• How would you make sure that what you did there would have a lasting impact on those students' lives?
• How would you make sure you left a ministry that would last?

I was in student ministry for about 14 years. I really loved being a youth pastor and I miss those days.

One thing that I hated to see in my own ministry was when students that you poured your life into, walked away from the Lord when they graduated.

The thing I hated that I saw, or heard of, in other groups was when a youth group collapsed and disintergrated when their youth pastor left.

I learned a lot in those 14 years to know what it takes to build a lasting student ministry, but I also wanted to know what others thought. I wondered...

What would the top student leaders do if they had to start all over?

No large church.
No large budget.
Just a small church with a small youth group.

Based on this imaginary situation, I asked these top student leaders some simple questions:

1. What are two common mistakes most pastors make when starting a student ministry that you would be sure not to make?
   
2. What methods/steps would you use to lay a strong foundation that would last beyond your time there?
   
3. What is one method/system you would use to see numerical growth as quickly as possible?
   
4. What is one method/system you would use to see lasting spiritual growth?

I was really excited to see the answers that I received and I think you will be too.

In fact, you can read one of the interviews right now to see an example of what the other
13 interviews are like. That way you can know this ebook is worth getting before you pay for it.

What are some of the things you can learn in this ebook?

• Dr. Wes Black explains about a way of thinking to build a long term strategy. (p. 15)
• Brenda Seefeldt talks about the secret of growing faith by creating memories. (p. 19-20)
• Dave Keehn talks about the power of going where the students are with your students.
• (p. 23)
• Mark Oestreicher reveals a key to lasting spiritual growth in your students by connecting them to God. (p. 26)
• Greg Stier talks about the vital need for students to grow deeper as they reach wider. He explains how we do this through theological truth that has a head, heart and hands application. (p. 28)
• Nigel James explains the need for you to give priority time and training to improve your skills as a visual and verbal communicator. (p. 32)
• Jason Gerdes reveals one of the common mistakes pastors make when starting a youth ministry - not strategically planning around a risky vision. (p. 33)

This is only ONE small point from 7 of the contributors. All 14 leaders go in more depth to answer the 4 questions about creating a lasting student ministry.

More...