More Than Just Method

Yesterday Todd sent me this and I couldn’t help but share it with you. (I love his honest “skepticism.”)

Many of you might recognize his name… Todd Pearage is a full time youth pastor and father of three, who also moonlights writing movie reviews for us, and music reviews for Interlinc. Todd always is on the lookout for practical Christian resources for youth workers.

Hey Jonathan, I can’t help but give you some feedback about your latest DVD project, Real Conversations: How to Share Youth Faith Without Being Pushy.

Remember, this is from the guy who wasn’t that excited about it when you first told me that you were working on a video-based curriculum on evangelism. Honestly, the first thought I had was, “Another evangelism curriculum?” But, over the next few weeks as you shared more and more about your vision and direction of this DVD, I started to get really excited.

Too often curriculum like this appears to be written in think tanks by people who aren’t in the trenches. Those folks might deliver solid, well-written Bible lessons. Unfortunately, it often lacks realism. The stories are far-fetched and the “problems” are out-dated or not really problems at all.

And let’s be honest, evangelism curriculum is the worst. Every method is the only method, every conversation is way too easy and way too unrealistic, and every scenario has a happy ending with someone getting saved. In my experience, students get excited, try sharing their faith with family, friends or strangers and then get discouraged when things didn’t turn out like the “examples” in the book.

I loved how REAL Real Conversations was; your teaching is so applicable and there isn’t the emotional (and fake) “let’s pray” moment at the end. My leaders made several comments about the discussion questions you provided in the Participants Guide. Things like, “They got kids thinking and talking” and “Great questions…they just flow like a conversation”. And my students kept saying that the conversation you filmed between the two girls in the library was a conversation they could see really happening.

The short of it is this: I loved it, my leaders loved it and my students loved it!

I guess you could call me biased because we’re friends… but my leaders and kids don’t know ya, and they ate it up. Anyone who tries this curriculum will not be disappointed.

Keep up the good work Jonathan,

Todd

 

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THIS CURRICULUM ON SALE FOR LESS THAN $20 (that’s a $10 discount!) CLICK HERE TO GET THIS DEAL AND READ WHAT DOUG FIELDS, GREG STIER, KURT JOHNSTON, SCOTT RUBIN AND OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS VERY “REAL” CURRICULUM