Lars Rood
Simply Youth Ministry, 2013, 70 pp., $6.99

Lars Rood, a youth pastor of more than 20 years, has been writing and releasing a series of short 30-day devotionals for every grade for middle and high school students. Freshman: Make Faith Your Priority is one that was written not long ago, but is a cornerstone for the series. The transition from middle school to high school is such a huge time in the lives of our young people in so many ways. This book gives them help for the next big steps spiritually during this time of change.

The 30 devotionals included in this helpful little book are quick and to the point for the busy freshman. Each devotional begins with an honest and personal challenge, followed by a challenge to think and act. Each devotional ends with a selected Scripture that applies to the topic.

The book is broken down into three sections of 10 devotionals addressing the big first of entering high school; growing in faith; and discovering where Jesus is in 10 areas of a young person’s life. Through the systematic, though laidback, setup of this book, readers truly are prepared to be freshmen who can make faith a priority.

You easily can hand this off with confidence to your outgoing eighth graders or the incoming ninth graders of your ministry. This is a great book to consider giving out as a middle school graduation present or a high school welcome gift for youth in your church.

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