Resource Reviews The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul-Tending for Youth Ministry by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster In The Godbearing Life, the authors offer a lively spiritual primer and practical guide for those who pastor young people. Dean and Foster rechart a course for youth ministry through the classical spiritual disciplines of the church. The book identifies families, congregations, and mentor relationships as the "holy ground" where young people are most likely to say "Yes!" to God. (Upper Room Books, 1998) ISBN 0835808580; order from Upper Room Books, 800-972-0433 or Cokesbury. Soul Tending: Life-Forming Practices for Older Youth & Young Adults Soul Tending expands on the ideas put forth in The Godbearing Life by offering a practical way to study spiritual disciplines while strengthening relationships among participants. Youth and adults share the leadership as "co-journers" on the path to abundant life. (Abingdon, 2002) ISBN 18006721789; order from Cokesbury, 800-672-1789. Way to Live: Christian Practices for Teens This book, written by teens and by adults with a real heart for youth, moves Christianity from a concept to a way of life. Addressed to youth, using language and imagery they can grasp, this book is an invitation to apply the wisdom of the faith, not just talk about it. "These practices may surprise you and your friends, and it will challenge the world as we know it. You canŐt just read this book: you do it!" See http://www.waytolive.org. (Upper Room Books, 2002) Available 8/02; order from Upper Room Books, 800-972-0433, or Cokesbury. Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church by Joy Thornburg Melton This book offers very well-thought-out steps for reducing the risk of child abuse. As people committed to caring for children, one of our worst nightmares would be to have a child harmed while at camp. As with any other setting serving children, camps can be vulnerable to those seeking to take advantage of children. The most loving thing we can do is to establish a solid plan, procedures, training, and policies that make our camp/retreat centers and programs as safe as possible. Those who have been involved in responding to a child abuse tragedy will tell you that it is infinitely easier on everyone to prevent it from happening in the first place. (Discipleship Resources, 1998) ISBN 0-88177-220-8 Available from Discipleship Resources, 800-685-4370 www.discipleshipresources.org. The American Camping Association's Accreditation Standards for Camp Programs and Services These are the most widely recognized standards for camp operation, leadership, and programs. The General Board of Discipleship refers camp/retreat leaders to these standards and recommends their use as a primary resource for those responsible for developing camp/retreat center guidelines, policies, and procedures specific to a center/program. Further, the American Camping Association provides the option to be officially accredited. An excellent extra step process that provides resources, structure, and peer reviews that solidify the implementation of written policies/procedures. Highly recommended. http://www.acacamps.org/bookstore/standards.htm 800-428-CAMP Twists of Faith: Ministry with Youth at the Turning Points of Their Lives by Marcey Balcomb and Kevin Witt Twists of Faith helps camp counselors, parents, youth workers, and mentors guide youth to connect more deeply with God through the changes and transitions in their lives. So often, camp/retreat experiences become defining moments and/or they tap into key issues faced by young people. Making decisions, loss and crisis, finding meaning and purpose in life, sustaining healthy relationships, and so on provide unmatched, fertile ground for forming faith. Be there when it really matters. Teachable moments occur with great frequency during adolescence, and mentors who have relationships of trust and respect among youth can make a huge difference. We can walk with youth along pathways that transform twists of fate into twists of faith. Written by camp/retreat and youth ministry veterans, incorporating real-life stories. (Discipleship Resources, 1999) ISBN 0-88177-251-8 Available from Discipleship Resources, 800-685-4370 www.discipleshipresources.org.   Ask and It Will Be Given to You: Seek and You Will Find — Matthew 7:7 Ask John Bingle for whatever you need, and it will be given to you. Seek an individual who is a seeker of God. You will find John. After 25 years in the camping ministry, John Bingle was honored Saturday, May 11, 2002, when the dedication of the John Bingle Program Center was held at Widewater Retreat Center in West Ohio. This man of faith has served on the Conference Committee on Outdoor and Retreat Ministry as the Chair of the Major Maintenance in West Ohio, as well as on the National Camp/Retreat Committee. John and Isla Bingle mean so much to so many. | California, Here I Come! | Camp/Retreat Ministry Certification | | Pivotal Year for Share Our Worlds | Fund-Raising Course | | Website/New Resource/Camp-Retreat Contacts/Chuck Kishpaugh Sends Greetings | | Mark Your Calendars | Resource Review | | Camp/Retreat Memo Archives | |Camp and Retreat Ministries Home |