Presentation by Monty Lysne at the 2012 Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly as part of a workshop on communication. More on the workshops and the synod at http://semnsynod.org/assembly/workshops/

1. Faith Inkubators’ Theory of Top-
heavy
Eroding Haystacks
“Societal pressures are growing
heavier and heavier today at
an earlier and earlier age.
At the same time the support
systems which traditionally
upheld adolescents through
their developmental journey
are eroding.”
- Rich Melheim

2. The Theory of Top-heavy
“Societal pressures are
Eroding Haystacks
growing heavier and
heavier today at an
earlier and earlier age.
At the same time the support
Kapowsystems which traditionally
upheld adolescents through
their developmental journey
are eroding.”

3. Recruiting Session I
Eroding Haystacks
• Pressure:
1. How are the following
pressures different for the average
13-year-old today than for you
when you were 13?
a. Sex b. Drugs
c. Media d. Economics

4. Recruiting Session I
Eroding Haystacks
• Support:
How are the following support
structures different for the average
13-year-old today than for you
when you were 13?
a. Family b. Community
c. School d. Church

5. Recruiting Session I
Eroding Haystacks
• Impact Adults:
Think of an adult who made a
significant positive impact on you
when you were a teen.
a. If you were to distill the gift
they gave you down to one word,
what word would you choose?
b. How did they make you feel?

6. Recruiting Session I
Eroding Haystacks
• Impact Adults:
c. Who/where would you be
today without that person?
d. Who do you want your child to
say was their impact adult five/ten
years from today?

7. Recruiting Session I
Eroding Haystacks
• Think:
One day, your child is going to
walk away from your grave and a
part of you is going to walk away
with them. What part do you want
it to be?
Do you have a plan to make this
happen?

8. Recruiting Session I
Eroding Haystacks
• Dream:
When your child is grown,
wouldn’t you like them to list you
as the main impact adult in their
life?

9. Recruiting Session I
Eroding Haystacks
• The Question:
If the church had a plan to make
you the Impact Adult in your
child’s life, would you want to
explore it?