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2010-04-20T00:51:00.001-12:00

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Church 3.0: Neil Cole's Upgrading of the Church

2010-04-19T13:08:00.004-12:00

The subject of the Church and its relevancy in this new century has been a hot topic among pastors, church leaders, and church planters for over a decade. As a younger Millennial generation creeps into their late twenties, those churches who once were filled with a post WWII generation are being ignored by a postmodern urban-hip spiritual seeking community. Neil Cole, a founder of Church Multiplication Associates, has just released his new book, Church 3.0: upgrades for the future of the church, which plots out a rethinking of what the church should be for a new century.

The book focuses in on the need and reason to "upgrade" on how we do church today. Just as we upgrade to a "new operating system," the Church today needs to do the same in order to continue being the vibrant Bride of Christ. You may not always agree with his perspective but his insights will challenge you in how we think about the Church. The first half of the book deals with how Organic churches are needed to revitalize God's mission for the next generation, while the second section of the book covers more practical workings of Organic churches. A younger group might find the Organic Movement more appealing to them then an older congregation, but both groups will see the need to be more of what Christ desires for His Church. This is a book that I believe every church leadership should read and discuss, especially if you are looking to pass your faith to the next generation of believers.

College Ministries Evolution

2010-03-29T14:27:00.003-12:00

I just returned from Indiana this past Friday and I'm almost caught up with my emails but you never know about these things. I had a wonderful time catching up with old friends and seeing all the good that they are doing for the Lord. Thanks to CE National for their leadership in hosting this seminar and a big thanks to Tim Wright, Tim Clothier, and Rich Yauger for doing a great job in the organizing and planning of the event.

During one of the afternoon sessions, I was reflecting on what was shared by the speaker and youth workers. We have come so far from the early days of youth ministries and the many men and women who guided those ministries. A lot has changed from those days and youth ministries will continue to change. One place I think about is how the adolescent years are now including sixth grade or as it's called today "Middle School." Just as adolescent years seem to be coming earlier, it also seems to be lasting longer. Many believe that late adolescence is moving into the college years (ages 18 to 23). I truly believe that youth ministry as we know it today will evolve to include college-age.

If this is true, and I believe it is, we'll need to rethink student ministries. What will be the challenges for churches in hiring and developing workers for this age group? Training for youth workers will be a key component in developing a strong discipling ministry. Are we ready to face a challenge for the future of the Church? I think so. Good to know that ministries like CE National are around to help come along local churches in support of the Great Commission...going and making disciples.

Young Adults Worried About the Future

2010-03-11T07:39:00.002-12:00

A recent survey revealed that young adults are more worried about their future then was previously thought. Harvard's Institute of Politics conducted the survey, which was headed up by Knowledge Networks, that included over 3,000 interviews of 18-29 year old. Questions ranged from how well of a job President Obama was doing to how they felt about the economy and how it affected them personally.

Here are some of those results.

47% of ages 18-24 believe that their financial outlook is very bad compared to 42% of 25-29 year old.
A little less than half (46%) believe they will be better off than their parents.
The number one concern was meeting their obligations in paying their bills (60%).
Second on that list was affording a place to live (58%) and not able to pay for health care (56%).
Nearly half wonder how they will be able to stay in college (45%).

Stress is a part of every day life but it does seem that younger people encounter it at an earlier age with each generation. What can churches do to help young adults navigate through this world that they are inheriting? How is your college ministry showing God to be real and powerful in an age of questions and doubt? A great opportunity to begin a mentoring ministry in your church in walking along side younger adults.

A Gathering of Leaders: CELS March 22 -23

2010-02-27T15:01:00.006-12:00

CE National is hosting its second annual CELS event. CELS is CE Nationals' leadership seminar that is geared towards youth pastors who are looking to connect with other young leaders across the country. I attended last years CELS and came away with a ton of great thoughts and free goodies (like a sweet TNI sweatshirt that I'm sure I'll need to take for this trip). I'll be there again for this year's seminars and look forward to reconnecting with good friends.

