Youth Worker’s Guide to Parent Ministry: A Practical Plan for Defusing Conflict and Gaining Allies

Penner, Marv. Youth Worker’s Guide to Parent Ministry: A Practical Plan for Defusing Conflict and Gaining Allies. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Mich. 2003. price 22.95. pp.167. Available at Leadership Centre 1-800-804-0777.
Marv Penner- chair of the Youth Ministry and Counseling departments of Briercrest Schools Seminary.
Preface.
Marv shares his own experience about changing from a youth worker focused on parent bashing to a champion of youth ministry that focuses on encouraging parent support. "This book is designed to help youth workers develop and implement a plan for a parent ministry that works." p. ix.
Introduction.
Serious Youth workers will make commitments to parents to help them minister to their youth. This involves the challenge of getting to understand parents. The parents of typical teens are described. Some of the challenges of developing parent ministries are, the focus of parents on their own kids and the youth worker’s focus on the whole youth group, the knowledge that the youth workers have about the young people, lack of time, insecurity on the part of youth worker and parents, parents not understanding the place and purpose of the youth worker.
Ch. 1. Assume Teens have Parents. (Acknowledge).
Parents are key coaches of their children. The potential is great for positive or negative input. Parenting is a complex task. Family configurations have (are) changed.
Ch.2. Three Cheers for Moms and Dads. (Affirming)
Affirm and respect parents as nuturers. Model this for the youth. A number of ideas are presented, in detail, of how youth can affirm parents e.g. Acknowledging parents whose child has turned 13 and pray for them publicly, etc.
Ch.3. Communication is a Two-Way Street. (Communicate)
Reasons are given why parents should be consulted and informed. Listen well to parents. An interesting "Family Needs Assessment" 47-50 is presented. The chapter ends with a curriculum for a workshop about communication.
Ch. 4. Have You Hugged a Parent Today? (Encourage).
Youth workers have the "basis, opportunities, and means for encouragement". 67. Parents need encouragement. Good specific ideas are presented about how to encourage. Encouragement is particularly crucial when parents are hurting. The curriculum in this chapter deals with "a parent meeting to celebrate the good we see in our kids".75.
Ch. 5. Does Anybody Else Out There Have Teenagers? (Connect).
Parents need to connect with other parents to share wisdom, and get a perspective of how others manage. Again practical suggestions are made on how to to connect parents with each other.
Ch. 6. Give Them Some Tools and Everyone Wins. (Equip).
As in any kind of a ‘project’ good tools are very important for parenting. Seminars can be helpful to present ideas. Resources, books, videos, cassettes, etc., are helpful. Eight (American) organizations are listed that have helpful resources.
Ch. 7. Beyond Bringing Cookies and Driving the Van. (Involve).
Involving parents will give ownership of youth programs and that will add health to the ministry. The involvement will be at various levels. There are positive and negative aspects to involving parents as youth group leaders. (Involvement curriculum).
Ch. 8. Understanding Your Teenagers 101. Educate).
Instruction must happen in a relationship. Teaching should be about adolescent culture, relationship, and development.
Ch. 9. Together We Can Make a Difference. (Co-Nuture).
Those who benefit most from parent-youth worker partnerships are the kids. Partnerships should include "shared vision, open communication, regular evaluation, willingness to forgive, and commitments to one another’s success. (Co-Nuture curriculum).
Ch. 10. Outside The Lines. Parent ministries in special circumstances.
This chapter deals with scenarios that could be described as young people in non-traditional families, e.g. single parents, blended families, unbelieving parents, parents of other faiths, etc.
Comment. HD
This is a very practical ‘manual’ for youth workers who need help with developing parent ministry. The curriculum sections contain excellent helps. This is a must have resource for a youth worker’s library. Note: What about the involvement of grandparents in a youth program? It seems to me (as a Grandparent) that grandparents and grandchildren are usually quite compatible and this might be an untapped resource for ministry. Just a thought.