Kara Powell - Sticky Faith Service Guide: Moving Students from Mission Trips to Missional Living

I find that missions are consistently the best and the worst programs we offer in youth ministry. The potential for transformation and kingdom impact is palpably real, but the hidden curriculums of self-actualization, pity and judgment, and tourism too often turn what could be beautiful and good into a narcissistic mush. How wonderful to have a research-based guide to avoiding the worst of what short-term missions can be, and leaning into the best.

Mark Oestreicher, Partner, the Youth Cartel

Short-term trips have massive potential to make long-term impact, especially when combined with thoughtful planning and preparation. Sticky Faith Service Guide offers the most practical and thorough advice on equipping teams for effective service that Ive ever seen. Team leaders and participants, you dont want to miss out on the many ways that this outstanding book can help make your next trip a life-changing experience.

Peter Greer, president & CEO of HOPE International and coauthor of Mission Drift

Sticky Faith Service Guide creates an engaging, accessible guide to maximize the transformative impact of youths journey on short-term mission trips. Based on years of experience coaching youth leaders, solid theology, cross-cultural sensitivity, and rich insights into spiritual formation this resource will deliver for groups what it promises: short-term service trips being translated into long-term change. Mission trips can be integral to the spiritual growth and discipleship of young adults, shaping their vision and vocation for life. Not to invest the time required for this before, during, and after the trip risks squandering that opportunity. I warmly recommend this resource as a ready-made guide for leaders and youth to make the most for the kingdom of their short-term service.

Tim Dearborn, Fuller Theological Seminary; author, Short-Term Missions Workbook: From Mission Tourists to Global Citizens

As an urban youth ministry practitioner, I have used mission trips to fortify my students in middle and high school. The challenge of maintaining a long-term lesson from a short-term trip is multifaceted. Like superglue, we must apply intentional pressure in multiple forms if we expect the faith of our students to bond to their lives. This book and student journal provide multiple ways for youth leaders to facilitate this process before, during, and after the trip. Youth leaders will embrace this material as another gift of information from the Sticky Faith family.

Virginia Ward, Director of Leadership and Mentored Ministry Initiatives, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

This book is the definitive guide to leading service projects and mission trips in youth groups. With proven practical ideas built from the best research, Dr. Kara Powell and Brad Griffin provide youth workers with the understanding and tools necessary for helping spiritual growth stick in the lives of young people. This is my new recommended guide for youth workers who want to lead mission trips that make a difference in their students lives.

Terry Linhart, professor of Christian Ministries, Bethel College Indiana

What an incredible resource for churches and families. When I think about things I need to help students see and understand their unique abilities to change cycles of injustice in the world, I think about tools I can use to affirm their discoveries. This book affirms and guides the influence of the families and ministries while giving leaders practical help to move beyond thinking service projects to practicing justice in compassionate and sustainable ways. Every youth ministry and family would benefit from this read. Love it!

Brooklyn Lindsey, youth minister; Justice Advocate, The Justice Movement

Research findings on the long-term impact of short-term missions work is incredibly disheartening. Kara Powell and Brad Griffin have given the short-term missions world a thoughtful, practical, creative, and engaging toolbox of resources to help leaders and participants more effectively serve real world needs and address underlying causes, while being personally transformed in the process. This will be my number one go-to resource for equipping youth and adult workers tasked with the privilege and responsibility of leading short-term mission trips and local outreaches.

Rich Van Pelt, Senior Director, Ministry Relationships & Partner Development, Compassion International

ZONDERVAN

Sticky Faith Service Guide

Copyright 2009, 2016 by Kara E. Powell and Brad M. Griffin

Previously published as Deep Justice Journeys Leaders Guide.

ePub Edition December 2015: ISBN 9780310524212

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Powell, Kara Eckmann, 1970

Title: Sticky faith service guide : moving students from mission trips to missional living / Dr. Kara Powell and Brad M. Griffin.

Description: Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 2016. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015028392 | ISBN 9780310524205 (softcover)

Subjects: LCSH: Church work with students. | Church work with youth. | Church work with young adults. | Missions Study and teaching.

Classification: LCC BV4447.P6528 2016 | DDC 259/.23 dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015028392

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are from The Message. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover design: Brand Navigation

Cover photography: Pixelrobot / Dreamstime.com

Interior imagery: Frank Fiedler / Shutterstock

Interior design: Kait Lamphere

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 /DHV/ 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

CONTENTS