Ministry Mutiny: A Youth Leader Fable Testimonies

"It's time for a ministry mutiny. With so many teenagers abandoning the faith after graduation, Greg Stier provides a radical, relevant and Biblical battle plan for student ministry. But be warned! This book is dangerous. Your youth ministry may never be the same. Start reading and let the uprising begin!"

Josh McDowell
Author: More Than A Carpenter, Evidence That Demands A Verdict, and Right from Wrong

Greg Stier is one the finest communicators to students in America. His message in this book is inspiring and challenging. I loved reading this compelling book and am so glad Greg is making such a positive impact.

Jim Burns, Ph.D., President, HomeWord endorsement for Ministry Mutiny

It's one thing to be aware of all the negative statistics about our Christian students today-and it's another to do something about making a positive change! Greg Stier's book "Ministry Mutiny" gives youth leaders a biblical motivation and model for building and leading a strong, confident and lasting youth ministry with young Christians who know and are passionate about God's word.

Bo Boshers, Executive Director of Student Ministries
Willow Creek Association

I believe that this potentially controversial book will really help youth leaders embrace the timeless truths of Scripture as still immensely relevant to a postmodern culture. Prior to this book I would use the word "passionate" to describe Greg...now, I'll add "creative" as he teaches youth ministry philosophy in a story approach that's easy to read, fun and challenging. Some parts may make you angry and others will make you believe that you can be more effective in reaching teenagers for Jesus when you focus on the biblical purposes of evangelism, ministry, fellowship, discipleship and worship. Youth ministries will be healthier if they can pull off what Greg is suggesting-a mutiny that transforms lives.

Doug Fields
Saddleback Church; Pastor to Students
Author: Purpose Driven Youth Ministry
President: Simply Youth Ministry

Youth leaders who don't just want to survive in ministry but to thrive should read this book. Greg Stier communicates timeless truths using a fable all too familiar to many youth leaders across the country. Ministry Mutiny blazes the youth ministry trail with solid biblical principles every church can implement.

Matt Beyer, Youth Leader, Columbia, SC

Greg has touched on the heart of being a youth pastor or youth worker who struggles with the pressure of being in student ministry, compared to just doing student ministry. As I read this book, it wasn't about some fictional youth worker, it was about me. And if you have been in youth ministry for a day or twenty years, the thoughts and feelings in this book will resonate with you too. Youth pastors and youth workers are coming and going from churches and many because of the thought of not making a difference. Greg enables us to see the principles of a "Ministry Mutiny" that can happen right where we are in life. May the principles of "Ministry Mutiny" not just change youth workers, but youth ministry.

Scott Bloyer, Pastor to Students, Spring of Life Christian Church, Mesa, AZ

Greg's Stiers new book Ministry Mutiny is an amazing story my own life and struggle with ministry. How did he know? Has he been recording my staff meetings? The pressure from inside and outside sources to get the numbers up and yet battles with my heart for a "product" that lines up with the great commission is so difficult to trek when you feel alone in the process. This book spoke to my heart with an apparent understanding and encouragement and seemed to know exactly what I was feeling, yet challenged my thinking and philosophy of youth ministry by telling it like it is while giving a bit of a road map to trek through the basic principles of going Wide and Growing Deep. Great resource!

Darin Brown, Youth Leader in Yakima, WA

I attended the youth leader's lunch in Phoenix, and I arrived discouraged and struggling with my ministry and the lack of excitement and passion in myself and my kids. I came discouraged and during your talk I was convicted, and I left encouraged. I went to my local Christian book store that Saturday and looked for Ministry Mutiny. There was one copy on the shelf staring at me, so I purchased it and began to read it!

I wasn't at the point of resigning, but I really could relate to Ty. It was like Greg (AKA Tony) was teaching me the Ministry Mutiny principles. (Remember I had just started seeking God about my situation and BAM!) I was getting schooled by the master through Greg's book. The first principle I learned was exactly where my train had de-railed. I had not been listening to God and allowing Him to guide and direct my ministry. I was trying to do it on my own. I went back the next Sunday and in Sunday school class we "got real". I told the kids that on the scale we were at best on the border line between apathetic and interested and that it was my fault.

