2023 Young Adult Ministry Advisory

The North American Division #ONETEAM Advisory Summit 2023 was held February 25-28 at NAD headquarters in Columbia, Maryland. Youth & Young Adult Ministries Directors and Coordinators gathered to share needs in the field, to give feedback of new initiatives and resources, and most importantly, to learn from each other. As part of the summit, the Young Adult Ministries Advisory [YAMA] was held February 28th. The following provides selected items from the proceedings of YAMA:


YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY RESOURCES


YOUNG ADULT LIFE TOUR

Meeting the call of local churches for training and guidance in developing young adult ministry, Young Adult LIFE Tour, aims to bring equipping and empowering to four unions—one each quarter of 2023—as a pilot project.

Beyond instructional, the YAL Tour intends to be experiential and interactive, seeking to hold tour stops in local Adventist churches across the nation where vibrant young adult ministry is thriving and bringing vitality to the whole congregation. For this inaugural pilot, the tour stops will experiment with a two-day model [with dexterity for a one-day or long weekend format depending on context].

In collaboration with AdventSource, it intends to give access, introduction, and orientation to some of the best young adult ministry resources/initiatives in: leaders impact, intergenerational relationships, faith development, and everyday compassion.

This pilot season of the Tour, in collaboration with union and local conference youth/young adult ministry directors, will be making stops in Mid-America Union, Pacific Union, Southern Union, and Southwestern Union.


FIRST QUARTER // SOUTHWESTERN UNION // MARCH 17-18 // DFW METROPLEX @YGCHURCH
All leaders and lovers of the Church are invited to the Young Adult LIFE Tour stop at Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church, 4409 Pleasantview Drive, Arlington, TX 76017, March 17-18, 2023, featuring Pastor Justin Yang, Danielle Quaye, and Dr. Steven Argue.

Younger Generation Church is the vibrant young adult ministry of the Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church, Texas. They aspire to deepen their devotion to Jesus through intimacy with GOD, community with each other, and overlowing grace to the world. @ygchurch


SPRING QUARTER // SOUTHERN UNION // SPRING MEADOWS CHURCH
In collaboration with Young Adult Pastor Chandler Tarbox and Senior Pastor Brian Cassell, plans are underway to hold the second YAL Tour stop at Spring Meadows Seventh-day Adventist Church in Central Florida. Pastors Greg Taylor and Juan Martinez, Southern Union and Florida Conference Youth/Young Adult MInistry directors respectively, are on board and working to find an amiable date for the tour stop to occur.

Spring Meadows Young Adults is creating opportunities to engage in fellowship with one another as they come into a deeper understanding of Christ’s love and plan for each one of them. They are journeying through life with Jesus and each other. @smcyoungadults


SUMMER QUARTER // PACIFIC UNION // PRAXIS @ LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY CHURCH
Pastors Filip Milosavljevic and Kelly Lin, in collaboration with Pacific Union and Pastor Aren Rennacker, Southeastern California Conference Youth Director, are developing the third tour stop with Praxis at the Loma Linda University Church.

Praxis is a collective movement of students and young professionals who desire to practically live out their Christian faith. @praxisministry


FALL QUARTER // MID-AMERICA UNION // THE WELL WORSHIP @ COLLEGE VIEW CHURCH
In collaboration with Young Adult Pastor Guadalupe Montour and Senior Pastor Simon Liversidge, plans are underway to hold the fourth YAL Tour stop at College View Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. Pastor Tyrone Douglas, Mid-America Union Church Ministries Director, is on board and working with The Well to find an amiable date for the tour stop to occur.

The Well Worship is young adult community at College View Seventh-day Adventist Church, created to provide opportunities for relevant discussions, creative faith expressions, biblical exploration and gatherings.


YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY NOW

Collaborative Publishing Opportunity with AdventSource and Fuller Youth Institute

In determining a young adult ministry primer for the Young Adult LIFE Tour, we’ve negotiated a discount rate for digital PDF access to Young Adult Ministry NOW out of Fuller Youth Institute. In the process of these discussions, we’re exploring the potential of a limited publishing relationship for the book between FYI and AdventSource for tour attendees.

Given the needs of our church members, and many of them likely wanting to have hard copy, we’re excited about the receptivity of FYI to the idea and the willingness of AdventSource to facilitate. Negotiations are underway to explore the possibilities.

