The New Adolescent & Sticky Faith Chap Clark, PhD Professor of Youth, Family and Culture Fuller Theological Seminary
Many claim it’s getting tougher to work with a kid today…
The background for Sticky Faith… 3 intersecting crises in YM: We’re losing kids (Sticky Faith) Rise of the “Nones”/“Gones” Kids are Hurt (2.0) It is the trajectory we’ve all been on for years…
What we learned through Sticky Faith research: Significance of parents “Liked” worship Didn’t know Gospel They were allowed to doubt Believed someone cared usually outside of youth ministry
Spiritual development cannot be separated from Understanding growing up… Why this matters… Spiritual development cannot be separated from human development
The Church’s Ministry to Families The fragmentation of the church F.M. L.D. Y.M. Church W.M. C.M. W.M. M.M.
To catechize: Convince (convert?) Inform (teach) How we have responded? To catechize: Convince (convert?) Inform (teach) (maybe) Acculturate
What do we do? A. Erosion of Social Capital B. Acculturation/Assimilation?
What do we do? A. Erosion of Social Capital B. Acculturation/Assimilation? C. Theology of our life together D. Who we are: “family”