Growing Young Leaders: A practical guide to mentoring teens

This fully updated second edition of Growing Young Leaders offers practical guidance for all those mentoring 13- to 18-year-olds in a faith context, with a view to nurturing them towards leadership roles. Linked to CPAS Growing Leaders–Youth Edition course, it also works as a stand-alone resource. It defines mentoring, analyses the necessary skills and attributes of a mentor today, encourages good practice, considers safeguarding and, above all, considers how to help young people identify their gifts and grow as Christian disciples.

'I hope and pray that this book will help release the potential of our young people so that they become even greater disciples of Jesus Christ.'
John Sentamu, former Archbishop of York

Ruth was interviewed by Vicky Gibbens on UCB1, on Monday 24 January.

Teenagers: Identifying gifts and leading confidently

‘What a helpful book. Positive, poignant, and practical, Ruth acts as a wise guide helping us see the significant impact mentoring teenagers can have.’
James Lawrence, CPAS, Leadership Principal

‘I would highly recommend this book for all youth and children’s ministry. Rooted in the Bible, Ruth unpacks important aspects of working one-to-one with young people. It gives the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of doing this and is an extremely practical book to help young people move forward in their spiritual journey. I really liked the fact that there is a section on the self-care of the mentor, which is essential.’
Sharon Prior, Director of the PACE Trust

‘The Highway Code for mentoring young leaders… essential reading for transformational relationships!’
Alan Charter, Global Children’s Forum

‘Discipleship will always work best in the context of close, intentional relationships… Growing Young Leaders is a fantastic tool to aid exactly this kind of life-changing discipleship work. The kind of mentoring that it advocates and resources isn’t easy or fast, but it can produce profound results in young lives that will echo into eternity.’
Martin Saunders, Director, Youthscape’s Satellites Event

‘I find most adults aren’t interested in being a youth leader but are keen to purposefully invest in one young person… Ruth’s book is the best book that I know of which explains clearly the nuts and bolts of mentoring. She makes it easy to set up and start a mentoring programme and for you, as a mentor, to grow in the process. It is so good, it’s the one book that I put into the hands of all the new mentors that we have investing in our young people, and I am delighted that it has been reprinted. This is essential for youth ministry in the 21st century.’
Andy Castle, CEO and founder, Thrive Youth Ministries

‘This is a perfect little handbook for anyone considering or already mentoring young people. Ruth gives us a perfect blend of the theoretical and biblical basis for mentoring, together with a very practical and insightful guide to all aspects of mentoring young people, all the while being utterly inspirational! Coming from an experienced and authentic thinker and practitioner such as Ruth, it’s a must-read for youth work proficionados and newbies alike.’
Helena Kittle, YWAM, England

‘This is a brilliant book; Ruth’s lived experience of her writing gives her authenticity and authority. This is a must-read for all youth workers and anyone who wants to see the church grow.’
Rachel Retallick-Cheel, Youth and Support Worker for The Feast Birmingham

‘This isn’t so much a book to read and then move on, as it is a tool box to open and find on every page great advice, tips and suggestions… If you want to embark on the adventure of mentoring, then get this book!’
Ali Campbell, Youth and Children’s Ministry Consultant, The Resource