reThink: Decide for Yourself: Is Student Ministry Working? - Softcover

Steve serves as Pastor of Student Ministries at Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC. Steve has served in student ministry since 1988 and joined the team at Providence in May of 1999. He received a Master of Arts degree in Christian education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. His undergraduate degree is from Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn. Steve is also the current president of the Metro Association of Student Ministers whose members represent some of the largest student ministries in the United States. In 1997 Steve started InQuest Ministries, which supplies Sunday School and Discipleship curriculum to thousands of churches worldwide. Steve and his wife, Tina, were married in 1989. They are blessed with three children - Sara, William and Tyler.

Those of us who love teenagers and sense a clear call from God to serve in this critical area of life have heard the horror stories of the ineffectiveness of today s youth ministries. Some of the criticism is justified and some is not. In spite of the many wonderful youth ministries spanning our country/world, most research reveals that at least 50% of active evangelical teenagers leave church between 18-21 and few of those ever return. It is apparent that some adjusting and retooling of today s approaches to youth ministry are in order. reThink has the potential to be the book that challenges those who are called to youth ministry to rethink not just practical youth ministry but the philosophy that drives why and how we do youth ministry. Having served in full time youth ministry for over 30 years and teaching youth ministry courses at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary since Fall of 2004, I have read a multitude of wonderful books on the subject. With all honesty and sincerity, reThink is the most valuable book on youth ministry that I have read up to this point in my career. I have known Steve Wright as a personal friend for many years and have observed him in nearly every aspect of ministry. He writes as he lives. The philosophy and concepts discussed are what he has put into practice in his ministry and not mere ideas that have been tossed about in late night discussions. With every aspect of culture, media, and the educational system pulling at today s youth a critical book is needed for these critical times. reThink is that book. --Dr. Johnny Derouen, Ph.D