Before I read this book I had mixed feelings. The title is puzzling, yet intriguing. It was just another book I had to read for class, and I had enough to do already. But I love youth, and I want as much information on ways to effectively lead and teach them as I can. The title, The Godbearing Life, made me wonder what I was getting into before I even opened the book. But I think the idea presented is marvelous.
Today when we think of the church and youth, we instantly think of a program called “youth ministry.” But is that right? Dean and Foster make a point that as youth pastors today, we are tempted to, and often times become nothing but program directors. But youth ministry and being a youth pastor is not being a program director. Dean and Foster describe today’s youth ministry and pastor creatively, yet accurately, when they say that we have turned youth ministry into a “McFaith”, which is nothing more than a representation of a Disneyland-type approach to the ministry. It stems from our desire to be everything to everyone. Throughout this book, Dean and Foster offer a new idea of approaching youth ministry, or ministry with youth.
But first, let’s look a little more at youth ministry in today’s church. Dean and Foster introduce the idea that today’s youth ministry is too often nothing more than a “one-eared Mickey Mouse”. The adults in the church have simply abandoned their part in the lives of the youth, segregating them from “adult” activities and services. In the model, the face of the head represents the congregation while the one ear represents the youth ministry.


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