1. The GOAL of Youth Ministry: Empowering our Siblings in Christ
Chap Clark
Professor of Youth, Family and Culture
Fuller Seminary

2. A few preliminary thoughts…
Some believe we need a
new way of thinking…
3 intersecting crises in YM:
We’re losing kids (Sticky Faith)
Rise of the “Nones”
Kids are Hurt (2.0)
It is the trajectory we’ve all been on for years…

3. II. Why ADOPTIVE?
A. Where are kids?

4. What we learned through Sticky Faith research:
Significance of parents
“Liked” worship
Didn’t know Gospel
They were allowed to express doubt
Believed someone cared usually outside of youth ministry

5. Individuation and the Three Tasks of Adolescence Individuation:
The Background Behind STICKY FAITH
Individuation and the Three Tasks of Adolescence
Individuation:
The process of becoming a unique person
Identity – Who am I?
Autonomy – POWER
Autonomy – Do I matter?
Belonging – Does anybody care?

6. Urban Kids have been abandoned
An overview of research on kids:
What data shows us…
Adolescence itself has changed
Urban Kids have been abandoned
Less adult support for kids
More stress, pain than ever

7. Why “Adoptive”?
A. Where are kids?
B. Assimilation

8. To catechize: Convince (convert?) Inform (teach)
The GOAL of Youth Ministry
To catechize:
Convince (convert?)
Inform (teach)
(maybe) Acculturate

9. The Church’s Ministry to Families
The fragmentation of the church
F.M.
L.D.
Y.M.
Church
W.M.
C.M.
W.M.
M.M.

10. A. Where are kids? B. Assimilation? C. Theology of our life together
Why “Adoptive”?
A. Where are kids?
B. Assimilation?
C. Theology of our life
together
D. We’re one “family”

11. Longings of kids: Why Adoptive YM? 1. Longing to be nurtured (Hurt)
2. Longing to be empowered (Nones)
3. Longing to be included (Gones)

12. Why Adoptive YM? 1. The inadequacy of assimilation
2. Prominent Biblical metaphor: Family
“In Christ”: right to become a child
3. When church in disarray: Adopted
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
Romans 8:15-16, 23-24a; 9:3-4
Galatians 4:4-7
Ephesians 1:4-6

13. II. Why ADOPTIVE?
ADOPTIVE MINISTRY:
“To those who believed in his name…”
“He gave the right to become children of God…” John 1:12
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

14. To live into their Adoption in Christ
What kids need:
What kids need from youth ministry:
To live into their Adoption in Christ
14-15
19-21 12
mid-20s
Social Capital (5:1)

15. III. The Theological Framework
for Adoptive Ministry

16. Adoptive (Youth) Ministry
The Biblical GOAL of Youth Ministry
Adoptive (Youth) Ministry
To encourage students to live into their mutual adoption as siblings in God’s family as agents of the kingdom

17. The Church must become a “family of families”
"The church of the first century were called to leave their earthly familial allegiances and to bond to one another as the new family of God. The revolutionary impact of the first-century church was their love for one another as Christ had commanded them. The need for the church in the twentieth century is to respond as they responded. We are the church and we are family. Let us get on with our business."
Dennis Guernsey
New Design for Family Ministry, 112.

18. Youth Ministry as Ecclesiology
“also members of his household…”
1. We proactively nurture kids
2. We proactively empower and
give voice to kids
3. We proactively include kids

19. Growing Young Prime character: WARM
The Biblical GOAL of Youth Ministry
Growing Young
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
Prime character: WARM

20. Why Adoptive YM? A STICKY church: “Like a mother…gentle”
1 Thessalonians 2
“Like a mother…gentle”
1 Thess 2:7-8
“Like a father…encouraging,
comforting and a fan!”
1 Thess 2:11-12

21. What does adoptive ministry look like?
The Biblical GOAL of Youth Ministry
What does adoptive ministry look like?

22. III. The Theological Framework for Adoptive Ministry
What adoptive youth ministry is NOT:
1. “Adopting” the young
2. Maintaining traditional separation
and generational hierarchy
3. Ignoring the need for unique
relational strategy and nurture

23. III. The Theological Framework for Adoptive Ministry
What adoptive youth ministry IS:
Living into our MUTUAL adoption in Christ
2. Adults intentionalizing voice,
empowerment and inclusion
3. Leadership ROLES are vital while affirming
equal status for all

24. The Theological Framework for
Adoptive Ministry
Adoption recognizes in every church/organization we have insiders and outsiders

25. A. Outsiders and Insiders B. I am adopted into God’s family as a child
The Theological Framework for
Adoptive Ministry
A. Outsiders and Insiders
B. I am adopted into
God’s family as a child
with other children

26. A. Outsiders and Insiders B. We are siblings C. Jesus has his eye
The Theological Framework for
Adoptive Ministry
A. Outsiders and Insiders
B. We are siblings
C. Jesus has his eye
especially on the
vulnerable

27. A. Outsiders and Insiders B. We are siblings C. Jesus watches the
The Theological Framework for
Adoptive Ministry
A. Outsiders and Insiders
B. We are siblings
C. Jesus watches the
vulnerable
D. Adoption is for all

28. Youth Ministry as Ecclesiology
A Practical Theology of
Integration and Adoption
Biblically, leaders are called to:
Maintain the continuity of the Gospel
Ensure that the body is empowered
2. All are siblings (John 1:12)
3. The vulnerable must know that they matter in the
“family of God” (adults called to initiate)

29. IV. Application: MICRO (What do I do?): Our own attitudes Modeling
With leaders, parents, church
With kids

30. IV. Application: MACRO (What does Church do):
Sr./key leadership buy-in
Pervasive rhetoric
Narrative highlighting when and where adoptive life is present

31. Adoptive Youth Ministry:
Integrating Emerging Generations into the Family of Faith
Chap Clark
Professor of Youth, Family and Culture
Fuller Seminary