Building on over a dozen years of research working intensively with over 40 congregations, 80 ministry leaders, and 80 young adults, Young Adult Ministry Now unites fresh wisdom on ministry innovation with Fuller Youth Institute’s landmark Growing Young insights to give you a ministry guide you can count on. It helps take the guesswork out of young adult ministry with practical strategies to challenge common myths about today’s young adults, focus your creativity, connect courageously, and amplify your ministry.

Author, Steven Argue, PhD (Michigan State University), is Associate Professor of Youth, Family, and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary and the Applied Research Strategist at the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI). He has worked in multiple ministry contexts as a youth pastor, parachurch leader, pastoral team leader at Mars Hill Bible Church (Grand Rapids, MI), and has served on the board for the Association of Youth Ministry Educators. He researches, speaks, consults, and writes regularly on topics surrounding adolescence, emerging adulthood, faith, and spiritual struggle. Steve lives in Southern California, eats vegetarian, and runs marathons. He’s @stevenargue on social media platforms.

Click the above icon for a sample chapter from Young Adult Ministry NOW.


ADVENTIST YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

AYP president, Tim Kosaka, visited the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists to address youth and young adult leaders during the 2023 Youth and Young Adult Advisory meetings of the NAD Youth and Young Adult Department.

Tim emphasized AYP's commitment to collaboration - sharing how God has worked through the ministry over the past year as well as AYP's plans and goals for the year ahead.

Click the above icon to discover more about Adventist Young Professionals.


GROWING TOGETHER RESOURCES

GROWING TOGETHER CHURCH
Your families can be Growing Together every Sabbath! This new intergenerational Sabbath school curriculum provides lesson content from preschoolers up through adults, so everyone can study the same themes each week.

• Topical lessons adapted for each age group
• Presents a health, loving image of God
• Helps families learn together
• Engages the Bible both critically and comprehensively
• Is relevant for today’s family and church rhythms

Discover more about Growing Together Church at growingtogetherchurch.org

Click the above icon for a preview of the Growing Together Church Curriculum.


GROWING TOGETHER COHORT
We are excited to announce the launch of the next Growing Together Cohort in March 2023. This 8-month cohort journey will help Seventh-day Adventist Churches reach the NEXT GENERATION better while building healthy church culture for ALL GENERATIONS.

Thank you for praying over this movement to build healthy culture in Seventh-day Adventist Churches and sharing about this opportunity with churches/pastors in your network. Come join us! growingtogethercohort.com

Click the above icon for the Growing Together Cohort Fact Sheet.


IN GRANDPA’S SHOES: AN INVITATION TO INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTION
Oak & Acorn Publishing in collaboration with AdventSource provided an exclusive preview chapter from In Grandpa’s Shoes: An Invitation to Intergenerational Connection. Authored by Pastor Raewyn Orlich, the book is slated to be published and released this year.

"I have great admiration for Pastor Orlich as a ministry colleague and a robust academician; As I was mesmerized by her work, "In Grandpa's Shoes," I was profoundly challenged by her relational authenticity and vulnerability. Her personable style and adept articulation on every page drew me in to not only the ministry value of intergenerational relationships, but also the beautiful invitation for generations to embrace each other for its own merit. Ending each chapter, the reflection questions were poignant, but not intrusive. Raewyn's recollections are captivating and very personal, while illustrating well her pastoral encouragement for the reader to forge relationships of our own. "In Grandpa's Shoes" was a delight, not only to read, but also to apply." --A Allan Martin, PhD, Teaching Pastor, @ygchurch

Stay tuned. Arrangements are being made to potentially provide a PDF chapter excerpt from the book.


CRECIENDO JUNTOS
The Southwestern Union Young Adult and Multicultural Ministries Departments have partnered to provide videos on Growing Together in Spanish. They hosted the inaugural Creciendo Juntos Summit to bring awareness of what Growing Together is and how it can be a blessing to the local congregation.

The YouTube collection includes a total of 6 presentations that explain the details of each core commitment. The Creciendo Juntos Summit started with devotion [#1] from Pastor Osvaldo Rigacci. Pastor David Craig lead out in presentations #2 and #5, then Pastor Josant Barrientos led out in presentations #3 and #6. Pastor Revollo who led out in presentations #4 and #7. Please take time to watch and enjoy and process these videos. If our churches embrace these Growing Together concepts, we will grow stronger together. May God bless as we work together for the glory of God. creciendojuntos.org


DOCTOR OF MINISTRY CONCENTRATION: INTERGENERATIONAL CHURCH
Application are now being accepted for a new DMin Concentration! www.doctorofministry.com/inter

Click the above icon for more information on this Doctor Of Ministry concentration starting Spring 2024.


