1. Most students are post-Christian: Students do not know the story of God... They know some details about it, some trivia, and some emotional stories about missionaries, but they do not really know the big picture.
2. Many students are post-literate: How do we create faith foundations in a Post-Literate world?
-How does someone read the Bible if they don’t (or can’t) really read? (Do Christians owe a secret debt to J. K. & Stephanie Meyer? At least these ladies get teenagers and pre-teens reading!)
3. Shepherding vs. Teaching. Relationships are not optional.
-God spoke in Christ... Incarnation is living the message among them... The Medium is the Message...
-Jesus was never condescending... are we?
-How can we overcome the power-differential as parents?
-Are we out in front, or along side?
-How are we helping students to connect the dots?
4. Students need ADVOCATES! They often ARE treated unkindly and unfairly.
-Jesus was never condescending... are we?
-It seems like all people, young and old, respond best to respect.
-Students often lack an advocate that will really listen to and fight for them.
-Students need and respond best to people who take their pain seriously.
5. Students are “Growing up Online.” They are always connected.
-They live natively in a multitasking always connected community. How do we help them navigate it?
-What does grace mean when Google never forgets, or forgives..?
-Many students have moved past email. It is obsolete to them.
6. Many students today are overwhelmingly busy, stressed, hurt and anxious.
-Too much activity but too little real play
-They never learn how to make limiting decisions (either play guitar, or basketball, or be in forensics...)
7. Many students are mobilized by service (and relationships).
-They will evaluate Christianity based on whether its followers seem to make the world a better place.
-Consider redirecting family vacations toward missional impact.
8. Journey vs. Destination. (Long view vs. Short view. )
-Embracing students’ journey helps us to realize the development takes many stages, and that each stage has its own revelations, pains, and struggles.
-Plant seeds! Success is not week to week, but year after year. Sometimes it is hidden for long seasons.
-Often quick growth is in the “shallow soil.”
9. What forms Character?
-Students need to learn boundaries (and develop the ability to say no and mean it.)
-What tools do we need to give them in order to do more than just say no...
-Are those tools realistic in the timeframe that we are working with.
-Differentiation is a natural and healthy part of becoming an adult.
-More is “caught than taught.” Our choices teach our students life priorities.
10. Parents MUST be a big part of the process.
-What do we do with spiritual orphans whose parents are not Christians.
-How do we empower and equip the defeated, demoralized, and unqualified.
-As adults many students seem to eventually settle into the same faith "orbit" as their parents.
11. It take a “Village” to raise students that love God.
-Can the Church be a “Village” (a loving community) for students too?
-Utilize other “safe” adults when students pull away from you.
-Students crave multi-generational relationships.
12. The Church has lost the discussion about sexuality.
-Christian students (even home-schooled) are statistically just as sexually active as any other students.
13. Youth Ministry is not Enough! *(but it is important!!!)
-Students need more than a program can offer.
-Student ministry needs to partner with parents, it cannot replace them.
-If you see a need in your students life, do not wait for the Church to fill it!
