A new longitudinal study of 500 youth group graduates may provide some answers. Conducted by the Fuller Youth Institute at Fuller Theological Seminary, the study followed the graduates through their years in college or vocational school. The results are compiled in a book, “Sticky Faith: Everyday ideas to build lasting faith in your kids” (Zondervan).
Some of the suggestions aren’t surprising (for instance, the level of church involvement by parents plays a key role in a teen maintaining their faith walk). Other suggestions, though, may surprise Christian leaders.
Baptist Press asked Sticky Faith co-author Kara E. Powell — executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute — about the research….
An encouraging article. I’m especially pleased that they are willing to bring up the problem of a truncated Gospel as it relates to this particular problem in our churches. Willard’s analysis of the gospels of sin management in “The Divine Conspiracy” is right on. It seems that N.T. Wright and Scot McKnight are also making the same argument.