One of the reasons I enjoy the event is that it helps me to see the future direction of college-age people. Although CELS deals mostly with junior high and high school ministries, most of us who work with college-age recognize that this age group is still developing as late adolescence (Arnett). There are some studies that see late adolescence reaching into mid-twenties (Time, 1/24/05). Whether you agree with this observation or not, I still get the chance to hear and see what today's youth workers see as the main issues facing young people. My own belief is that youth ministries should and will expand its definition to include college-age (18-23).

If you would like to come and join us for this two day event, you can contact CE National office for all your registration information. If you register in time you might even get a room at the Philemon Center. I hear they have a hot tub and a refrigerator that is always full of snacks.

What Your Web Page Says About Your Church

2010-02-13T08:11:00.003-12:00

Every so often, I like to check out what other churches are doing, so I browse their web pages clicking on icons that take me deeper into their community. Some churches are very creative in how they set up their web page. I like it when I search a church, click onto its page, and come to a blank screen that reads "downloading." Within a few seconds a scene bursts open onto the screen. It could be an artistic scroll that unfolds into a postmodern symbol or an ocean scene with a family walking on the beach (you see a lot of those from California churches). The icon tabs are discreet and easily identified with a variety of church ministries.

Usually, I go to the ministry section to see how they serve their community. Some pages are more elaborate than others but all give the basic information that would help anyone who is looking for a church that might connect to them. For a younger generation a "post-mod" web page can generate a curiosity to explore more about your church. Even a staff page can be a reason for them to consider attending your church (you know...an "urbanish" black and white pic with a young staff and an older pastor with the shaved head). Most young people will look for a couple of things while searching your web page and they all have to do with social networking. Connecting with others, especially with their own age group, isn't anything new but how a younger group of people connect includes the Internet. Here are a few ways that churches are trying to reach this generation through their church web site.

Video or video chat
Web-based small groups
Blogs
Social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter)
E-invites or E-vites
E-newsletters
Satellite (multi-sited churches)
podcasts
mp3
Webinars

ED Stetzer's "Lost and Found"

While some of these ways of reaching young people will decrease the Internet as a tool to connect and communicate with twentysomethings is a part of everyday life for them. So, how is your church seeking ways to be a part of their world through the one place they all gather as a generation?

The Benefits of Cross-Generation Small Groups

2010-01-18T09:12:00.005-12:00

Small groups are a great way in connecting your church, especially since people in and outside the church yearn for community. Most small groups are done by choosing to gather with friends or by similar age grouping (parents with young children, senior saints, etc...), but a weakness in this is that the church becomes segregated by age-level communities. Churches that are mixing their small groups generationaly are finding that it is strengthening their church. One of the benefits is sharing faith from one generation with another. This is a great way of passing the "torch" of Christianity from older to younger. Here are some insights that will help you process multi-mix generations for your small groups:

Benefit of life experience from older adults.
Benefit from energy and passion of younger adults.
Provide a natural conduit for mentoring the next generation of leaders.
Provide child-rearing assistance for younger adults.
Provide application and the sense of being needed for older adults.
May be linked by geographical location.
May be linked by interests or hobbies.
May be linked by a desire to study a particular book of the Bible.
Strengthen the overall ministry of the church.
Provide needed group care and pastoral type shepherding.

What Do Your Young People Think About Their Church?

2010-01-04T15:46:00.004-12:00

Recently, I met with some of our church's college age people to see if I could get an answer to a question I had. Our church is going through a time of reevaluating our ministry and I wanted to see how they and those of their generation felt about church. We met in our temporary rented office, which I tried to make as "artsy" (my CD player playing contempo worship) as you can considering where we were meeting. I brought some pizzas, a few drinks, and a note book to record the night and for the next couple of hours we talked about the church.

With college-age you never know what you're going to get but these guys came ready to share. They were open and honest and loved to laugh. Their views were insightful and well thought through. In fact, I was really encouraged with what they had to say. They no doubt knew what they liked and didn't like about the church. For me, the best part of the evening was getting to know four individuals outside of Sunday morning.

