What About Caucasian Youth and

Young Adults?

March 12, 2013

14 Observations for your consideration,

agreement, disagreement,and discussion

1. Most conferences have little idea of

who their youth are, and even less of an idea

about young adults.

1. Most conferences have little idea of who their youth are,

and even less of an idea about young adults.

• Roster of current names?

1. Most conferences have little idea of who their youth are,

and even less of an idea about young adults.

• Roster of current names?• Just those who attended an event?

1. Most conferences have little idea of who their youth are,

and even less of an idea about young adults.

• Roster of current names?• Just those who attended an event?• Conference level?

1. Most conferences have little idea of who their youth are,

and even less of an idea about young adults.

• Roster of current names?• Just those who attended an event?• Conference level? • Local church?

2. “Once saved, always saved”

is an SDA Caucasian youth and young adult ministry practice, even

though it’s not one of our “beliefs.”

2. “Once saved, always saved” is an SDA Caucasian youth and young adult ministry

practice, even though it’s not one of our “beliefs.”

• Baptism; then what?

2. “Once saved, always saved” is an SDA Caucasian youth and young adult ministry

practice, even though it’s not one of our “beliefs.”

• Baptism; then what?• What is spiritual growth?

2. “Once saved, always saved” is an SDA Caucasian youth and young adult ministry

practice, even though it’s not one of our “beliefs.”• Baptism; then what?• What is spiritual growth?• Current aversion to spiritual formation

2. “Once saved, always saved” is an SDA Caucasian youth and young adult ministry

practice, even though it’s not one of our “beliefs.”

• Baptism; then what?• What is spiritual growth?• Current aversion to spiritual formation• People change; phases

3. We lack spiritual markers and symbols in youth and young adult

ministry.

3. We lack spiritual markers and symbols in youth and young adult ministry.

• Baptism, re-baptism. . .

3. We lack spiritual markers and symbols in youth and young adult ministry.

• Baptism, re-baptism. . .• How many altar calls?

3. We lack spiritual markers and symbols in youth and young adult ministry.

• Baptism, re-baptism. . .• How many altar calls?• Symbols now understood

3. We lack spiritual markers and symbols in youth and young adult ministry.

• Baptism, re-baptism. . .• How many altar calls?• Symbols now understood • Fear of being “Catholic”

4. As a church, we tend to follow business models that measure success in terms of numbers.

4. As a church, we tend to follow business models that measure success in terms of numbers.

• How many attended?

4. As a church, we tend to follow business models that measure success in terms of numbers.

• How many attended?• How many baptisms?

4. As a church, we tend to follow business models that measure success in terms of numbers.

• How many attended?• How many baptisms?• What is your budget?

4. As a church, we tend to follow business models that measure success in terms of numbers.

• How many attended?• How many baptisms?• What is your budget? • Size matters (to Jesus?)

5. Youth and young adult evangelism rarely goes

beyond reaching our own, except for an occasional

“hit or miss” burst.

5. Youth and young adult evangelism rarely goes beyond reaching our own, except for

an occasional “hit or miss” burst.

• Sabbath afternoon event

5. Youth and young adult evangelism rarely goes beyond reaching our own, except for

an occasional “hit or miss” burst.

• Sabbath afternoon event• Service: we benefit more

5. Youth and young adult evangelism rarely goes beyond reaching our own, except for

an occasional “hit or miss” burst.

• Sabbath afternoon event• Service: we benefit more• Small goal: reach our own

5. Youth and young adult evangelism rarely goes beyond reaching our own, except for

an occasional “hit or miss” burst.

• Sabbath afternoon event• Service: we benefit more• Small goal: reach our own• All youth in transition

6. For the most part, young people are

multi-cultural. However, adults are stuck in racial divisiveness.

6. For the most part, young people are multi-cultural. However,

adults are stuck in racial divisiveness.

• How many groups?

6. For the most part, young people are multi-cultural. However,

adults are stuck in racial divisiveness.

• How many groups?• How long?

6. For the most part, young people are multi-cultural. However,

adults are stuck in racial divisiveness.

• How many groups?• How long?• The U.S. is immigrants

6. For the most part, young people are multi-cultural. However,

adults are stuck in racial divisiveness.

• How many groups?• How long?• The U.S. is immigrants• Youth hope to move on

7. Most conference youth and young adult

ministries focus on children’s ministry, not youth ministry.

7. Most conference youth and young adult ministries focus on children’s ministry,

not youth ministry.

• Summer Camp

7. Most conference youth and young adult ministries focus on children’s ministry,

not youth ministry.

• Summer Camp• Pathfinders

7. Most conference youth and young adult ministries focus on children’s ministry,

not youth ministry.

• Summer Camp• Pathfinders• Cool youth lead children

7. Most conference youth and young adult ministries focus on children’s ministry,

not youth ministry.

• Summer Camp• Pathfinders• Cool youth lead children• What about other youth?

8. Praise God for GYC.Pray for GYC.

8. Praise God for GYC. Pray for GYC.

• How is this a threat?

