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The Radical Edge by Steve Farber — Review

This weekend I picked up Steve Farber’s The Radical Edge.

I really enjoyed the simplicity of this book. I’m finding that I enjoy the Leadership Parable format a lot more than the principle driven books. Steve Farber, Pat Lencioni, Ken Blanchard are all writing in this same vane and it’s very enjoyable. As the reader I am found myself very engaged with the characters and with the drama that surrounds their lives.

I found that this book really focuses on the person more than the organization the person works in. I think that is an important principle because as a leader if you don’t know who you are then you are just going to vacillate in your leadership, following the whims and fancies of the day. But if you really know who you are and what you want to do and where you want to do it, you will succeed.

This book has a lot of simple principles that I think are helpful and easy to initiate. The principle of the WUP (Wake-Up Pad) is great and something that I have been trying to do. Basically record what’s going on around you. I’m not very good at it, but this blog and the journal that I’ve been using have helped.

I’m considering reading it again just to really cement the concepts in my brain. But I would highly recommend this book to anyone trying to be a better leader.

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Categories Readings, reviews

Presence-Centered Youth Ministry – Review

21 Jul

Presence-Centered Youth Ministry by Mike King

Mike King is a long time youth worker who brings 30 years of experience to this book. He shares his stories and frustrations with the way youth ministry has been run for year. And as he grew in maturity he began to boil down youth ministry to what he felt was most important – - Jesus.

This book does a great job of getting the focus back on Jesus and making sure that first and foremost the youth leader is connected to Jesus heart. The students will follow as we become more and more in love with Jesus. King proposes many practices that would be viewed as controversial in many protestant communities but in truth many of these practices are timeless and can really strengthen your faith.

I think this book is valuable for youth leaders because King challenges us to tend to our hearts first. Also, King reminds us that the true success of any youth ministry is not how many students show up to your wednesday night program. Rather, the true measuring stick is how many of those students are connected to Jesus and the church 30 years down the road. To do this youth leaders need to think long term and we need to equip and encourage students to seek Jesus on their own. You can have the flash and bells and whistles in your program but you just better be sure that that’s not all you have.

Great read I highly recommend it to any youth leader and to pastors in general.