It's important to know what younger people are thinking about their church. I always hear from older church attenders,"how can we keep our young people?" and my answer to their question is ask them what they like or don't like about their church. The key is to ask with the willingness to listen. Some of their answers I had heard from other college-age groups but some of what they shared was new to me. There are a number of churches (buildings) in our area that are up for sale and some congregations will most likely dissolve, but I have a hunch that if they would have asked this simple question to their young people, they might have avoided the final outcome of their church.

What To Look For In A College-age Leader?

2009-12-19T12:20:00.003-12:00

Looking for someone to lead your college-age ministry? Well, so are a lot of churches these days. Churches are seeing the need to train and reach this transitioning group of young people as they head towards young adulthood. So, what should you be looking for in a person(s) who will be investing in the lives of young people?

Character - I know this seems like an obvious starting place but some times we assume that a "good" church going person already has this in place. Spend time observing potential leaders. Ask church members you trust who they see as potential leaders for this group. College-age people are bright so ask a few of them who they see having godly qualities. Character is not something that everyone has but is needed when it comes to discipling the future of your church.
Relational - When I was in college, there were a few older adults that hung out with us in the church I attended. I don't remember the names but I do remember the impact they made in my life. One couple in their forties (is that old?) lived across the street from my dorm. Their home was open to us any time of the day or night. We had great Bible studies and prayer but it was the way they related to me that was influential. They liked spending time with me. These are key years in building relationships with college-age. A person or a couple that will pour themselves into their life will have a profound effect in their walk with Jesus.
Side by Side - They're moving from childhood to being young adults so walk with them...not in front of them. They look to older adults for guidance but they don't necessarily want to hear a lecture on how to live life. They observe to see if you have something of value to share. Look for someone who has listening skills. Like we've heard before...God gave us two ears but only one mouth. There's a reason for that.
Discipler - The Church is not about making "nice" people. We are to make disciples so look for someone who reflects that already. A discipler has a few qualities: they can teach with transformation in mind and they can lead with the purpose of training others to lead. So, you need someone who knows Scripture and can help those grow in the Lord. It's not only about information but transformation you want. Second, we need leaders in the Church. Where do you think leadership will come if you are not developing leaders at an early age?

These are just a few qualities that you should be looking for in someone who will lead your college-age ministry. Who do you see in your church body that might fit these characteristics?

Bringing Young People Into the Process of Your Church's Vision

2009-12-07T13:26:00.013-12:00

When you are restarting your church's ministry (that Vision thing), one thing I suggest you do is to bring in college-age and young adults into the process. That's what we're doing at our church. Later this month, I'll be leading a "focus" group of young people on what they like to see our church become. I've lead a number of these types of groups but never one from my church. Now, you might be asking why is this important. Why should you involve a younger generation in shaping your churches future ministry? Because it's their future and not yours. It may seem obvious but when your church is at a new place in ministry and is seeking God's vision (i.e. trying to stop a decline in attendance), your not bringing back the 80's (or whatever church decade that was your peek). Though they still need older believers in their lives, your church's future is in their hands (with God's help). Here are a few thoughts when a church is reinventing itself.

Start a college-age/young adults Focus group.
Disciple college-age and young adults for leadership.
Bring young adults into your committees and let them help in the process.
What's your vision for college-age and 20-somethings for your church?
What will your church look like if you exclude 20-somethings from the discussion?
Be genuine. Don't ask for their insights if your not going to actively pursue them.
Consider hiring them on staff.
Listen when they share.

A Journal Of A Restart Church

2009-12-03T06:16:00.002-12:00

Our church is going through a "restart." It's the first time for me and for most in our church in processing and rediscovering the Mission and Ministry (vision) for us as a local body of believers. Like all churches, we have our peculiar circumstances that will guide some of our decisions, and there aren't many books that can cover all situations that we'll be going through. Too bad. I like it when I can find quick answers to my many questions. That's probably best that it's not always so easy. You hear those stories of miraculous endings that leave you to think, "if that can happen to them, why not me?" Each church has its ministry. That ministry can be shaped by the community you live in, those that God brings to you, leadership gifts, and other variables but ultimately it is God who gives the vision.