We had a talk about getting passionate and the kids got excited when I told them that I thought God wanted us to do "The Gospel Journey"(We went through it in Sunday School after D2S last March) at our youth service (Pointe180). They set a goal for 20 teenagers to be there. Well last night was that Pointe180 meeting and we had 19 teenagers there. We had the games, our worship band played and then we did the introduction to The Gospel Journey. After the presentation I went over the study guide with them as one big group. I presented the Gospel , had them bow their heads to consider the offer. I noticed one girl crying and I asked anyone that wanted to put their faith in Jesus for salvation to look up at me. The girl that was crying began to raise her head, but before she could the guy behind her snapped his head up and looked me right in the eye. As I scanned the room I saw another visitor looking at me. To make a long story short, TWO teenagers started their relationship with Christ and one re-dedicated! (Thank you Greg. You will never know what God has done through you and D2S for teenagers and youth workers)

Alex Burt, Youth Leader in Phoenix.

You guys need to hear that the Holy Spirit is reshaping the culture of my church, and how the Dare 2 Share materials (books, curriculum, and conference-we went to Denver this year; next year in St. Louis) have been incredible tools for this change. A book by Greg Stier called Ministry Mutiny. This book, written in parable form, lays out a paradigm for youth ministry that avoids the "mile wide, inch deep" trap, and also avoids the "Pharisee trap" on the other end of the spectrum. We all want youth groups that are a mile wide and a mile deep. This book reveals a paradigm of youth ministry that has the power to achieve this goal.

Did you ever have one of those books where you felt like you were reading your own life story as if someone had been secretly watching you and chronicling your life as you live it? Well that was the case with this book. In Ministry Mutiny, we read the story of Ty-a veteran youth leader who has had enough of shallow youth ministry with what seems to be little to no results. With resignation letter in hand Ty heads off to what will be his last youth network meeting where he meets Tony, a youth leader that will change his life forever. Tony reintroduces Ty to timeless youth ministry principles that are too often overlooked in today's youth ministry. As the two meet throughout the week the reader is introduced (or reintroduced) to these Biblical principles that are still as relevant today as they were when they were modeled through Jesus' ministry.

This book is a must read for all youth ministers of any tenure. It is a great book full of encouragement, and whether you're a rookie or a vet you'll find a lot of great things in this short book that is sure to be a quick read for you. Check it out if you haven't already. Honestly, this book really couldn't have come at a better time in my ministry. Most of you know I've been fighting discouragement and have thought several times about throwing in the towel, and this book really was like reading my own life story. There are six principles in the book and I don't want to give them away, but these principles really opened my eyes to some changes that I need to make and also encouraged me to stick it out for the long haul. This book was truly a Godsend. Check it out if you get the chance!

Matt, Youth Leader in Florida

I read Ministry Mutiny (in about 4 hours...I just couldn't put it down) after you gave it to me and I have a lot of initial responses. One response is that I didn't think I would like a book on student ministry written in a novel form. I'm not a big novel guy, but I love to read books on theology or church or leadership, and I thought that Ministry Mutiny did a good job of teaching the points that you wanted to get across. It was refreshing for me to see that someone else has the same philosophy of youth ministry that I do. As I was reading, I noticed that certain things that were vital parts of that youth ministry and particular 'Mutiny' principles were things that I considered important and have implemented in my ministry. I believe this is a book that every young youth pastor should read because it exposes and combats some pretty dangerous practices in youth ministry today. (I will be making this a part of the reading that my interns will have to read to get credit for their internship.) One note that I observed was just the amount of activity this fictional youth ministry was involved in. I have tried to simplify our ministry so that the important things are done with excellence. It just so happened that the things that I have considered important are some ministry mutiny principles. But, I appreciated the comment about the hard work of youth ministry that needs to be done. Perhaps that most important part of the book was the emphasis on the first point in hearing the whisper of God. That was a great point for me to be reminded about. Thanks.

Just 4 Jesus
Brad Hovis, Youth Leader at Applewood Baptist Church