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DeVries, Mark, Family-Based Youth Ministry, IVP, 1994
The first book to offer a paradigm shift for youth ministry in 90's.  Much of this book is focused on analyzing the problems in today's youth culture and the overall ineffectiveness of current youth ministry models.   Family-based ministry calls for a radical shift from the current youth-centered model to a family-based model where adult-to-student encounters and activities form the foundation of the youth ministry.  Several suggestions are made throughout the book for implementing a family-based youth ministry, but the general tone is theoretical and sociological.   A must read for anyone considering doing family ministry.

Freudenberg, Ben & Rick Lawrence , The Family Friendly Church, Vital Ministries, 1998.
An excellent book discussing the need for churches to transition from a church-centered, home-supported ministry to a home-centered, church-supported ministry.  After helping the reader understand the significant difference between a church-centered, home-supported ministry and a home-centered, church-supported ministry, the authors offers several examples and ideas in how to move one’s church this way. Special emphasis is made on how to better connect the home and church.  Highly recommended.

Clark, Chap, The Youth Worker’s Handbook for Family Ministry, Youth Specialties, 1997.
You’ll learn the different perspectives on family ministry, the right questions to ask when developing a ministry to families, and helpful ideas and strategies for getting your family ministry off and running.  The book is broken down into five sections:  (1) Defining Family Ministry  (2) Creating a Successful Family Ministry  (3) Involving Moms & Dads in Family Ministry  (4) Programming your Family Ministry and (5) Providing Materials to Strengthen Families Where they Live.

Garland, Diana, Family Ministry:  A Comprehensive Book, IVP, 1999.
This is the most comprehensive book to date on the topic of family ministry.  The book is broken down into 6 major sections:  (1) The Context for Family Ministry  (2) The Processes of Family Life  (3) The History of Families & the Church  (4) Biblical Foundations for Family Ministry Today  (5) Planning & Leading Family Ministry  (6) Ministry with Specific Family Relationships.  While enormous in size (over 600 pages), a worthwhile read for any serious doing family ministry.

Erwin, Pamela, The Family Powered Church, Group, 2000.
Looking at family ministry from the perspective of the church being a loving and committed community of faith, Erwin encourages the church to help families pass on their stories, develop rituals, and develop rites of passage.  In addition, she shares ideas on how to better connect family members, families to other families, and all the generations.

Strommen, Merton, & Hardel, Richard, Passing on the Faith, Saint Mary’s Press, 2000.
The authors share extensive research in the area of youth and family ministry and how they relate to effective family ministry.  Provides numerous examples and strategies to develop strong youth and families.

Ambrose, Dub & Mueller, Walt. Ministry to Families with Teenagers.  Group Books, 1988.
In this fairly comprehensive book, the authors provide a good overview of why and how to minister to families with teenagers.  The book is divided into four sections: Why minister to families with teenagers?, Elements of a successful ministry, Building a ministry to families with teenagers, and Programming ideas.  While it provides a solid foundation for effective family ministry, it is also full of practical suggestions. 

Sell, Charles, Family Ministry, Zondervan, 1995.
The author provides a solid theological basis for the issues involved in family ministry.   Practical application of these theological principles are offered with the insights of other disciples such as sociology, psychology, and other social sciences.  It is a fairly comprehensive presentation on family ministry and reads like a textbook.  

Thomas, Steve, Your Church can be…Friendly Family, College Press, 1996.
The author describes in detail his journey from youth ministry to family ministry.  In a very personal way, the readers comes to see the passion for family ministry and the changes that needed to take place in his church.

Hebbard, Don, The Complete Handbook for Family Life Ministry in the Church, Thomas-Nelson, 1995.
After the addressing the importance of family ministry and common barriers toward it, the author lays out a strategy for family ministry including assessing congregational needs, programming for felt needs, effective outreach to unchurched families, the role and place for counseling, the different models of family ministry, and the necessary skills for a family minister.

Lyon, Brynoll & Smith, Arhcie (Ed.) Tending the Flock: Congregations and Family Ministry,  Westminster, 1998.
A unique contribution to the word of family ministry in that it chapter shares how different churches are addressing the family issue facing them.  The churches examined showed diversity by their denomination, church sizes, and specific issues.

Guernsey, Dennis, A New Design for Family Ministry, David C. Cook, 1982.
Based on the belief that family is the most significant socializing agent for an individual, the author sees the church’s role as to empower, network, and equip families to be effective socializing intuitions.  Drawing from the insights of “systems theory”, the author shares ideas and strategies on how the church and pastor can accomplish its task of ministering to families.

Clapp, Rodney, Families at the Crossroads, IVP, 1993.
After addressing the historical, biblical, and cultural views of the family, the author argues for a proper and biblical understanding of the family in the context of our society and especially in the church.  The author argues strongly that the Family of God (church) should exert more influence than the individual family and that our culture tends to overemphasizes the individual family at the determent of the family of God.

Waugh, Phillip, Leading Family Ministry in a Church, LifeWay Press, 1998.
A very short book on assessing, designing, and implementing a family ministry.  The book contains many helpful charts and diagrams.

Justice, Mike, It Takes a Family to Raise a Youth Ministry, Beacon Hills Press, 1998.
In this very short book, the author argues for the need of youth ministries to shift from a “youth-only” focus to a “ministry to families with teens” focus.  After presenting different models for family ministry and obstacles to watch for, the author lays out a strategy for implementing family ministry.

