Age-Group Resources: Youth & Students

Books

  • The God-Bearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending in Youth Ministry, Upper Room Books 
  • Soul-Tending: Life Forming Practices for Older Youth and Young Adults, Abingdon/Cokesbury

Group Resources

  • The Way of Pilgrimage: An Adventure in Spiritual Formation for the Next Generation - is an addition to the Companions in Christ series, published by the Upper Room. This experiential, 30-week study fosters the spiritual formation of senior-high youth and college freshmen. Through engaging in ancient spiritual practices of prayer and contemplation, young people discover new ways to go deeper spiritually.  This is a great resource to help young people deepen and mature their faith, and it is user-friendly for volunteers, youth leaders, college chaplains, and students. It can be used in small groups or cell groups, Sunday school classes, various youth groups settings, camp and retreat settings, or even to prepare the hearts and minds of young people before a mission trip or pilgrimage. The six-week Participant's Books include scripture, daily exercises, and readings. One Leader's Guide prepares you for guiding participants along the entire 30-week pilgrimage. 

Devotional Resources

  • Method X -  MethodX (the way of Christ) is an online Christian community where young adults (college to 30s) can identify and explore their relationships with God and with others.
  • DevoZine - is a devotional magazine designed just for youth and published by Upper Room. It is written by teenagers and by adults who work with and care about teens. Devozine's purpose is to help youth 12-18 years old develop a lifelong practice of spending time with God and of reflecting on what God is doing in their lives.  Each issue of the bi-monthly, 64-page, full-color magazine focuses on nine themes, one for each week. Each theme includes weekday meditations and a feature article on the weekend. Meditations may be read in chronological or random order. As a companion to devozine, the Guide for Mentors and Small Groups. This resource gives adult mentors and small group leaders everything they need to lead youth through weekly sessions based on the themes presented in Devozine.

Retreat Experiences

  • Chrysalis -  Chrysalis "Flights" (for 10th through 12th graders) and "Journeys" (for young adults, ages 19-24) are three-day events. This three-day spiritual renewal time provides an opportunity for you to learn more about faith, to experience Christian love and support, and to make new faith commitments. The point is to inspire, challenge and equip you for a closer friendship with Christ and for Christian action at home, church, school, and community. "Chrysalis" is the name chosen for the youth and young adult version of The Walk to Emmaus, its parent movement, because it symbolizes the spiritual growth that is essential between adolescence and adulthood. That growth is as crucial for youth as the cocoon is for the caterpillar. It is that precious time of nurturing a person's faith for discipleship.

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