In this interview, youth leader Cody Halverson shares how a few book recommendations turned into a book club with several youth in the church. Read below for the story.

Tell us about your book club. 

There are currently five members in our group, me and four students, though this number changes from time to time. We aim to meet weekly as schedules allow in the afternoon, morning, and even early morning. We start the meeting off with prayer. I give the weekly reminder that the Bible is God’s Word, and if we find anything in the books we read that goes against what the Bible teaches, we understand that the book is wrong and the Bible is correct. We then start the discussion. What did you like about the chapter? What did you find helpful? What questions do you have? Every week is different; the discussions range across various topics within the chapter. 

How did the book club start?

To be honest, a book club was never my goal. Anyone that knows me would be shocked or just laugh at the thought of me being a part of one, let alone leading one. Yet here we are. A student in the youth group was reading lots of books from school and asked me if I had any suggestions on good Christian books or books written by Christian authors. I told him I would make a list for him of books I recommend. After giving this student the list of books, we were talking about the books on the list, and another student overheard and wanted in on the conversation. We then decided to form a book club. 

How do you decide which books to read together? 

The students play the biggest role in choosing the books we read. I do, however, give lists of trusted authors and/or books that I have already read. I ask what style of writing we want the book to have, and we choose from there. My list is composed mostly of books I read as a teen or during my time at FLBC [Free Lutheran Bible College]. 

How do you and the students prepare for book club?

When the students join book club, they get a notebook and the book we are reading if they don’t have it already. They read the chapter or chapters assigned for that week and write down any questions from the week’s reading—anything from “What does this word mean?” to “What was that chapter really about because I’m confused?” 

As the leader, I do similar things. I always read the book before the students do just to be more familiar with it. Then I read along with them during the week, doing research on possible questions and words that I anticipate the students will have questions about. 

What books have you read together? 

Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis, Prodigal God by Timothy Keller, and we are currently reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. 

How have the students responded to the books you’ve read so far? What have been their favorites? 

Mere Christianity was very much loved by the group, but the students have enjoyed all the books so far. We did take a break for the school year, given all the responsibilities the students have, but they wanted to start up again when summer hit. 

How has the book club shaped you as a youth leader?

It has given me so much joy to share with the students books that mean a lot to me. Being able to reread some of the books from FLBC without a paper or report due the next week has also given me a chance to truly read the books, almost as if I’m reading them for the first time. 

How has the book club shaped the teens in your youth group? 

With every book we read, a new shift happens. After reading Mere Christianity, there was a boldness that came from the group. We as believers are told we don’t understand the world and how it works, but after the students read Mere Christianity, they understood that we are not only correct in our thinking, but that we can also back it up. After the group finished the book Prodigal God, there was a noticeable shift in the students wanting to bring friends to church and inviting those that others would maybe overlook. This has been difficult for them as not many agree to come to church, but I can see the heart behind the students’ invitations.

Cody Halverson serves as the youth director at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Beulah, ND.

The books mentioned in this article (Mere Christianity and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis, and Prodigal God by Timothy Keller) are available in our campus bookstores and online at ambassadorpublications.org/store.