Suggested Book Resources - Youth Spirituality

Here is a list of book resources that will be helpful for dealing with parenting and teen issues. Most will be just for parents to read, but some will be good for your youth to read, and some for you and your youth to read together. Most are available in the church library, at the Christian Bookstore, or I own a copy you can borrow. Although I myself and LPC as a community may not agree with absolutely everything written within these books, I believe they are valuable to read and think about as we try to raise the best children and youth we can. I hope you find them useful and beneficial as well. Dangerous Wonder: The Adventure of Childlike Faith by Michael Yaconelli (Navpress, 1998). -- I met the recently deceased Mike Yaconelli in Edmonton a few years back, and was instantly excited by has love for and relationship with God. Energy exuded from this man, and this book speaks into why. Also a great read for our own personal journey, I feel this book is invaluable to a parent as they look into what kind of adult they want their child to be. How can you build your youth into a "jump first, fear later" kind of person. Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions: Why Children Should By Your Church's #1 Priority by George Barna (Regal Books, 2003). -- George Barna surprised himself as he looked over his years of research and came to a conclusion he had never predicted: children are important! In this book, the American research giant puts forth an argument that children's ministry is in fact the most important ministry within a church. After all, he argues, a "child's moral development is sest by the age of nine." Our children will be the church of tomorrow, so we need to focus on building their spiritual selves as much or more than any other aspect of their beings.