Kara Powell - Growing Young: Six Essential Strategies to Help Young People Discover and Love Your Church

2016 by Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin

Published by Baker Books

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakerbooks.com

Ebook edition created 2016

Ebook corrections 10.10.2016, 02.28.2017, 09.22.2017

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4934-0582-4

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

To protect the privacy of those who have shared their stories with the authors, details and names have been changed throughout the book.

Authors are represented by WordServe Literary Group (www.wordserveliterary.com).

Every decade or so a book comes along that reminds us why childrens, youth, and young adult ministry really matters. Growing Young not only champions the best practices of growing churches everywhere, it also digs deep into the core issues that are crucial for making a forever impact in the heart and soul of young people.

Reggie Joiner , CEO of Orange/rethink, author of Think Orange

We have all heard the statistics: Americans, especially young ones, are falling away from both the church and personal faith. Amid the handwringing that has understandably ensued, Kara Powell and researchers with the Fuller Youth Institute have found a surprising kernel of good news: hundreds of churches across the country are engaging and retaining young people in real, embodied ways, and theyre doing so without using smoke machines or skinny jeans. Chock full of statistics and fleshed out with stories and anecdotes, Growing Young is a crucial and hope-filled resource for anyone whose heart beats for the local church.

Katelyn Beaty , managing editor, Christianity Today ; author of A Woman s Place

Through research, interviews, observation, and analysis, the authors affirm what pastoral leaders intuitively knowgrow young or close up! By identifying six fundamental commitments as well as strategic questions and ideas for action, all anchored in real stories, this book provides a path for adaptive changes in our ministries. The energy and passion of young people can infuse our congregations, creating vibrant disciples of Jesus Christ. Of course!

Bob McCarty , executive director, National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry

In Growing Young , Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin have produced probably one of the most thoroughly researched books I have ever come acrossbut not nebulous research from ivory towers. This research is from on the ground among real-life ministry contexts and communities. Its incredibly insightful, theologically robust, and practically engaging. Theres a fine line between catering to young people and understanding the context of our fast-changing culture so that we can engage young people and invite them into discipleship and mission. Growing Young is a gift to the wider church.

Eugene Cho , pastor of Quest Church, author of Overrated

If you care about the next generation, this book is for you! Kara Powell and the Fuller Youth Institute understand leadership, culture, and the future of the church. This content is timely, strategic, and helpful.

Brad Lomenick , author of H3 Leadership and The Catalyst Leader , former president of Catalyst

This much-needed resource is a wake-up call, urgent challenge, and empowerment tool reminding us how important youth engagement and development is to a thriving church. Allow this book to push you to new levels of youth and family ministry. Let every page cause you to rethink the present and future of your local church, denomination, or outreach ministry.

Efrem Smith , president and CEO of World Impact, author of Raising Up Young Heroes and The Post - Black and Post - White Church

Leaders everywhere worry about reaching the youth of today. Growing Young is the guide to ease those concerns. Thank you, Kara Powell, for writing this book.

Claire Diaz - Ortiz , author, speaker, and entrepreneur at www.ClaireDiazOrtiz.com

I remember growing up in my small denominational church and hearing the pastor encourage me and my young adult friends by saying we were the church of tomorrow. Yeah, I never found that to be inspiring. Fortunately, my friend Kara Powell offers some real inspiration and practical guidance in how the church can combat the sin of ageism by showing how church leaders can turn the younger generations tomorrow into today.

Bryan Loritts , lead pastor of Abundant Life Church, author of Saving the Saved

Every congregation wants to love and be loved by its young people. This book grounds that hope in tangible practices that can actually help make it so. It will give you insights and tools for what matters most, not least just letting your life express the life-giving love of Jesus Christ that holds us all together.

Mark Labberton , president, Fuller Theological Seminary

Many leaders today can point out what the church is doing wrong with the next generation. Few leaders have taken the time or done the research to discover what churches are doing right. Thats why Im so excited about this book. Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin have put together a masterful, accessible work that beautifully documents how churches of all sizes, backgrounds, and denominations are effectively connecting with the next generation. Even better than that, they specifically show what you need to do to become one of those churches. They present their findings in ways that make it extremely easy for any church leader to take action. This is a book filled with practical hope that every church leader will want to read.

Carey Nieuwhof , author of Lasting Impact , founding pastor of Connexus Church

Im more convinced than ever how important Growing Young is for the church today! Im so thankful that Kara, Jake, and Brad tackled this conversation head-on and have provided amazing insights that can help each of us engage young people.

Tyler Reagin , executive director, Catalyst

In Growing Young , the Sticky Faith team has done it again. This volume takes the conversation up a notchidentifying the factors most commonly found in churches that launch graduates into a lifelong faith. This book breathes with the authenticity and urgency that might only come from authors who, at a passionately practical level, are actively engaged in the business of Christian parenting themselves.

Mark DeVries , founder of Ministry Architects, cofounder of Ministry Incubators, and author of Sustainable Youth Ministry

Growing Young provides research that charts the effectiveness of the churchs role in the engagement of youth and their families. Church leaders will learn to create and implement strategic steps to strengthen their youth ministry touch. The secret to Growing Young is now out!

Virginia Ward , Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

The Fuller Youth Institute, the team that pulls together the latest research on the church and young people, has outdone itself in Growing Young . It is the culmination of the most comprehensive project to date that seeks to get at what kind of church not only welcomes the young but also includes and empowers them as full participants in the kingdom of God. Perhaps the greatest gift of Growing Young is the way that this vigorous research project is delivereda church can immediately take steps to strengthen not only their ministry to children, adolescents, and emerging adults but the entire community as well.