Director’s Manual for Weekday Ministries, by Barbara Snell McLain (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2003. ISBN 978-088177-383-5).  Excellent book to guide congregations and tuition based weekday ministries.

The First Three Years: A Guide for Ministry with Infants, Toddlers, and Two-Year-Olds, by Mary Alice Donovan Gran, editor (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 1995, 2001. ISBN 978-0-88177-324-8). A comprehensive manual for the congregation’s ministry to young children and their families (childcare, recruiting and training workers, parent education, teaching, child development and more). Completely reproducible.

Real Kids Real Faith Practices for Nurturing Children’s Spiritual Lives, by Karen Marie Yust (Jossey-Bass, Families and Faith Series, ISBN 0-7879-6407-7). A thoughtful and practical book that helps parents and children ministry leaders enrich the spiritual lives of the children entrusted to them.

Sharing the Easter Faith with Children by Carolyn C. Brown (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2005, ISBN 0-687-34424-7) This book provides excellent ideas for helping children experience Easter in an age-appropriate way. It contains program ideas that can be used throughout Lent and Holy Week.

YOUTH
Creating an Authentic Youth Ministry, by Edward Fashbaugh (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2005. ISBN 978-0-88177-406-1). Offers principles for youth ministry that will ensure vitality and stability of a soul-impacting ministry to and with teens.

Faith-Forming Junior High Ministry: Beyond Pizza 101, by Drew A. Dyson (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003. ISBN 978-0-687-07539-3). A helpful, practical, and theological approach to junior high ministry.  Some say this should be required reading for youth leaders!

ADULTS OF ALL AGES
7 Ways to Teach the Bible to Adults, by Barbara Bruce (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-687-09084-6 ). Applies the theory of multiple intelligences to teaching the Bible with adults.

Unlocking the Message of the Bible: Guide to Biblical Interpretation by Sharon Warner (Chalice Press, 2008).  This is intended as a 10 session class for adults in the church.  It has wonderful charts and illustrations in the appendix for use with the class.  I highly recommend it as a basic Bible 101 for laity in the church.  It actually shares in a highly understandable way what we learned in seminary.

YOUNG ADULTS
Big Questions, Worthy Dreams.  Mentoring Young Adults in Their Search for Meaning, Purpose, and Faith.  Sharon Daloz Parks.  Jossey-Bass.  2000.
Offers suggestions for adults to mentor young adults through the critical but often confusing years of young adult-hood.

After the Baby Boomers:  How Twenty-and Thirty-Somethings Are Shaping the Future of American Religion:  Robert Wuthnow.  Princeton University Press.  2007.
How those in their twenties and thirties are influencing American religion today and what the future might look like.

OLDER ADULTS
The Graying of the Church: A Leader’s Guide for Older Adult Ministry in The United Methodist Church, by Richard H. Gentzler, Jr. (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2004. ISBN 978-0-88177-409-2). This book examines who older adults are in our society and in our congregations, ways of motivating older adults in ministry, and helpful resources for leaders of older adult ministry.

Living Fully, Dying Well Planning Kit, by Bishop Reuben P. Job (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006. ISBN 978-0-687-33585-5). An excellent resource designed to assist adults in making careful, wise, and prayerful preparation for meeting life’s most important moments. Resource contains Leader’s Guide, Participant’s Workbook, and DVD.

FAMILY
Before They Ask: Talking with your child about sex from a Christian perspective (Abingdon Press, 2005) 
A guide for talking with preteen children about sexuality with honest and factual information.

Parents and Grandparents as Spiritual Guides: Nurturing Children of the Promise, by Betty Shannon Cloyd (Nashville: Upper Room Books, 2000. ISBN 978-0-8358-0923-2). Explores the ways parents and grandparents can introduce children to God.

GENERAL
Foundations: Shaping the Ministry of Christian Education in Your Congregation (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 1993. ISBN 978-0-88177-123-7). Provides a foundation for building a solid Christian education ministry in your congregation.  The basis of Christian education for United Methodist Congregations.

Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation: 2009–2012 (Nashville: Abingdon Press; available from Cokesbury). In particular, Adult Ministries, Christian Education, Children’s Ministries, Family Ministries, Small Group Ministries, Scouting and Civic Youth Serving Ministry, and Youth Ministries.

Keeping in Touch: Christian Formation and Teaching, by Carol F. Krau (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 1999. ISBN 978-0-88177-248-7). Suggests five critical processes for teachers and small group leaders: keeping in touch with God, with God’s people, with their own experience, with the world and with teaching

The Ministry of Christian Education and Formation: A Practical Guide for Your Congregation, by the Christian education staff of the General Board of Discipleship (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2003. ISBN 978-0-88177-395-8). A helpful and practical “must have” book for planning Christian education ministries for your congregation.

Last, but definitely not least, a book every church needs to have:
Safe Sanctuaries Anniversary Edition: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church for Children and Youth, by Joy Thornburg Melton (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2008. ISBN 978-0-88177-543). Outlines policies and procedures to help congregations be safe places for children and youth and for the adults who care for them.