Joined Up - book review - word-on-the-web

So what is it about?	Youth work isn’t just done by churches and Christian organisations. There are many secular youth projects around Great Britain, often funded by local councils and government. But there is sometimes much suspicion between those in secular youth work and those doing Christian ministry. Danny Brierley argues that we need both, and that they need to be “Joined Up”.
Who is it for?	Those involved in youth work and youth ministry.
Does it do what it says on the label?	Yes. It is written simply and clearly, contains the fruit of much detailed research, and has many thought-provoking ideas – yet the author helpfully writes in his Preface: “I neither expect nor want readers to agree with everything I have written.” The book is split into three sections: Foundations of youth work and ministry; Values of youth work and ministry; and Practice of youth work and ministry.
Enjoy or endure?	Enjoy. Christian youth ministry shouldn’t just be about converting and discipling people (there are other issues such as justice, people’s material needs, community affairs, and so on), and secular youth work shouldn’t ignore the spiritual dimension. We need both approaches, working together.
Any other comments?	Some of this material originally appeared as a series of articles in Youthwork magazine, but Danny Brierley has greatly expanded and modified it. If you want to be more effective in your youth work, as well as understand where others are coming from, you need to read this book.