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The faith of our youth group graduates is not sticking. Here are some statistics that should shake us awake 40-50 The percentage of kids who graduate from a church or youth group who fail to stick with their faith in college.

20 & 80 The first number: the percentage of college students who leave the faith but had planned to do so in high school. The second number: the percentage of college students who leave the faith but had fully intended to stick with it. 30-60

The percentage of youth group graduates who abandon their faith and the church but then return to both in their late twenties.

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The percentage of college freshmen who feel well prepared by their youth ministries for what they encountered after graduation.

To foster a faith in young people that lasts beyond high school and throughout life. Group Q: In your opinion, what are the components of a faith that sticks? What does a healthy, resilient faith look like?

Defining Sticky Faith Three Descriptors of Sticky Faith 1. It is both internal and external.

2. It is both personal and communal.

3. It is both mature and maturing.

Four Marks of Devoted Young Christians 1. They have a personal and powerful God-story that they can articulate. 2. They belong to a community of faith. 3. They have a sense of call to live for a larger purpose. 4. They have hope for the future promised by their faith. Four words to help us remember these: Father, family, focus, future.

Un-Gospeled Many of our kids find it difficult to articulate the basic tenets of their faith. They dont know what the gospel is. When asked, What is being a Christian all about? one-third of youth group graduates didnt mention Jesus, and of those, 35 percent did not mention God or Jesus!

If sticky faith is to develop, a young person must have a grasp on the gospel and how it impacts his or her life.

Group Q: How would you summarize the gospel? How would you lay out the basic components of the gospel message?

What (and Who) Helps Build Sticky Faith? Group Q: What practices, programs, or ideas do you believe can help build a faith in young people that will last?

The authors of Sticky Faith include many ideas for building a lasting, durable faith. A lot of these are within our realm of control as youth ministers:

But above all these, the factor that most impacts the development of sticky faith is parents.

Whats the Role of Youth Ministers?

Partnering with Parents to Build Sticky Faith: Some Principles 1. If you can work with parents, you should work with parents.

2. Remember this three-tiered relationship model.

3. One of your most important ministry roles should be equipping parents to influence their children spiritually. We want to help all our parents move in three important directions a. Toward knowing what they believe.

b. Toward living their faith.

c. Toward talking about their faith.

Group Q: How can we as youth ministers equip parents with tools that will help them to grow in these three areas?

Getting Super Practical Ideas for Equipping Parents to Influence Their Children Spiritually Value one-on-one conversations with the parents of your students. In formal or informal settings, share the sticky faith stories of other innovative parents. Host regular parent meetings for the purpose of training and helping. Give parents regular updates on youth culture. Send out regular emails not only with activity information, but also with tips for building faith in the home. Make yourself accessible to parents. Encourage them to check in with you. Spend social time with entire families and not students only. Invite parents to your youth class. Ask them to share thoughts about their faith with your students. Alter your current programs to make them more family-focused. Include at-home devotionals for families from class lessons you teach. Tips for Planning a Students + Parents Teaching Series Only push people as far as theyre willing to go the first time. Consider your context as you plan. Have a stated end to the series. Sell it is a temporary arrangement. Acquaint everyone with the new environment gradually. For instance, start the series with parents and students sitting at separate tables, then mix everyone together later. Tough Questions Related to Equipping Parents How do I help parents whose kids dont want to talk to them?

What do I do when I dont want the kids in my ministry to have the faith of their parents?

Whats my role with parents who dont yet know the Lord? What about parents who have no interest in being involved with the faith formation of their kids?

Why should I try to partner with parents when all they do is criticize me?

How do I help parents whose kids have already shelved their faith?

There is no Sticky Faith silver bullet. There are no guarantees. From the authors: As we share our research with parents, including parents who are grieving the way their children have strayed from the Sticky Faith path, we are repeatedly reminded of the God who transcends all research and all easy answers. We are struck by how much we need to depend on God for wisdom and strength for ourselvesUltimately, the Holy Spirit, not us, develops Sticky Faith in our kidsOur top suggestion is this: trust the Lord with your kids and continue to askmaybe at times begthe Lord to build in them a Sticky Faith.