Overview

A practical guide to Catholic youth ministry that actually forms disciples. Youth ministry works best when every teen has a place to belong and someone who truly knows them. Intentional small groups create the space where that kind of discipleship can flourish. As a youth ministry volunteer or professional, you know that teens' deepest hunger--like the rest of us--is to be seen, known, and loved for who they truly are, even if they struggle to say it out loud. They need spaces and structures to grow into who God created them to be--and you need a practical, evidence-based parish model to make that possible. In Small-Group Discipleship, Michael Marchand, founder and president of ProjectYM, provides exactly that. Drawing on his leadership of the nation's largest online community of Catholic youth ministers, Marchand shares a model he has developed, tested, and refined alongside Catholic youth ministry leaders across the country. His approach forms teen disciples through intentional mentorship and consistent community rooted in small groups. Small-Group Discipleship shows you how to move beyond the status quo and build a multilayered youth ministry with intentional small groups at its heart. You'll discover a scalable youth ministry framework for authentic, lasting discipleship--one that works in parishes of every size and setting. This book goes beyond theory. Drawing from real-life ministry experience, Marchand provides clear step-by-step guidance to help you build something that lasts--not just a stronger program but a culture of discipleship that shapes the lives of young people in your parish. The book includes a free downloadable digital toolkit adaptable to your parish's needs; examples of the model implemented in different parish contexts; the Six Elements of a Disciple framework; the ""Reach. Feed. Send."" model for strategic programming; templates for recruiting and training adult leaders; tools for crafting a Rule of Life and sustaining small-group culture; a practical guide to launching intentional small groups; and resources for gaining buy-in from pastors and key stakeholders. Youth ministry ultimately isn't about programs or numbers; it's about people. It's about the teen who feels unseen, the ones who wonder if they belong, the one who is quietly struggling. When young people are known, accompanied, and loved in authentic community, discipleship takes root, and lives begin to change.

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9781646804948

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Michael Marchand is president and cofounder of ProjectYM--an organization that helps Catholic youth ministers thrive through practical training, support, and coaching. With more than two decades in youth ministry, he now focuses on equipping the adults who serve young people every day. Marchand earned a bachelor's degree in theology from Loyola University Chicago. In 2025, he received the Saint John Bosco Accompaniment Award from the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry for his work with ProjectYM. Marchand has spoken at regional and national conferences including the National Catholic Youth Conference, the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry, the New Diocesan Directors Institute. He and his team also lead dynamic, highly relational training experiences at the ProjectYM Mission Base. He lives in Tennessee with his wife, Crystal, and their children.

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