age...".13 The author states that

what was done then may be irrelavant for today’s youth.14 One of the concepts that touched on is

the training of future Ministers and Pastors. This endeavor is serious because its not only for

soul care, but education and training, and should not be taking lightly.15 The author belives that

the youth minister need to have the parents’ trust and the only way to gain their trust is though

communication and getting the parents involved with the youth ministry. The paretns need to see

how the things you are doing will impact their child for the rest of their lives.16 Just as it is

important for the parents to support the minister, the minister has to support the parents.17 "If you

purposely are undermining the parents, you will not only lose the support of the parent, but their

child as well".18 The leader must make sure that they have the parents permission to allow their

child to participate prior to any planned event or trip.19 Asking the parents to be an active part of

the ministry by being a facilitator or helping the planning process will bridge the communication

gap.

11. Johnston, Kurt. Middle School Ministries Made Simple. Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing, 2008.12. Ibid

13. Ibid

14. Ibid

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15. Ibid

16. Ibid

17. Ibid

18. Ibid

The author believes that the reason why ministry exists, is to help those believers, no

matter what their age, a more indepth understanding about God.19 There is no certain appoach in

regards to ministry, we as ministers have to use caution and not think that everything will work

for everyone.20 Because what works one person will or may not work for the next.

Evaluation

In reading Middle School Ministry Made Simple I did found out that is that, "we must

learn how to deal with certain siuations and distractions, and go along with what is taking part."21

The author brings up a valid point we he states that, we must evaluate our existing programs in

the church to see not only what the objective of the program is; but make sure that the main

principles of the program are still sound.22 In the book the author states that "many people think

that in middle school or junior high ministry, everything is based around pizza parties and that

youth ministry are more than just that."23 The book states that you have to understand that parties

or outings away from church do not mean your ministry is havung true Biblical fellowship.24 You

as a youth minister have to be patient because Biblical fellowship takes time and the youth must

understand who Jesus is and what he has done for them.25 Johnson in this book provides new

outlook on youth ministry and it touches on some of the valid points to help make your youth

ministry successful.26

19. Johnston, Kurt. Middle School Ministries Made Simple. Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing, 2008.

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20. Ibid.

21. Ibid.

22. Ibid.

23. Ibid.

24. Ibid.

25. Ibid.

26. Ibid.

The author give tips throughout the book on everything from wisdom, experiences of the

student to having ideas on being creative with your youth ministry.27 One good that should used

is when the author writes that, "we recognize in order to have a healthy junior high ministry we

must provide opportunities for discipleship".28

This is great book but unfortunately, the book had some aspects that I did not care too

much for. One of these aspects was when the author talks about different areas in the youth

ministry, reading this made me feel that there was not enough time spent leading me to feel that

there was not enough time invested on their point of view.29 From reading this book it seems that

there youth ministry programs out there that do not have any youth influence. It seem like these

programs are developing the same type of students over and over.30

It seems that the best ministries are the ones that has a lot of youth influence. Because youth

ministry are so often miscontrued the author in this book talks about the different approaches that

would make the ministry fun but engaging at the same time.31 I would recommend this book for

those youth minister that has little to no experience or education in when it comes a youth

ministry. The author does a great job in covering all the basics that provides the reader a little

more insight on how to better run a youth ministry program.

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1. Johnston, Kurt. Middle School Ministries Made Simple. Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing, 2008.2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid

5. Ibid.

Bibliography

Johnston, Kurt. Middle School Ministries Made Simple. Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing, 2008.

http://www.simplyyouthministry.com/resources-adult-leaders-development-middle-school-ministry-made-simple.html Retrived September 27, 2013.