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Books and Resources

Way to Live - Christian Practices for Teens

This new book, edited by Dorothy Bass and Don Richter, was published in 2002 by Upper Room Books. 18 teens and 18 adults collaborate to write chapters about Friends, Stuff, Bodies, Food, Prayer, Music, Truth, Grieving, Creation to name a few (there are 20 different topics in the book). Rather than being a preachy book of don'ts, or offering predictable answers to predictable questions, the teens and their adult co-authors give some solid reflection and points of view on these different topics, and challenge teens with some practical suggestions to discover a "Way to Live" that brings God into all parts of their lives. Many of the adults who helped author this book are involved in youth theology programs like Ask & Imagine.

"Way to Live" can be easily ordered through the Anglican Book Centre, or on line through www.amazon.com. It makes a great book for youth groups, or for any teen who wants to see how their Christian faith connects to the world, and discover a "way to live" that faith.

Visit the Way to Live website for more information.

"...This book invites you into a community of people who don't just go with the flow. This community's image of 'the good life' is not about having lots of stuff or being more successful than other people. Instead, it's about getting involved in the loving, challenging life of God." "Way to Live" p 6

Early Adolescent Ministry

An essential skill in youth ministry is to understand the social, emotional, physical and spiritual develpment of the 10-15 year old age group. Click here to read all about the developmental needs of early adolescents in an excellent paper by Simon Chambers, youth worker at St John's York Mills Anglican Church, Toronto.

If you clicked this link before and it didn't work, try again. (we lost it for a time, but we've relocated the link to this document so now it works!)

Exclusion and Inclusion - a lecture by Desmond Tutu

At Ask and Imagine, we learn a lot about building community and the characteristics of Christian community. One of these key characteristics is INCLUSION. On February 16th, Archbishop Desmond Tutu gave a lecture entitled "Exclusion and Inclusion" as the annual Romney Moseley Memorial Lecture. Click here to go to the U of T site to see the whole transcript of the lecture. It's long, so you may want to print it to read at your leisure, but it is well worth the read!

Being a Great Canadian

What does it mean to be a Great Canadian? Read about Canada's number one pick – Tommy Douglas – a guy who put his faith into action in defending the cause of the oppressed (exploited workers) freeing the prisoners (speaking out against Japanese internment during WWII) and healing to the nation (through socialized medicine).

Changing Lives:  Transformational Ministry and Today's Teens Imagine ministry with unstoppable momentum -like Pentecost! When teens are invited to learn from every experience, reflect on their learning, apply it to their decisions, and act in a spirit of service, they are transformed. This Transformational Ministry creates a continuing spiral of growth - in learning, prayer, leadership, and service. Writing in a conversational style that includes stories and examples from her own work with youth, educator Lisa-Marie Calderone-Stewart offers a practical way to invite young people to be present and future Church leaders.

Learn how Transformational Ministry . . . • provides meaningful experiences of service, learning, prayer/reflection and leadership • draws young people into a cycle of growth • invites them to become more involved with their Church • prepares them to be present and future Church leaders This 144-page book includes a full-color fold-out diagram plus a PC-compatible CD presentation of the Cycle of Transformational Ministry.

Lisa Calderone-Stewart came to Ask & Imagine in 2003 and guided us through the process of transformational ministry she describes in her book.  Awesome!  I highly recommend this book to anyone doing ministry with teens in today's society.  Follow her lead - it's exciting and it works!  The book can be ordered from the publisher - Pflaum Publishing Group - at www.pflaum.com

In Canada: Pflaum Publishing Group products are distributed by B. Broughton, Ltd., 2105 Danforth Ave., Toronto, Ontario M4C 1K1. Phone  1 800 268-4449 or fax to 416 690-5357. Call, write or fax for prices in Canadian funds or to place an order.