Right now my part is with young people and that's what I'll blog about. I'll continue to write about college-age ministries but I'll also be sharing about the journey our church will be taking. I'll be teaching about the church's' mission and ministry in a couple of our Sunday evening gatherings, and how a younger generation will affect that mission and vision. No doubt we'll be seeking thoughts and insights from others who might have traveled this road before us. My hope for myself is that God's word will be my main guide through the process. I'm a "gatherer of facts" and I love to hear what others will share about "being the church." Although useful in its place, this can be a snare for me. I find that I can depend too much on what others write about, teach on, or blog concerning the Church. Believe me, I have all the books on this issue but still I find the best place is Scripture. So, with that in mind the journey begins. Most of what I'll share will appear in this blog but I'll also post on my Facebook page...with pictures.

If you have any thoughts or questions about our restart, please feel free to ask. If you enjoy talking about the Church (or church), I would love to hear what you think. We're in a tremendous point in history for the Church in America and I believe a new outpouring of God's Spirit is soon to come. I don't think that's wishful thinking but a sense of seeing what He is doing with the love of His life. His Church.

What Makes Great Pastors and Churches?

2009-11-23T13:03:00.004-12:00

Charles Colson was asked the question on what makes a pastor great. He responded by saying,"They have a love for people in the church. They have a heart for discipleship, and that's what makes them great pastors." When asked what he tells inmates in his ministry to look for in churches his response was,"Number one is a church that believes in and preaches the Bible...Second, it should be a place where disciples are made...and number three, discipline. Discipline in terms of both holding people accountable and teaching."

I agree with what Colson shared and believe that more than any time of our history we are in need of great pastors and great churches. If I were to ask the same question to a Christian in their twenties they might say it differently but would likely agree with him. In fact, I do ask these questions of young believers and I know they would agree with him. There is a reason authors like Piper and Driscoll are popular among young evangelicals or that Puritan writers such as Baxter or Edwards are in demand on many evangelical college campuses (I was in a bookstore of one of these campuses and over heard two students talking about where they could find books by John Owens).

What are you teaching your young people in church? Don't be afraid of challenging them (and yourself) with deep and difficult teachings. Theology is not dead teaching (unless you teach like your dead). One of the most influential college age conference in America is called Passion. Some of the biggest names in modern worship lead thousands of young people at this conference, but it's not only the worship they come for, they also come to be taught in the Word. One of their favorite teachers at Passion is John Piper, a preacher in his fifties that looks more like an professor than an icon for young evangelicals. He not only preaches with heat but loves those that he teaches, and they can sense that from him. Great pastors love their church. Great churches love to teach. A winning combination for making great disciples. Nothing new here that can't be found in Scripture.

Two Books Dealing with Younger Evangelicals and Traditional & Reformed Church

2009-11-14T15:25:00.004-12:00

If you're looking for reading material that deals with a younger generation and the Church, and is not reminding you why they hate the Church or why we are losing this generation, then you might find these two books encouraging. Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck's recent book Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutional and Organized Religion and Collin Hansen's Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalists Journey with the New Calvinists are just a couple of books that are refuting the more recent writings that take a more bleak outlook of younger Christians in America.

DeYoung and Kluck's book take a familiar tract as in their last book, Why We're Not Emergent, by combining personal stories that are humorist with key insightful arguments backed by sound doctrine. The chapters are divided between the two authors with each taking on a personal topic combating the quick and easy way some books have written off the Church. Whether you agree with them or just are curious on hearing from a different younger perspective, I recommend that anyone who works with a younger twenty-something churched generation pick up a copy and enjoy the ride.

