If I Knew Then What I Know Now : Youth Workers Share Their Worst Failures and Best Advice

'Everyone makes mistakes. But why make the same ones that other youth workers have already learned tough lessons through? Whether you're a youth ministry volunteer or you've just stepped into a full-time youth ministry position, chances are that you don't know everything...not yet anyway. Here you'll find wisdom from seasoned veterans who have 'been there and done that' so you can avoid the pitfalls they've found themselves facing. With true stories from real youth workers, you'll get the truth that you just don't learn in your seminar classes or volunteer training meetings. With thought-provoking questions, relevant Scripture, and practical applications, you'll learn from some of the common, but avoidable, blunders of youth ministry veterans such as: * Soul care slip-ups * Team building terrors * Relationship errors * Parent problems (or is it problem parents?!) * Programming pitfalls * Budget blunders * Moral minefields * Authority ailments * Crisis control While most people will cover up their mistakes and hope to never be found out, these brave youth workers are laying it all out there so you don't have to make the same mistakes. Let their encouragement and wisdom be your most-read training manual.' If you're new to youth ministry, whether paid or volunteer, you can learn a lot from the stories of veteran youth workers who have made some common, but avoidable, blunders. Here you'll find encouragement and wisdom of what not to do when it comes to everything from soul care, to programming, to crisis, and more. First things first Soul care Building a team Relationships with kids Communicating truth Dealing with parents Common programming mistakes Dealing with authorities Money matters The moral mine field Safety issues Getting better.