Most youth pastors want ideas, inspiration and practical advice to help them with their ministry, yet most don’t think of looking beyond their own borders for advice. However, youth pastors in other countries have much they can teach us.

This second edition of Youth Ministry Across the Continents now features local church youth pastors from all six continents, a compilation of stories and insights from youth workers who have been ministering to young people for many years. New contributors include people from Japan, Chile, and a large church in Ohio, USA that has grown as a home group-based ministry for more than 30 years.

Readers can compare and contrast the advice of seasoned youth pastors across the globe on the same youth ministry topics. Some of the differences in approach and style reflect personality, and some reflect culture; others are to do with the church or denomination the youth worker belongs to, be it Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Anglican, Baptist, Independent Evangelical, or Assemblies of God.

Core issues covered include how to look after your own soul, evangelism, schools work, parents, and the youth pastor’s vital relationship with their supervisor, often the senior pastor, minister or associate pastor. In addition to being organised by topic and not contributor, end-of-chapter discussion questions better enable readers to personally reflect, or share their thoughts with others, on the key issues.

Read alongside a book like Operation World by Jason Mandryk and Patrick Johnstone, youth workers can also consider what God is doing in each of the countries they are reading about. The book would make informative compulsory or additional reading for a youth ministry or missions class, helping to expand the students’ view of the world.

It offers wonderful nuggets of wisdom and supplies a broad range of perspectives while reinforcing principles common to youth work across the globe. Inspiring, practical and educational, this book provides readers with ideas and situations they may have never considered. As veteran youth worker and professor, Len Kageler, writes in the foreword, I had several ‘I never thought of that’ moments as I read along.

So, grab yourself 150 years’ worth of international youth work experience - all in one book!