If you're anti-Calvin (or Luther, Edwards, the Puritans, mom, apple pie, etc...), you'll probably not be as into this book as you would with DeYoung's or Kluck but you'll be missing out on a thought provoking read. There is something to be said about tradition and history. Tradition reminds us of being connected to something or someone bigger than ourselves, and history reveals the length and depth of our roots. Today, the argument for young evangelicals centers on what will the Church look like in the future? Will it be hanging out in a "journey cafe" that invokes Millerism (re: Donald Miller or Rob Bell...these guys are more hip then Brian McLaren). Or will the church reflect a more Piperist theology (re: John Piper) hearkening back to a time when preachers were teachers and reformers were Reformed. There is a movement with younger Evangelicals who look back not only to a more "vintage" Christianity but to a more "reformed vintage" Christianity. A great read no matter what your Christian heritage.

College Pastors and Student Leaders Meet at CollegeLeader Conference

2009-10-23T15:14:00.002-12:00

Around sixty college-age leaders took part at the second gathering of CollegeLeader Conference. The conference is focused on those who are ministering to college-age people and student leadership. Those attending the conference participated in main sessions, workshops, paint ball, ropes course, and round tables. The conference is designed for interaction and sharing of ideas throughout the weekend, while enjoying the beauty of God's creation up in the San Bernardino mountains. One of the drawbacks of a large conference is the lack of connecting with others who are attending. The advantage of this conference is the "small" feel that has been developed. Some of the best conversations and learning experience that I enjoyed took place relaxing at the Malt Shop or walking through the grounds talking about ministry. A few of the topics that were discussed at workshops and round tables included...

Balances and focuses in your first year with college-age ministry.
Campus Tribes: seeing college ministry as a mission.
Peer Leadership: balances and boundaries to keep.
Helping your church to see the value of college-age ministry.

For me, I was encouraged and challenged to see college-age ministry as a vital part for every church body. College-age ministries is a bridge from adolescence to young adulthood and a key spiritual battle ground for the church today and in the future. Talking with students at the conference was a great "energizer" for me but also a wake up call to invest even deeper in young lives. It was encouraging making new friends and hearing about the work that our God is doing in and through young people across our nation. If you want to learn more about CollegeLeader, you can go to http://www.collegeleader.org/ for information on resources, seminars, and mentorship program.

Blueprint #4: Keeping the Community

2009-09-29T04:23:00.004-12:00

Everyone wants community but it's not easy to obtain. Why is "community" such a hard thing to develop? I've worked in a few places over my life and there have been jobs that I enjoyed tremendously because there was a sense of connection. We had a working environment that oozed community. Then there have been jobs that just didn't meet my expectation of a healthy working environment. Needless to say, community was lacking at these places.

We all would say that community is essential to a church. We know when we have it but it's hard to define. Ed Stetzer in his recent book, Lost And Found, shares a few insights in how a younger generation defines community and what churches are doing to develop this in their gatherings. According to Stetzer, community is the love of God manifesting itself in and through the people of God. So, what are some characteristics that young people are looking for in a community? Here's a short list from Lost And Found.

Community should encourage honesty, authenticity, and freedom to ask questions.
Community should endorse a connection between one's actions and their personal conviction.
Community should minimize church jargon.
Community should provide an atmosphere where it's OK to not know all the answers.
Community should be full of personal illustrations and life applications.

Ask your young people in your church and see what they think defines community. I guarantee that they not only are looking for a place to connect but have ideas of what that connection looks like in developing a community of believers.

CollegeLeader Conference October 15-19

2009-09-15T07:38:00.002-12:00

Our second CollegeLeader Conference will be taking place at Thousand Pines Christian Camp in beautiful Crestline, California. This is a hands on conference for those that are involved in college-age ministry. There will be workshops, round tables, meals together, and plenty of free time to gather and talk about ministry or whatever else is on your mind. There is no other conference for college-age ministries like this one.

The cost for this conference is $185 (1-5), which includes meals, lodging and activities such as paintball, high ropes, and other events. Students are welcomed as well for a low cost of $119. You can get more information at http://www.collegeleader.org/. CollegeLeader Conference will be well worth the time as you meet with others that share the same passions of college-age ministry as you do. I look forward to seeing you there.

