1. Adoptive Youth Ministry:
Integrating Emerging Generations into the Family of Faith
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. I. The History and Trajectory of Youth Ministry
Where it all started

4. I. The History and Trajectory of Youth Ministry
Adults and kids

5. What’s changed?
An erosion of the necessary Social Capital from those who are vital in the lives of our kids

6. “Let the little children come to me…”
II. Why ADOPTIVE?
“Let the little children come to me…”
Mark 10:13-16

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

8. Today it starts young…

11. 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

12. 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?

13. Changing Stages Independent Emerging Adulthood Dependent
mid2000-Today
Independent
14-15
19-21 12
mid-20s
early-30s?
Emerging Adulthood
J. J. Arnett
Dependent
Interdependent
Sorta Independent

14. Youth Ministry MS ministry Dependent HS ministry Sorta Independent
mid2000-Today
14-15
19-21 12
mid-20s
MS ministry
early-30s?
Dependent
HS ministry
Sorta Independent
Loss of social capital

15. More freedoms, more danger
How kids have responded to ABANDONMENT
More freedoms, more danger

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

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

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

19. 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.

20. 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”

21. 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

22. 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—

23. 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)

24. III. The Theological Framework
for Adoptive Ministry

25. 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

26. 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.

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. What does adoptive ministry look like?
The Biblical GOAL of Youth Ministry
What does adoptive ministry look like?
“VICTOR BECOMES A BRAVERMAN” CLIP FROM YOUTUBE

31. 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

32. 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

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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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)

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

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

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