Book Review: Raising the Bar

Reid, Alvin. Raising the Bar.Grand Rapids: Kregel. 2004

BV4447.R42 2004       ISBN #-0-8254-3632-x

195 pages

 

Alvin Reid is the Bailey Smith Chair of Evangelism professor at Southeaster Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forrest, 

NC

This book was recommended to me a couple of years ago by Alan Jackson, a youth ministry professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (not the county music artist).

 

Admittedly, I read the book a full four years after it was published, so I might be a little harsh when I say that much of the book is already a little outdated or at least not new. Reid says little that hasn't been said several times already.

His general premise is that current youth ministry is too much fun and games and not concerned enough with the spiritual maturity of teens. I wholeheartedly agree. I am associated with about 2,000 churches in California and work directly is about two dozen youth ministries each year. I more often see ministries that set the bar too low.

 

Reid also makes a strong case for the formal education of youth ministers. He rightly says that many youth ministers learned youth ministry from other youth ministers who learned it from their youth ministers. In other words, youth ministers who don’t have formal training will tend to duplicate the youth ministry they grew up with. I would add that youth ministers who have a senior pastor who mentors them also get mentoring based on an older, outdated form of youth ministry that their senior pastor used when he was a youth minister in his early years.

 

Beyond these points, Reid tends to write all across the board. He shows a comprehensive understanding of the history of contemporary music and the youth movement in the contemporary church, but his discussion of it seems to be more of an exhibition of his diverse knowledge rather than a help to his major premise. Indeed, many of his chapters come across like talks he has given to parents, youth leaders, youth, Sunday School teachers, or the whole congregation during a DiscipleNow Weekend.

 

Indeed, Reid is quick to point out that he has spoken at many churches and youth camps. He actually comes across as a little enamored with Student Life and InQuest Ministries.

 

One other comment of note, when Reid touches on theology or social issues, his language clearly reflects the Southern Baptist party line. If he doesn’t travel in the same circles with the “movers and shakers” of the Southern Baptist main players, then he at least knows who influences his paycheck at the seminary.

 

So, do I recommend the book? Yes, especially if one is looking for help in encouraging an youth ministry to move from fun and games to spiritual formation. But, if one has much background in formal student ministry or has done much reading on the subject, it might be a waste of time. The book is a great secondary source for an introduction to student ministry class.