Dreamcare: A Theology of Youth Spirit and Vocation

Dreamcare: A Theology of Youth Spirit and Vocation helps parents youth workers and congregations cultivate purpose and vocation in youth and young adults. Recent findings disclose a pervasive sense of purposelessness that threatens young adults health and well-being and also the common good. The good news is that research shows all young people also have an often hidden sense of purpose that can be noticed named and nurtured by parents and communities. This volume supplements research with findings from Emorys Youth Theological Initiative (YTI) which identifies four pathways--desire joy compassion and responsibility--by which young people discover a sense of purpose. Growing from research at YTI this volume provides concrete suggestions for how Christian communities might engage young people in practices to cultivate a sense of purpose including narrative resources by which to make theological sense of their impulses of desire joy compassion and responsibility. David White brings into conversation the wise insights of Christian theologians with the deep questions of todays youth modeling an innovative approach to ministry with young people. In so doing he reminds us there is indeed a robust gospel the church can communicate which invites young people--and all of us--into a life of meaning and purpose that participates in Gods redeeming work in the world. --Elizabeth W. Corrie Assistant Professor in the Practice of Youth Education and Peacebuilding Candler School of Theology Emory University Books about youth ministry too often dismiss adolescents as inadequate and easily manipulated. White reminds us the Holy Spirit sparks in young people the capacity to respond with purpose to join their lives with Gods work in the world. His playful engagement with both young people and theologians invites us into deeper theological reflection on the purposes of human life and committed engagement with young people in their search for vocation. --Katherine Turpin Associate Professor of Religious Education Iliff School of Theology American consumerist culture seeks to marshal young people into lockstep conformity with its vision of personal empire through acquisition of material goodies. By contrast David White here provides Christian communities with means to assist their youth in discerning the counter-rhythms of the Holy Spirit rhythms that resound with young persons innate yearning for lives of joy and purpose. --Fred P. Edie Associate Professor for the Practice of Christian Education Duke Divinity School David F. White is the C. Ellis Nelson Professor of Christian Education at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin Texas. He is author of Practicing Discernment with Youth and coauthor of Awakening Youth Discipleship: Christian Resistance in a Consumer Culture. He was the editor of the Pilgrim book series Youth Ministry Alternatives. David is an ordained United Methodist minister who served for over twenty years as minister with youth at congregations in Mississippi Kentucky Alaska and California.