Blueprint #3: Keeping It Deep

2009-08-29T08:59:00.002-12:00

There was a time when churches believed the way to keep and reach young people was through events. The more spectacular and creative the event, the better your chances of keeping the next generation of church attenders. For a time, this was the norm for most churches in America and for most youth groups. Not that Bible studies or other programs were not important but if you couldn't draw them in, then how could you ever think you'll be able to keep them in church?

Those days are gone and we now see that "event-driven" youth groups were not the answer. Today, youth groups are moving more towards depth. Depth does not only mean digging deeper into the Bible but going deeper in your growth as a disciple. Depth for young people includes the whole person, or as Ed Stetzer puts it in his book, Lost And Found,"Depth is about the level of content. It's about engaging people at every level-emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and even physically." This generation isn't looking for easy answers but wants to know if God is there with them as they wrestle with the tough issues of life. Real depth of disciplesip equals godly transformation.

So what does that look like for youth directors, Sunday school teachers, college-age leaders, and pastors of churches? Here are a few insights to help guide you.

Teach the entire Bible, even the difficult sections.
Foster discussion in Bible study and teaching.
Address tough topics and and answer difficult questions.
Do not be afraid of saying,"I don't know."
Empower everyone to look for answers.
Place a priority on Scripture memorization.
Sing theologically sound music.
Promote life application to Scripture.
Establish climates of honesty and openness.
Encourage examination.
Pray.

Lost And Found:The Younger Unchurched and The Churches That Reach Them

Latino Young Adults and the Church

2009-08-22T06:24:00.004-12:00

A few years back, I returned home to California to find that many things had changed since I last lived here. I grew up in a very diverse neighborhood of European, Latino, and Asian descent. Today, that same neighborhood is predominately Mexican with a variety of other Spanish speaking cultures mixed into the area. Some of these groups are immigrants or families of immigrants. There are many that are third generation (like me) and might speak only English (again, like me). The range of of education varies from those holding post graduate degrees to a few classes taken in high school. With the prediction that California will be a Latino majority by the year 2030, there are many wondering what impact this huge economic and culturally powerful state will have on our country.

My thoughts lean towards another direction. I wonder what the Church in California will look like and what its influence will be on our nation. A book I am reading by Ed Stetzer, Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches That Reach Them, has researched and surveyed nearly 800 young people across America, some of them being Latinos. Though, not an in depth look into the Latino culture (13 percent that were surveyed were of Latino descent), this book is one of a very small study of how unchurched Latinos, especially those in their twenties, think about Christianity. The findings might surprise you. I know it did for me.

84% of Latinos believe that God is real.
There was the belief of 69% of Latinos that there is only one God and He is found in the Bible.
70% believe that Jesus died and came back to life.
85% believe that Jesus makes a positive impact on a persons life.

Those are pretty encouraging numbers but there is another side to the research. Dan Kimball's book, They Like Jesus But Not the Church, is very true. While most Latinos are very positive on God, they are not so with Christans. Around 40% say they do not believe their lifestyle would be accepted by the Church. A whopping 69% believe that churches are full of hypocrites. An incredible 89% believe they can live a good relationship with God without being involved in a local church. Finally, a finding that really broke my heart, only 7% believed that you could find out what it means to be a Christian at a church.

What does this all mean? With an increasing population of Latinos moving into the Southwest, we need to see that young unchurched Latinos are open to hearing the Good News (about 89% of all unchurched young people are open to hearing about Jesus). How we share Christ to this younger generation rests on how we as the Church live out our faith. They see the beauty, reality, and truth of Jesus but haven't connected our Lord to the Church.

Reading Materials On The iGen Nation

2009-08-13T05:42:00.002-12:00

Ever so often, I like to pass along books, journals, or resources that I think would be of help to churches in ministering to the Millennial generation. Here are some "reads" that I think you'll enjoy.

The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World.
One of my favorite books discussing the virtues of Jesus in today's shifting culture. With contributors like John Piper, D.A. Carson, Mark Driscoll, and Tim Keller how can you go wrong.

Vintage Jesus.
Mark Driscoll's excellent book on bringing Jesus to the post-Christian generation is one of the best. He's a proven communicator with the iGen crowd and does not back away from straight orthodoxy. A must have for those that are teaching young people.

