Help teenagers become adults who boldly live out a robust faith in a watching world
Most typical youth ministries today produce nice, obedient kids who behave themselves--and then leave the church and the faith. Even those who remain struggle to extend their own faith beyond youth group. They seem like "good kids," but their lives and decisions outside youth group aren't oriented toward Jesus.
Clearly, that is not our goal. So what are we doing wrong? And how can we better serve the unique needs of the most anxious, adaptive, and diverse generation in history?
Building on two decades of the Fuller Youth Institute's work and incorporating extensive new research and interviews, Faith Beyond Youth Group answers these questions by
● identifying the reasons youth ministry often fails both short-term and long-term
● offering five ways adult youth leaders can cultivate character for a lifetime of growing closer to Jesus
● exploring how to how to cultivate trust, model growth, teach for transformation, practice together, and make meaning
If you're tired of youth ministry that fails to change lives, it's time to change youth ministry.
Bradbury, Jen: - Jen Bradbury serves as content director for the Fuller Youth Institute and a volunteer youth pastor at her local Episcopal church. With more than twenty years of experience in youth ministry, she's the author of several books, including The Jesus Gap, The Real Jesus, Called: A Novel About Youth Ministry Transitions, and What Do I Believe About What I Believe? Jen and her husband, Doug, live in the Chicagoland area where they can regularly be found adventuring with their two young daughters. You can find Jen at YMJen.com.
Griffin, Brad M.: - Brad M. Griffin is the senior director of content and research for the Fuller Youth Institute, where he develops research-based training for youth ministry leaders and families. A speaker, writer, and volunteer pastor, Brad is the coauthor of over fifteen books, including 3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future, 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, Growing Young, and several Sticky Faith books. Brad and his wife, Missy, live in Southern California and share life with their three teenage and young adult children. You can find Brad on Instagram at @BGriffinFYI.
Powell, Kara: - Kara Powell, PhD, is the chief of leadership formation at Fuller Theological Seminary, the executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute, and the founder of the TENx10 Collaboration. Named by Christianity Today as one of "50 Women to Watch," Kara serves as a youth and family strategist for Orange, and she also speaks regularly at national parenting and leadership conferences. Kara has authored or coauthored numerous books, including Faith Beyond Youth Group, 3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future, 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, Growing With, Growing Young, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family, and the entire Sticky Faith series. Kara and her husband, Dave, are regularly inspired by the learning and laughter that come from their three young adult children.
