Ministering to Gay Teenagers - A Book Review

"The truth is that gay students already come to our ministries or are connected to our churches one way or another. The challenging part for youth workers, then, isn't facing the questions but rather implementing the answers."

The above quote is from Ministering to Gay Teenagers: A Guide for Youth Workers - a very helpful little book by Shawn Harrison. Now a youth pastor in Ohio, Harrison shares from his own personal experiences as a gay student in high school, the journey his life has taken him on as he has responded to the call of Jesus, and the lessons he has learned along the way.

What I loved about the book is that Harrison doesn't avoid truth, nor does he get bogged down in debate. He states: "The church should not compromise truth, but it should not withhold grace either." Rather, he offers very simple and practical advice for youth workers. He challenges us to do some personal soul searching, gives very simple and practical advice for how to pastor gay students, help parents and families, and lead courageously in the context of the student community. I highly recommend that every youth worker read this book that is less than 100 pages.