Sticky Faith Resources
What creates sticky faith in youth and young adults? According to FYI research:
- Intergenerational relationships
- Gospel integration into all aspects of your life
- Partnerships with families
- A safe place for doubt
For several decades now, Fuller Youth Institute (of Fuller Theological Seminary) has put out solid data and research on youth groups in America. What are their conclusions after all this longitudinal research? Youth don’t want more events and programs.
What they truly desire and what they find actually transformational is relationships. Deep and meaningful friendships with peers, adults, and senior adults as they pursue answering three main questions: Who am I? Where do I belong? What is my purpose?
Through these relationships and friendships, they are guided into character formation and value formation, which are supported by this helpful compass.
The FYI Sticky Faith resources are excellent for equipping Formation Leaders with best practices and strategies of any denominational identity, including Episcopal identity. As you plan your next weekly gathering, your next retreat, or your next Bible study, please check out their resources that focus on mentoring and character and value formation.
The Research
Nearly half of graduating high school seniors go on to struggle with their faith in college. All those summer projects, winter retreats, and weekly youth groups lovingly planned by their churches pale in comparison to the challenges they face in major life transitions. Moved by the stories of kids like Ely, the Fuller Youth Institute decided to take a closer look— not just at what isn’t working, but what is working. What helps students develop lasting faith that carries them through the challenges of adulthood? Which faith experiences help them commit to following Jesus beyond their youth ministry and family contexts?
Faith Beyond the Youth Group: 5 Ways to Form Character and Cultivate Lifelong Discipleship
Because “Nice” is not enough
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?
Young Adult Ministry Now
Bring your vision for young adult ministry to life.
Young Adult Ministry Now unites fresh wisdom on ministry innovation with FYI’s landmark Growing Young insights to give you a ministry guide you can count on. We’ll help you take the guesswork out of young adult ministry with practical strategies to challenge common myths about today’s young adults, focus your creativity, connect courageously, and amplify your ministry.
Compassion/Compasion: 4-Week Faith Beyond Youth Curriculum
Compassion from the Inside Out invites your students to dig deeper and explore compassionate interaction as you look at how Jesus modeled a life lived with compassion. Together you’ll share your own stories and grow closer as a prayer-filled, caring community.
Compasión Por Ti y Por Mí invita a tus estudiantes a explorar profundamente lo que significa interactuar con compasión a través de la vida compasiva de Jesús. Compartirán sus propias historias y crecerán como una comunidad compasiva mientras oran.
Creciendo Juntos
Las estadísticas nos dicen que la mayoría de jóvenes dejan la iglesia después de la edad de 18 años. Como no estábamos conformes con esa realidad, emprendimos una jornada de investigación que nos llevó 4 años para identificar las iglesias que están rejuveneciendo al ministrar a jóvenes entre los 19-30 años. Basado en una investigación con más de 250 de las principales congregaciones de la nación, Creciendo Juntos ofrece una estrategia que cualquier iglesia puede utilizar para involucrar y retener a los jóvenes.
Creciendo Juntos ofrece ideas prácticas y estratégicas para alcanzar a las nuevas generaciones de una manera que traiga vida a toda la iglesia.
Growing Young
All churches grow old. Strategic churches grow young.
Across the United States, churches are losing both members and vitality as increasing numbers of young people disengage. Based on groundbreaking research with over 250 of the nation’s leading congregations, Growing Young provides a strategy any church can use to involve and retain teenagers and young adults. It profiles innovative churches that are engaging 15- to 29-year- olds and as a result are growing–spiritually, emotionally, missionally, and numerically. Packed with both research and practical ideas, Growing Young shows pastors and ministry leaders how to position their churches to engage younger generations in a way that breathes vitality, life, and energy into the whole church.
Who Do You Say I Am?
“Who am I?” is a complex question that sparks a complex answer. Young people today are navigating many layers of ethnic, racial, cultural, and religious identities, and they need the support of their faith community to truly understand all of who they are in Jesus.
¿Quién dices que soy? Las/los jóvenes de hoy están navegando preguntas acerca de sus identidades étnicas, raciales, culturales y religiosas y necesitan el apoyo de su comunidad de fe para poder descubrir quiénes son en Jesús. ¿Quién dices tú que soy? Es un material de discipulado para jóvenes que trata con preguntas de identidad, etnicidad, raza, comunidad y fe. Este material te equipa para poder ayudar a que las/los jóvenes puedan descubrir su identidad en Jesús.
The Big Questions (High School)
For the book 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, our FYI team collected hundreds of hours of research from teenagers, churches, and student-focused organizations across several cultures, as well as answers from students of varying races, socioeconomic backgrounds, and genders. Our research revealed huge opportunities for the church to walk with a generation as they ask “Who am I?”, “Where do I fit in”, and “What difference can I make?”.
The Big Questions (Middle School)
For the book 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, our FYI team collected hundreds of hours of research from teenagers, churches, and student-focused organizations across several cultures, as well as answers from students of varying races, socioeconomic backgrounds, and genders. Our research revealed huge opportunities for the church to walk with a generation as they ask “Who am I?”, “Where do I fit in”, and “What difference can I make?”.
Understanding and Relating to African American Youth
This comprehensive guide is the perfect handbook for any adult looking for a starting point in conversations with today’s African American youth. It includes an overview of the reality African American youth face, fundamental principles of conversation, plus 30+ questions and ideas for next steps.
Understanding and Relating to Asian American Youth
This comprehensive guide is the perfect handbook for any adult looking for a starting point in conversations with today’s Asian American youth. It includes an overview of the reality Asian American youth face, fundamental principles of conversation, plus 30+ questions and ideas for next steps.
Understanding and Relating to Latino/a Youth
This comprehensive guide is the perfect handbook for any adult looking for a starting point in conversations with today’s Latina/o youth. The handbook is translated in English and Spanish. It includes an overview of the reality Latina/o youth face, fundamental principles of conversation, plus 30+ questions and ideas for next steps.
Formation 