I am privileged to have had the opportunity to share a day in ministry with my friends from Cultivation Ministries and The National Association of Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders this past week. Frank Mercadante, Director of Cultivation Ministries, led the Institute for New Youth Ministry Leaders here in greater Chicago.

Frank and I have been freinds for a couple of years now. I can’t tell you how much I have learned from Frank about youth ministry, spiritual formation, Catholicism, etc. When he invited me to speak to the group, I just couldn’t say no for a couple of reasons. First, Frank has been such a good friend and mentor. Any additional opportunities to be around him is a bonus. Second, being the only presenter from the evangelical tradition I was anxious to discover more deeply the differences and similarities between protestant and catholic youth ministry philosophy and practice. Finally, any time I get to hang with a group of emerging youth workers, I feel compelled to do so.

Bob McCarty, the Executive Director of the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry presented a fantastic and very helpful couple of hours on “Thriving in Youth Ministry.” Bob is a guy with a ton of youth ministry experience, a great mind and a very compassionate heart. Here is the book he has developed his presentation from: Thriving in Youth Ministry. I strongly recommend that if you have a chance to speak to young, emerging leaders, have interns to shepherd or you yourself are in your first couple of years of youth ministry that you pick up a copy.