Group Publishing has initiated a “Church Give Back Program” as a thank you for supporting what they do. They have developed a video called After the Fall, a story of one of their employees, Craig DeMartino, who fell while rock climbing and his journey back to health, with a 12-topic leader guide that could be used for youth ministry programs. One copy is free to any church in video or DVD format. No obligation. No postage. No strings. Churches can order at http://www.grouppublishing.com/afterthefall.
The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (through the USCCB) has published a wonderful resource called “Opening Doors of Welcome and Justice to Parishioners with Disabilities: A Parish Resource Guide.” This was published as part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the USCCB’s “Pastoral Statement on Persons with Disabilities.” The resource contains very good ideas for school, religious education, and youth programs. Ordering information is at: http://www.ncpd.org.
There are two new very interesting studies concerning adolescents that will be useful in our ministry. The first, Hardwired to Connect: The New Scientific Case for Authoritative Communities, was commissioned by the YMCA, Dartmouth Medical School, and the Institute for American Values. The study proposes that children and youth are ‘hardwired’— biologically primed—for connections to others and for moral and spiritual meaning. The study further provides ten characteristics of communities that produce healthy children. Go to http://www.americanvalues.org for ordering information. Individual copies of the study cost $7. The second study, Youth Development and Faith-Based Institutions, was compiled by the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing. The study surveyed nineteen denominations and national religious-based, youth-serving organizations, analyzing their integration of youth development assets (SEARCH Institute) into youth ministry programs. The study provides practical recommendations for congregations’ youth ministry. Copies of the study are available for $1 through http://www.religiousinstitute.org.