Jeanne Stevens - Soul School: Enrolling in a Soulful Lifestyle for Youth Ministry

To Dad:

There is no one who would be more amazed

and proud that I actually wrote a book.

Your life and memory continue to remind me to

live every moment to the fullest.

Youth Specialities

Soul School: Enrolling in a Soulful Lifestyle for Youth Ministry
Copyright 2007 by Jeanne Stevens

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ePub Edition January 2009 ISBN: 978-0-310-56979-4

Youth Specialties products, 300 South Pierce Street, El Cajon, CA 92020 are published by Zondervan, 5300
Patterson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49530.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Stevens, Jeanne.
Soul school : enrolling in a soulful lifestyle for youth ministry / by Jeanne Stevens.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-310-27496-4
1. Church youth workersReligious life. 2. Church work with youth. I. Title.
BV4596.Y68S74 2007
259.23dc22

2007017349

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible: Todays New InternationalVersion, copyright 2002, 2004 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan.

Selected Scripture quotations are taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other (except for brief quotations in printed reviews)without the prior permission of the publisher.

Web site addresses listed in this book were current at the time of publication. Please contact Youth Specialties via e-mail (YS@YouthSpecialties.com) to report URLs that are no longer operational and replacement URLs if available.

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SOUL SCHOOL SYLLABUS

Course Description, Objectives, and Commitment Statement

Introduction

Introduction

Introduction

Chapter 9 Everything I Needed to Know about Teamwork
I Learned in a Very Long Van Ride

Open Enrollment

I never imagined my soul journey would end up in a book. Im still shocked that it has all come together. There are so many people who have been used by God to help shape me along the way. No soulish adventure should be done in isolation, and I am grateful for the role each of you has played along the way.

Sheryl Fleisher: Thank you for introducing me to my true self. I am more of who God created me to be because of you. My Wise WomenNancy Ortberg, Nancy Beach, & SibylTowner: Thanks for speaking truth, offering grace, and believing in me along the way. BABSApril, Becca, & Kelly: Thanks for being real and raw. You are TRUE friends. Ami: I am grateful that even though we live thousands of miles apart we still have managed to travel through life together. My Friends (you know who you are): Thanks for reminding me when I wanted to give up that Soul School needed to be written. Craig Joseph: Thank you for pushing me to write what I really believe. Your input on this project was invaluable to me.

Willow Creek Community Church: I will be forever grateful to the community of people with whom Ive shared life at Willow. You became home to me, and I am humbled to have been part of such an amazing church for the past 11 years. The Student Ministry Staff,Volunteers, & Students Ive served over the years: Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the adventure. Bo Boshers: Thanks for believing in me when I was just 22 years old. Your love and leadership have deeply impacted my life. Bill Hybels: Thanks for speaking the truth and encouraging me to enroll in the graduate school of character. This book is the result of your prompting.

The Youth Specialties Family: I am honored to be part of an organization that takes such risks to love youth workers. Jay Howver: Thanks for your patience and for believing I have something to say. Marko Oestricher: Thanks for being my junior high youth pastor. I still cant believe how our story has been written. I love working with you. Tic Long: You are one of the best listeners. To follow in your footsteps is a humbling honor. Zondervan,specifically John Raymond. You saw potential in me as a writer before I believed it was possible. I look forward to the adventure ahead. Doug Davidson: I loved working with you on this project. You are so much more than an editor. You helped me find language for what was living within my soul. Doug Fields: Thanks for how you have encouraged and inspired countless youth workers throughout the years, including me. Your example and perseverance have reminded me that being a youth worker is a sacred calling! I am honored that you would write the foreword to this book. Mark Novelli: I am grateful that you have artfully designed what we were able to experience together in ministry.

Mom: I am so grateful that of all the women on the planet God picked you to be my mom. You are kind, compassionate, generous, and courageous. I admire your faith and strength. My family (Pieczynskis & Stevens): Thanks for your encouragement and support.

Elijah: You are the joy of my life. This book was birthed during the first year of your life. You have no idea how youve caused me to grow. Your very existence has pushed me to travel to deeper places of faith, hope, and love. I love being your Mommy!

Jarrett: Words cannot express my love and devotion to you. You are real, honest, kind, strong, and compassionate. You are the single greatest force God has used to shape my soul. Your love and encouragement kept me going when I wanted to give up. You have stood with me during light and dark. I love you.

By Doug Fields

When I began working in youth ministry as a volunteer in 1979, I thought it was about playing games and having funand that when it was time to get serious, the job of the adult leaders was to direct teenagers hearts to connect with the heart of God. I had no idea that so much of youth ministry would revolve around the condition of my heart, and that I would regularly have to give consideration to the depth or shallowness of my own soul.

I wish I could have read Soul School back then...it would have saved me some pain and helped me establish healthy priorities that took me too many years to figure out. As a veteran youth worker, I now know that what Jeanne writes in Soul School is right on target and essential for todays youth ministry leader (actually, any ministry leader). Joining Jeanne in Soul School wont be easy...but it will be good! It is an essential education youll need if youre going to remain a healthy, vibrant, and effective youth ministry leader. Your teenagers need you to enroll in Soul School. (Just be thankful it wont take you four years to read this book!)