Serving Parents and Youth: An Interview with Wayne Rice

I first met Wayne three years ago on the campus of San Diego Christian College where he was teaching college Bible courses.  Then I realized, after I saw him perform at church with Lighthouse, his bluegrass band, that I had been introduced to his music some twenty one years earlier.  Brush Arbor, the successful bluegrass band he formed with his brothers, was my new husband’s music of choice. 

It’s hard to describe the ministry of Wayne Rice in only a few words. My hope is that  by the time you finish reading this interview, you will want to meet a man that is not only a prolific Servant Writer, serving the needs of parents and youth ministry leaders, but is also an accomplished musician, radio host, leader, husband, father, grandfather — a vibrant example that inspires us to use our gifts to serve others and God while having a blast doing so.

How did you become a writer?

I never actually chose to become a writer as an occupation. While I did write some songs and poems as a kid, I really think I wanted to be an artist. I loved to draw. When I was in college (studying to be an architect), God called me into youth ministry. After a few years working with Youth for Christ and a couple of churches, I started an organization with my friend Mike Yaconelli called Youth Specialties (YS). One of the first things we did at YS was publish a book full of youth ministry ideas-games and skits and other program ideas. That was in 1968. We also started a magazine for youth workers in the early 1970s called The Wittenburg Door, which featured a lot of satirical writing. For me, writing just emerged out of the ministry situation that I found myself in. It wasn’t very good writing back then, but it got the job done.

What was your publishing breakthrough story?

My first real book was titled Junior High Ministry, which was published by Zondervan in 1978. I was approached by an editor at Zondervan at a youth workers’ conference who heard me teach a seminar on junior high ministry and he asked me if I’d be interested in writing a book on the subject. So I did and about a year later the book was published. I’ve since revised it twice and so far, it has sold more than 100,000 copies.

That book taught me just how hard it is to write a book. Most of my writing up until that time had been short articles and collections of random ideas. To write 50-60,000 words on one subject was completely new to me. William Zinsser, in his excellent book On Writing Well (which I read about 30 years ago), says that writing is the hardest work there is. I discovered this is absolutely true.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I have authored or co-authored 28 books so far, although some of those are revisions of previously published books. I have three more that are currently under contract, and one that will be published by Standard Publishing this fall titled Engaging Parents as Allies in Youth Ministry.

Besides Junior High Ministry (my first book),  I think Up Close and Personal (Zondervan) might be my personal favorite because it won the Gold Medallion Book Award in 1990 for best Christian Education Book of the year (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association). It’s no longer in print but the award hangs proudly on my office wall.

Would you consider yourself a “Servant Writer”?

Well, I haven’t actually used that terminology before, but, yes, I believe that every call to ministry is a call to serve. Since my ministry involves writing, then writing is simply how I do it.

How do you balance writing, family, or other responsibilities?

I have to block out a dedicated chunk of time to write. I’m a terrible procrastinator and get distracted pretty easily. Because writing a book is such a large project, it’s very easy to just put it off until after all the smaller projects on my desk are completed. The problem is that those smaller projects never end. So if I don’t schedule in the time to get the book written, it likely never gets written. I usually write best on a deadline, when the pressure is on. Sometimes I’ll leave my home office and retreat to a condo on the beach or a cabin in the mountains so that I can concentrate and devote full-time to the project.  So in that sense, I’m not very “balanced” as a writer. It’s kind of an all-in or all-out kind of thing for me. Fortunately my wife and my kids (who are now grown) have been very understanding about that over the years.

Do you have a writing quirk?

I drink a lot of coffee while I’m writing.

How do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I only write on issues which interest me a great deal, so I am constantly thinking and reading on those issues. I have hundreds of books in my personal library now on youth, youth ministry, parenting and related topics, which help me develop my ideas. These days I do a lot of online reading as well-blogs and the like. When I feel like I have something new or fresh to bring to the table, I’ll put together a book proposal and start shopping it around.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

My first book taught me the value of a good editor. My original manuscript (which was typed on an old IBM typewriter) came back with so many red marks on it that I expected to see a big “F” written on the last page. But I learned a lot from that experience and actually ended up editing books for several other authors later on.

Do you hear from your readers much?

I’ve been very fortunate to hear from readers-mostly youth workers-who have been influenced or helped by my books. That’s the great thing about writing. Long after you are finished with a project, your ministry goes on and on through the printed page. One of my favorite stories is hearing from a young man from Zimbabwe who found a copy of Junior High Ministry that was donated to a mission organization in his country. He read the book and as a result was inspired to go into youth ministry. After getting his education in the United States (which we at Youth Specialties helped sponsor), he returned to Zimbabwe and became a leader in his denomination’s youth ministry there. Many young people have come to know Christ because of this young man’s ministry. I’m very blessed to have played a small role in that.

What advice can you give to other writers seeking publication?

Well, the publishing industry has changed a great deal since I started writing back in the 1970s. It’s definitely a lot tougher these days to get a book proposal through the approval process at most publishing houses. Publishers are very bottom-line driven these days, so the potential market for a book is probably the key to getting published. It helps when you can bring that market to the publisher. That’s why it’s easier, I think, for pastors of large churches or people with established teaching/speaking ministries to get published.

Of course, there’s always a market for great writing and great ideas. My advice to all writers is to just write. You may not get paid for it at first, but the more you write, the better writer you’ll become and the greater exposure you’ll get. Write a blog, write for the church newsletter, write reviews, write wherever you can write. I tell the same thing to musicians. Just make music. Play for anyone who will listen. If you’re talented and have good ideas, you’ll get noticed and reach a wider audience.

One other thing. If you can find a literary agent to represent you, you’ll have much greater chance of finding a publisher for your work. From what I understand, most publishers won’t even consider proposals anymore unless they come from an agent. After thirty years of writing, I finally secured an agent a couple of years ago who has been a big help to me.

What do you read? How important is reading for the aspiring writer?

I usually have a couple of books going at once, fiction and nonfiction. I’m not really a huge reader of popular Christian books, but I did read The Shack this past year. I enjoy reading Annie Proulx, Garrison Keillor, Frederick Buechner, Henri Nouwen, Brennan Manning. I recently read Timothy Keller’s The Reason for God, Michael Horton’s Christless Christianity and Jeff Jarvis’ What Would Google Do? I also like to read new books on youth ministry and parenting if I think they might stimulate my thinking or give me ideas. Reading is absolutely essential for writers, especially if you read good writing. As with any art form, the more you study it and practice it, the better artist you will become.

Do you have a Bible verse that inspires you?

Psalm 71:14-18 is a favorite that has kept me going in youth ministry over the years. 1 Peter 1:5-9 is also a very encouraging passage for me.

But as for me, I will always have hope;
       I will praise you more and more.

 My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
       of your salvation all day long,
       though I know not its measure.   ~ Psalm 71:14-15

What projects are you working on?

I’m working on a book for InterVarsity Press which has the working title Re-inventing Youth Ministry. Since some people think I’m old enough to have invented youth ministry in the first place, I’ve decided to help re-invent it. I also have a book for parents in the pipeline titled Footsteps: Leading Your Children to Walk with God. It’s based on a seminar that I’ve been doing for parents over the last couple of years.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Leap tall buildings with a single bound. I wanted to be Superman.

Learn more about how Wayne can help your Youth Ministry at WayneRice.com.  Visit his bookstore for great book deals for parents and youth ministry leaders. 

If you are in the San Diego area, find out where Wayne and his band, Lighthouse, will be playing next.