Nic Gibson and Syler Thomas
Paraclete Press, 2012, 160 pp., $14.99
Game Plan: Practical Wisdom for the College Experience is by Nic Gibson and Syler Thomas. I was offered a review copy by my friends at YouthWorker Journal. I’m glad I accepted. This book is very practical and would be good for college freshmen to read through together, that is, if they really love Jesus. I jest, sort of, because this book would be a good tool for helping college students transition from the relatively safe abode of home and high school to the new and potentially dangerous waters of college life.
Right from the start, the authors talk about what makes college dangerous to our faith. Those dangers include new freedom, the lack of accountability and community, and the obvious fact that students will now run into more people who disagree with them than ever before. Who knew the world was not full of people who will coddle you?
Nic and Syler take turns tackling all the common challenges that will come the way of college students, from defending their faith to intentional growth in their faith. Though it is written for college students, the more of the book I read, the more I wondered if this book would be better for graduating high school students. This would give them all summer to look forward and plan how they purposely would continue their faith in college. Either way, with real life stories, this is a helpful tool and one I would encourage you to get in the hands of your older students.
—Rick Nier, Pastor of Youth & Christian Education, Winona Lake Free Methodist Church, Indiana
This resource would be a great asset to anyone in ministry called to challenge high school students or pre-college teens. The title and concept of the game plan is unique, although offering strong biblical truths. It was refreshing to read the boldness of God’s Word applied to the struggles of college life. As a youth minister, I will be taking my juniors and seniors through a six-week study of Game Plan. Every high school and college student should read this book.
–Amanda Isaacs, Tru Voice Ministries
Game Plan by Nic Gibson and Syler Thomas is a great book that can be used in youth ministry. From the moment I picked up the book, I could not put it down. I read the entire book in one sitting. The book is well written and gives great insight into the transitions between leaving high school youth group and church into the world of college. Between each chapter, the authors have personal testimonies from individuals looking back at their own transitions into college.
There are several options for how to use this book in your youth ministry. First, you could give it to your seniors as a graduation gift and hope they read it, or you could use it in Bible study/small group and have students read it and come together to discuss each chapter. You also could use it as a teaching resource for your high school students or during a retreat for your senior class.
I recommend that all youth workers read it to gain a good evaluation of what they are teaching and how they are forming disciples. Regardless of denomination, this book gives a great plan not only for future students, but also a current game plan for what should be taught in student ministries.
—Eric Hendrickson, Director of Student Ministries, Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church, West Columbia, S.C.; Twitter
Ah! College. I can feel the roar of the football game, the smell of funky dorm rooms and the sound of many Christians students’ faith crumbling under the weight of doubt, pressure and temptation. I experienced all these challenges, and I was a at a Christian college; but that is another story. Nic an Syler, on the other hand, tackle all these challenges our students face with eight chapters of advice and eight very personal stories for surviving the secular college. The feel of the book is very personable and very real. Nic and Syler do not pull any punches about what a freshman believer will experience in college and do their best to offer strategies for overcoming the challenges of that first year and the years to come.
We all know students such as my daughter, who has finished her first year in college and is doing the best she can to live right; but she won’t read this book—not because she doesn’t want the wisdom but because she hates reading. What can we do as parents and youth pastors so the messages of this are book heard? Let me offer a few suggestions, start with using this book with your juniors now and do an 8-week small group; make videos of you reading excerpts from the book to engage students to conversation so you do not lose touch with them; and give this book to parents and students and let them work through it together. Game Plan is well-titled and has all the tools necessary for a Christian freshman to win at college and life.
—Paul Turner, Family and Youth Pastor, Pleasant Grove Assembly, Pleasant Grove, Ala.; Twitter
