The ideas here work... Every one has been 'teen-tested'.

Not the Same Old, Done-it-before Youth Meetings is a practical, eminently usable handbook by someone who has devoted himself heart and soul to working with youth. The practicality of the book is its most important feature. The ideas here work. I know that because I've seen them work. Every one has been 'teen-tested'.

They shouldn't work, of course. After all, everybody knows today's teens aren't interested in anything serious. Today's teens are ruled entirely by hormones. You can't capture the interest of a teenager today unless you come at them via the Internet or text messaging. Right?

Well, if those are the kinds of teens you have in your youth group, then the ideas in this book may not work so well. It's not a book of magic spells that will transform a hoodlum into a choirboy. But if you've got teens like the ones I know - good kids who maybe have short attention spans sometimes, but who also care deeply about the world and about right and wrong - then this book is a treasure house of ideas. And it's not just a random bunch of ideas. It shows you how a gifted and experienced youth leader plans an entire program.

Not everything here will work with every group, of course. Every group is different, and every youth leader has different strengths. But even if you can't use every activity, some of the ideas may inspire you to create your own, adapted to the needs of your particular group.

One of the most useful features is the detailed Appendix, featuring actual skit scripts, questionnaires, etc. Again, this is extremely practical. (One minor quibble: it would have been useful if the Table of Contents included a list of everything in the Appendix.)

I recommend Not the Same Old, Done-it-before Youth Meetings both for youth leaders who are seeking new ideas, and for anyone who is interested in the thought processes behind the planning of a successful youth program.

-- Frank Tangredi

Click to read Frank's testimonial about being a youth leader.