This PowerPoint presentation, from March 23, 2014, presents myths about youth groups and presents recent findings about religion and young teenagers, based on findings of the NYSR.

1. Against the Stream:
New approaches to
Christian Youth Ministry

2. Session 1: March 23, 2014

3. To mature Christian faith

4. HISTORY:
What hasn’t worked?

6. MYTHS ABOUT YOUTH
AND FAITH

7. Myth #1:Young people can be
faithful on their own.
YES OR NO?

8. FACT: People NEED community. Less
than 7% of young people who were
not involved in a faith community
did personal faith practices on their
own.

9. Myth #2:Parents are the single
biggest influence over teens’ faith
lives.
YES OR NO?

10. Parents ARE most important.
Parents’ religious involvement is
the single biggest influence on a
child’s faith.

11. Myth #3: It’s normal for youth to
leave the church for awhile after
high school. Most young people will
come back to church as adults.
YES OR NO?

12. Young people seek out and stay in
faith communities, even after high
school, if highly engaged as children
and teens.

13. Myth #4: Youth groups and mission
trips are best practices.
YES OR NO?

14. Past experiences with youth groups
and mission trips keep only about
10% of young people engaged in a
faith community after high school.

15. Myth #5: It’s normal for mainline
churches lose young adults.
YES OR NO?

16. Religious young adults stay involved.

17. Myth #6: Youth are the future of
the church.
YES OR NO?

18. The future of the church depends on
the transformed lives of ADULTS.

20. Most teenagers have a positive view
of religion but do not view faith as
part of their identity.

21. Most teenagers aged 13-17 mirror
their parents’ faith.

22. Teenagers lack the theological
language to talk about their faith.
Is this because many adults also are
uncomfortable with talking about
their faith?

23. About 40% of teenagers say religious
faith is important and makes a
difference in their lives.
About 3 in every 100 attend services
weekly, feel close to God,
participate in a religious youth
group, read Scripture, and pray
frequently.

24. Moralistic Therapeutic Deism
defines the religious outlook of most
teenagers.
Do good, so
you can go to
heaven!
Feel good about
yourself!
God’s in the
background,
but there if
needed.

25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=sW3swV7YK3Y

27. How can I support the development
of lifelong faith in young people?

28. GOING FORWARD

29.  Pray for vision for
youth ministry
 Participate in
discussion on our
Facebook group,
SPUC YOUTH
MINISTRY (contact
Gilda Pilon to
request an
invitation)

30.  Nicole Havelka, Faith Formation
Consultant: Move Beyond ‘Youth Group’:
21st Century Models of Effective Youth
Ministry
(prayitforward247.com)
 Kenda Creasy Dean: Almost Christian
(kendadean.com)

31. Please mark your calendar:
Session 2: May 4, 2014
Thanks for your participation!
Together, we will create something wonderful!