8. Praise God for GYC. Pray for GYC.

• How is this a threat?• Go for the other 70%

You Lost Meby David Kinnaman

Report of Evangelical young people who “leave the church,”

not specifically SDAs

Prodigals

Prodigals

Left, not coming back right now

Prodigals

Left, not coming back right now

10%

Exiles

Exiles

Not sure where they fit,science and culture don’t

match with religion

Exiles

Not sure where they fit,science and culture don’t

match with religion20%

Nomads

Nomads

Cultural ChristiansDrift from church to church

Nomads

Cultural ChristiansDrift from church to church

40%

10% Prodigals20% Exiles40% Nomads

70% TOTAL

This leaves 30% of young

people (Evangelicals)

who attend church

8. Praise God for GYC. Pray for GYC.

• How is this a threat?• Go for the other 70%• Benefits in my church

8. Praise God for GYC. Pray for GYC.

• How is this a threat?• Go for the other 70%• Benefits in my church• Phil. 1: praise & pray

9. The current fixation on “Youth leaving the church”

is mainly talk, not action.

9. The current fixation on “Youth leaving the church” is mainly talk, not action.

• Hand-wringing

9. The current fixation on “Youth leaving the church” is mainly talk, not action.

• Hand-wringing• Gossip

9. The current fixation on “Youth leaving the church” is mainly talk, not action.

• Hand-wringing• Gossip• Who is making contact?

9. The current fixation on “Youth leaving the church” is mainly talk, not action.

• Hand-wringing• Gossip• Who is making contact?• Who listens to missing?

9. The current fixation on “Youth leaving the church” is mainly talk, not action.

• Hand-wringing• Gossip• Who is making contact?• Who listens to missing?• Why would they return?

10. The BIG EVENT still counts;

so does on-going,local youth ministry

10. The BIG EVENT still counts; so does on-going, local youth ministry

• Keep doing it!

10. The BIG EVENT still counts; so does on-going, local youth ministry

• Keep doing it!• Markers; More happens!

10. The BIG EVENT still counts; so does on-going, local youth ministry

• Keep doing it!• Markers; More happens!• Train local leaders

10. The BIG EVENT still counts; so does on-going, local youth ministry

• Keep doing it!• Markers; More happens!• Train local leaders• Network for local leaders

11. Caucasian youth ministry relies primarily

on SDA Schools.

11. Caucasian youth ministry relies primarily on SDA Schools.

• They aren’t Caucasian!

11. Caucasian youth ministry relies primarily on SDA Schools.

• They aren’t Caucasian!• Educators, not YM

11. Caucasian youth ministry relies primarily on SDA Schools.

• They aren’t Caucasian!• Educators, not YM• Lack of a church base

11. Caucasian youth ministry relies primarily on SDA Schools.

• They aren’t Caucasian!• Educators, not YM• Lack of a church base• Marginalized groups

12. BAYDA models of youth ministry

work best with Black young people.

12. BAYDA models of youth ministry work best with Black young people.

• Black youth do attend

12. BAYDA models of youth ministry work best with Black young people.

• Black youth do attend• Planning team, staff

12. BAYDA models of youth ministry work best with Black young people.

• Black youth do attend• Planning team, staff• Big venue, hotels, meals

12. BAYDA models of youth ministry work best with Black young people.

• Black youth do attend• Planning team, staff• Big venue, hotels, meals• Letters, BB, drums, parade

13. Local church youth and young adult

ministry leadership has a huge turnover in most

churches, with stable youth and young adult leadership

in only a few churches.

13. Local church youth and young adult ministry leadership has a huge turnover in most churches,

with stable youth and young adult leadership in only a few churches.

• Most churches: no YYAM

13. Local church youth and young adult ministry leadership has a huge turnover in most churches,

with stable youth and young adult leadership in only a few churches.

• Most churches: no YYAM• Burn-out, criticism

13. Local church youth and young adult ministry leadership has a huge turnover in most churches,

with stable youth and young adult leadership in only a few churches.

• Most churches: no YYAM• Burn-out, criticism• Little or no training

13. Local church youth and young adult ministry leadership has a huge turnover in most churches,

with stable youth and young adult leadership in only a few churches.

• Most churches: no YYAM• Burn-out, criticism• Little or no training• A few exceptions

14. We expect too little of our young people.

14. We expect too little of our young people.

• Want them to be like us

14. We expect too little of our young people.

• Want them to be like us• We only try to keep them

14. We expect too little of our young people.

• Want them to be like us• We only try to keep them• We should send them

14. We expect too little of our young people.

• Want them to be like us• We only try to keep them• We should send them• 1/10 to Jesus I surrender

14. We expect too little of our young people.

• Want them to be like us• We only try to keep them• We should send them• 1/10 to Jesus I surrender• Is there a Holy Spirit?

Agree?Disagree?Uncertain?

Agree?Disagree?

Uncertain?

Mark 2 for each

Agree?Disagree?

Uncertain?Mark 2 for each

Make these your table discussion