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Joined upAn introduction to youthwork and ministryJOINED UP Youth work (secular) and youth ministry (Church) can and should exist harmoniously alongside one another. This is the stated claim of Joined Up. The author, Danny Brierley, works for Oasis and writes regularly in Youthwork magazine. Four previously published articles make up the middle third of the book. In the first section he outlines his thesis and gives us some history of work with young people. In the final section he seeks to apply his thesis practically in the areas of fellowship, worship and mission. The text is peppered with grey boxes containing questions 'to think about...'. Some of these spark off genuinely interesting ideas; others seem bizarrely placed, as if edited in en route to the printer. Good points: The debate about the difference between secular and church youth work is an important one, and needs thought if the church is not to appear aloof and elitist. The two historical chapters are both informed and interesting. Brierley recognises that some of his theological thinking is not accepted by everyone and includes feedback, in some cases helpful, but in others not a thorough enough analysis of his ideas. Bad points: What undermines the whole thesis is that Brierley is trying to 'Christianise' a secular model of youthwork. He brushes aside the fact that the aims of Christian work differ from the world's aims. In reality the world is either carefully ignoring or actively persecuting those who put gospel aims at the heart of their work. Because the two aims are so different this attempt to marry them up leads to some dangerously erroneous theologising and loose Scripture handling. There's a joke about a man who, when asked for directions, says, 'Well, I wouldn't start from here!' And so it is with Brierley's book. Roger Fawcett © Evangelicals Now - January 2004 |