Helping Youth Grieve - by Bob Yoder (Paperback)

About the Book

Suicide, depression, eating disorders, and other mental health illnesses have dramatically increased among adolescents in recent decades. Our American culture demands high levels of success and propagates a "feel good" attitude that denies pain, loss, and failure. Churches contribute to these distressing realities among youth. Our theology associates "being happy" with "true faithfulness" to God, overemphasizing praise and thanksgiving while neglecting lament, even though lament comprises the largest number of Psalms. There is much good in the lives of today's adolescents, but there is also much grief and woundedness.

Book Synopsis

Suicide, depression, eating disorders, and other mental health illnesses have dramatically increased among adolescents in recent decades. Our American culture demands high levels of success and propagates a "feel good" attitude that denies pain, loss, and failure. Churches contribute to these distressing realities among youth. Our theology associates "being happy" with "true faithfulness" to God, overemphasizing praise and thanksgiving while neglecting lament, even though lament comprises the largest number of Psalms. There is much good in the lives of today's adolescents, but there is also much grief and woundedness. Helping Youth Grieve exposes the warped view of God modeled and taught to our young people. This book portrays a God who yearns to hear the honest cries of our youth, even when that involves blaming God! Spiritual caregivers will discover good news in biblical lament for its role in pastoral care and faith formation of adolescents.

About the Author

Bob Yoder is Campus Pastor at Goshen College and also taught there as Assistant Professor of Youth Ministry for eleven years. He has served in ministry for more than twenty years in congregational, camp, conference, and college settings. Bob is editor of A History of Mennonite Youth Ministry, 1885-2005 (2013) and Youth Ministry at a Crossroads (2011). He and his wife, Pamela, reside in Goshen, Indiana, with their two children, Josiah and Mira.