Lost and Found and Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age.
Both of theses works are from Ed Stetzer, author and director of LifeWay Research, and are packed with keen research and insights into the Millennial generation. Lost and Found deals with reaching the unchurched young of America. Planting New Churches centers on developing churches that will take us into the 21st century.

Leadership Journal:Summer 2009.
One of the best journals dealing with the peaks and valleys of the iGen nation. Some very challenging and thought provoking articles that engages the Church to redefine their ministry approach to this generation.

Blueprint #2: Keeping Your Future

2009-08-06T08:34:00.002-12:00

A recent book shared its research on reasons why young people (ages 17-22) leave the church. The age range is significant because of the numbers of young Christians who leave during these years. The dropout rate for 17 to 18 year old is -24% and for ages 18 to 19 it is -29%. These findings have been circulated in other books, articles, and blog posts that cover the "dechurching" of young Christians in America. Here are the Top Ten Reasons Church Dropouts Stopped Attending Church:

Simply wanted a break from church.
Church members seemed judgmental or hypocritical.
Moved to college and stopped attending church.
Work responsibilities prevented me from attending.
Moved to far way from the church to continue attending.
Became too busy, though still wanted to attend.
Didn't feel connected to the people in my church.
Disagreed with the church's stance on political or social issues.
Chose to spend more time with friends outside of church.
Was only going to church to please others.

The same research asked the question why young people stay in the church? The results were very encouraging and insightful for churches that were struggling with their own exodus of young believers. Here are some of those reasons.

Strong relationships with peers, older adults, and pastor.
Church is seen as a vital part of their relationship with God (65%).
Committed to the purpose and the work of the church (42%).

Another important discovery was finding the reasons why those who had left the church, then returned back to either the church they grew up in or to another body of believers. The number one reason was because of relationships. Most returned because their parents or another family member encouraged them (39%). Another group returned because of a friend or an acquaintance invited them (21%). Another factor was their relationship with God. Either they felt God was calling them back (28%) or the sensed the need to return to the church.

Research and surveys can be found in Essential Church? Reclaiming a Generation of Dropouts.

Chuck Bomar's New Book "College Ministry 101"

2009-07-23T08:40:00.003-12:00

Chuck Bomar, CollegeLeader founder and one of the most respected speakers on college-age ministry, has just released his new book entitled "College Ministry 101: A Guide To Work With 18-25 Year Olds." This book is a great tool and resource for anyone who is looking to start a college ministry or who is a veteran of ministering to young people. The book contains sections which include; Understanding College-age People and Creating An Effective Ministry. There are also practical helps in the back section of the book that cover other areas of college ministries. Look for this book at your nearest Christian book store or go to http://www.collegeleader.org/ and order your copy.

If you live in the Southern California area, I have two books I'm giving away for free. Just contact me and I'll get them to you.

Chuck at Momentum conference speaking at one of his regional seminars.

Mike has his copy...where's yours?

Momentum: Preparing a New Generation to Follow Christ

2009-07-23T08:04:00.005-12:00

You can still feel the earth shaking from this years Momentum. Around 2,000 participated at this years conference held on the campus of Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania. Great speakers, relevant training, touching communities, and celebrating worship were all apart of the week. God blessed in too many ways to share on this blog but many lives were changed for God, including a few of the staff members of Robert Morris who came to Christ. Check out CE National web page for full details.

One of the ministries I was most excited about was the college division called Fusion. We wanted to change the direction we were heading with this ministry and challenge those in their twenties to be more active in their home church. To help them accomplish this, we gave some practical ways in how to minister to their youth groups that were here at Momentum. Timothy Kurtaneck shared "building block" assignments for the group, which gave them easy and practical ways in discipling those younger than them. We also brought in Chuck Bomar to give help those that wanted to start college ministries at their church. A great week for us who saw the Lord encourage and move in the lives of those impacted by Momentum.