Wallace, Eric, Uniting the Church and Home, Solutions for Integrating Church & Home, 1999.
Recognizing the discontinuity between the church and home in terms of faith formation and focus, the authors seeks to find contact between them both and help facilitate renewal and rebuilding between the church and home.  The book is self-published and may been hard to obtain in a bookstore.

Money, Royce, Ministering to Families, ACU Press, 1987.
An early contribution to the field of family ministry addressing the why, what, and how to family ministry.  While relatively basic in content, it lays good foundation for starting a family ministry.

PROGRAMMING TOOLS FOR FAMILY MINISTRY

130 Ways to Involve Parents In Youth Ministry. Group Books, 1994.
As the title implies, this book is a compilation of 130 ideas from various individuals on how to involve parents in youth  ministry.  Some ideas are relatively thorough and detailed while others are short and brief.

Oshine, Davis & Habrens, Ron, Tag-Team Youth Ministry, Standard, 1995
A short book that discusses briefly the philosophy behind family ministry and then offers 50 practical ideas on how to move your ministry towards a family-based model.

Lytle, Tom, Schwartz, Kelly, & Gary Hartke, 101 Ways to be Family-Friendly in Youth Ministry, Beacon Hill, 1996.
Over 100 ideas that youth workers can do to make their youth ministry family-friendly.

No More Us & Them, Group Books, 1999.
A practical book sharing a 100 different ways to bring youth and church together. 

Fun Ideas for the Family Friendly Church, Group Books, 2000.
50 fun and practical ideas in the following categories: learning activities, worship experiences, service projects, and relationship builders.

Family Friendly Ideas your Church Can Do, Group Books, 1998.
A highly practical book with over 50 ideas that families can do in the following categories:  learning activities, worship experience, service projects, enrichment activities, and fun times.

Mike & Amy Nappa, Imagine That: 365 Wacky Ways to Build a Creative Christian Family, Augsburg, 1998.
Another practical book with over 300 ways families can build creativity and unity into their homes.
Diana Garland, G. Wade Rowatt, Richard Ross, Lesa Chandler (compilers), Life-Changing for Youth and their Families, Convention Press, 1995.

JIM BURNS PARENTING & FAMILY BOOKS

Burns, Jim. 10 Building Blocks for a Healthy Family, W Publishing, 2001

Burns, Jim. Parents Guide to Top Ten Dangers Teens Face, Tyndale House Publishers, 1999.

Burns, Jim & Arterburn, Steve. Drug Proof Your Kids, Regal Books, 1995.

PARENTING & FAMILY BOOKS
Selected by Jim Burns

Smalley, Gary & Trent, John. The Blessings, Pocket Books, 1990.

Trent, John. Parents’ Guide to the Spiritual Mentoring of Teenagers, Tyndale House Pub., 1995.

Otis, J. & Weidmann, Janet and Jim. Milestones: Celebrating Your Children’s Spiritual Passages, Chariot Victor Publishing, 2001.

Cline, Foster W. & Fay, Jim. Parenting with Love and Logic, Navpress 1990.

Chapman, Gary. The Five Languages of Love, Northfield Pub., 1992.

Chapman, Gary. The Five Languages of Love of Children, Northfield Pub., 1997.

Chapman, Gary. The Five Languages of Love of Teenagers, Northfield Pub., 2001.

Nygren, Bruce & Rainey, Dennis and Barbara. Parenting Today's Adolescent, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1998.

Trent, John. Be There, Waterbrook Press, 2000.

Mueller, Walt. Understanding Today's Youth Culture, Tyndale House Pub., 1999.

Leman, Kevin. Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours, Fleming H. Revell Company, 2000.

Nelsen, Jane & Glenn, H. Stephen. Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World, Prima Publishing, 2000.

Huggins, Kevin. Parenting Adolescents, Navpress Publishing Group, 1992.

Elkind, David. All Grown Up and No Place to Go, Addison Wesley Publishing Company, 1997.

Dobson, James. The Strong-Willed Child, Living Books, 1992.

Smalley, Gary. Making Love Last Forever, W Publishing Group, 1997.

Smalley, Gary. The Key to Your Child's Heart, W Publishing Group, 1995.

VIDEO CURRICULUM

Burns, Jim. Parenting Teenagers for Positive Results Video Curriculum. Group Publishing, 2001.

Rice, Wayne & Davis, Ken. Understanding Your Teenager Video Curriculum. Youth Specialties, 1992.
A six-part video series that deals with important issues and topics in understanding teenagers.  The video segments are short and meant to promote discussion.  A good resource to use for a parenting series or a potential outreach event to unchurched parents.

Huggins, Kevin. Parenting Adolescents Video Curriculum. Navpress, 1992.
Based on Kevin Huggins Parenting Adolescents book, this video series seeks to encourage and equip parents to raise godly kids.  Parent’s needs, conflicts, depth of character & spiritual maturity are a large focus in the video series. This is a more in-depth examination of parenting than in Understanding Your Teen Video Curriculum.

Burns, Jim. HomeWord Training Videos, HomeWord, 2000.
Jim Burns sixteen part video series for youth workers.