Blueprint #1: Keeping it Simple with Discipleship

2009-07-08T13:08:00.003-12:00

For those of you who love complex strategies and vision statements, you'll be disappointed with what I'll be sharing. College ministry is the exact opposite of these things. At its very core, college-age ministry thrives on simplicity. That doesn't mean there isn't a lot of hard work or time involved. Actually, I don't think there is another age group that demands so much of your time, but it's "simple" time you are investing. It's all about a relationship.

As a youth pastor, one of the jobs I loathed was getting transportation for an event. I would have to call parents, staff, and anyone I could find to take our group to a place that was just ten minutes from the church. Not so with college people. They come with transportation provided. It's simple. College-age can even plan an event, oversee a ministry, lead studies, and lots more. The one thing they can't do is disciple themselves.

No matter how many college people come to your gatherings or the multitude of ministries you do, if you are not making disciples then you've lost the focus of His Church. I've read books, seen the research, and heard from the best of those who minister to ages 17-25 and they all say the same thing, they need and want a connecting relationship to a community. If the church is not pouring into them, then they'll go where someone will. One of the keys to keeping a younger Christian generation is to help them be like Jesus by surrounding them in a community of "Jesus-like" people. You don't need a cutting edge relevant program. You don't have to paint your church black inside with candles burning (unless you want to). You need to show them what it means to be like Jesus.

Disciple them.

Moving Forward: The Local Church

2009-06-30T11:09:00.004-12:00

The other Sunday night, I taught at a church in the uptown area of where I live. We met at the home of the pastor, a historic 1912 California bungalow, which sits across the street from a small tree lined park. The evening was a typical summer night. A cool breeze cut across the lawn as the church gathered in the shadows of the backyard. A meal was provided of hot dogs and favorite side dishes. I knew most of the people so the conversation was easy and relaxing. I enjoyed the evening catching up with friends.

During the summer the church comes together for an informal time of fellowship, a meal, and teaching from Scripture. They usually have a theme for the summer. It's a good idea, plus it keeps those who are teaching to stay on track. This year the chose as their theme "Moving Forward." It's an appropriate theme considering that they are in transition. They recently have sold their property and are meeting a few miles to the east from their old campus. New beginnings are a time of mixed emotions. There is an excitement and anticipation in seeing what will come each and every day. It can also be a time of uncertainty as to what the future holds. Change can bring us into unfamiliar surroundings that we may not want to enter. For these believers, they represent the thousands of churches across our country that are in the same situation. They are trying to take the Gospel of Jesus to a younger generation without losing their church.

Older, established churches who have been ministering for fifteen, twenty, or thirty plus years still desire in continuing doing the work of the Lord. They seek God's direction in how to reach the next generation for Jesus. That's why I write these blogs about college-age ministries. I'm an advocate for the local church and especially those that have been around for a while. I love helping churches connect with younger people. It's not easy making the transition from generation to generation, but we do have a Blueprint that has helped the Church through many centuries of transitions. I want to take us through a few of those "helps" in the next few weeks.

Great College-Age Resources

2009-06-19T09:03:00.003-12:00

CollegeLeader
Momentum is coming up and if you have college-age people or are looking to reach this age group then sign up for CollegeLeader seminar at Momentum. Chuck Bomar will be presenting a seminar that covers a wide range of issues with college-age people. The ministry is geared towards helping the local church serve this age group. For more information, you can go to CE's web site under Momentum.

Looking for great resources for college-age? Go to www.Collegeleader.org for free downloads and helpful articles in aiding you with your ministry. You can also find out where a local regional seminar is taking place. Don't forget that the Drink Conference is coming up in October in beautiful Southern California, and look for Chuck's new book College Ministry 101: a guide to working with 18-25 year olds.

College Ministry Lunch
If you live in the Southern California area, then you are invited to meet with us for a time of discussion about college ministry. Topics will include; how to have a balance and healthy college ministry, keeping things "simple," and helping our group move forward in their devotion to God. The event will take place at Saddleback Church on Tuesday, August 11th from 11:30am to 2:00pm. Lunch will be provided for you...that's means it's FREE.