GROWING TOGETHER PODCAST
The typical church in the United States is growing older and growing smaller. Research indicates that as many as half of the people growing up in Christian churches today will end up walking away from their religious affiliation. The Growing Together Podcast is all about honest and hopeful conversation with leaders who are challenging the narrative and creating thriving Seventh-day Adventist Churches for all generations. The current state of the church today is not the end of the story, and you can be part of the change. Listen, learn, be inspired, and share with your network. We are stronger together.

Click the above icon to listen to the podcast on Spotify. Also available on Apple Podcasts.



APPENDICES: Contextual Content


APPENDIX A: QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Javier Alcon

Where can I get a copy of the Growing Together Church curriculum preview?

Curriculum preview

Click the image to download the Growing Together Church Curriculum preview.

TODD CASEY

What resources can help introduce my administrators and church leaders to Growing Together?

Video offers a summary of core commitments emphasized in Growing Together.

Chapter one

Chapter 1 from “Growing Young” gives a good overview of the core commitments. Click the icon download the sample chapter. It’s also available in Spanish; Click Creciendo Juntos.


APPENDIX B: YOUNG ADULT LIFE CONSTRUCT

Young Adult LIFE connects and empowers an emerging generation of leaders to be changemakers in the Church, marketplace, and culture.

Based on an interdisciplinary framework for ministry leadership development, Young Adult LIFE endeavors to cultivate personal core competencies in these arenas:

Leadership Impact
Intergenerational Relationships
Faith Development
Everyday Compassion


Foundational Resources for Young Adult LIFE Construct


LEADERSHIP IMPACT

LEADERSHIP IMPACT  Leadership influence emerges from personal transformation and growth. Leaders invest themselves in life-long learning. They cultivate a culture empowering the next generation of influencers and innovators; They actively model and …

LEADERSHIP IMPACT
Leadership influence emerges from personal transformation and growth. Leaders invest themselves in life-long learning. They cultivate a culture empowering the next generation of influencers and innovators; They actively model and teach, they vision and team together with those they lead. Leaders work collaboratively to adapt to change, identify core values, also produce constructive results in individual and collective settings—being conscientious to combine wisdom with innovation.

• Training [Identify elements of leadership, obtain instruction, implement, feedback, Kolb learning cycle]
Leadership Skills Development [Elements and progression, evaluation, change, applications]
Mentoring & Being Mentored [Identify mentors and mentees, topics/curriculum, reflection, formal and informal]

[aka Cultivate Empowerment--iCOR; Keychain Leadership--GYA; Empowering Leadership--NCD; Lead Self--AdventHealth]


Leadership Impact Resources


INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS Leaders foster warm, loving community across the generations, where the participation and interconnection of all ages is valued and practiced. They sharpen empathy, authenticity, and care as keystones to leadership.• …

INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Leaders foster warm, loving community across the generations, where the participation and interconnection of all ages is valued and practiced. They sharpen empathy, authenticity, and care as keystones to leadership.

• Caring, Listening, Understanding [Empathy, engagement, investment]
Connecting Intergenerationally [What it is, how to do it, where it’s already done and can be done]
Participating [Proactively Engage Youth & Young Families Everywhere]

[aka Foster Relationships--iCOR; Fuel Warm Community--GYA; Loving Relationships--NCD; Lead Others--AdventHealth]


Intergenerational Relationship Resources


FAITH DEVELOPMENT

FAITH DEVELOPMENT  Leaders nurture Christ-centered spiritual growth that stems from a passionate love for Him. They foster faith habits and practices that engage the Scriptures as a dynamic compass for maturing in Christ, worshiping Him with their l…

FAITH DEVELOPMENT
Leaders nurture Christ-centered spiritual growth that stems from a passionate love for Him. They foster faith habits and practices that engage the Scriptures as a dynamic compass for maturing in Christ, worshiping Him with their lives, and following His lead in all things.

• Worshiping [Jesus-centered and celebrated, praise, testimony, music, commitment]
Teaching [Discovery, renewal, sharing, interaction, application]
Formation: Developing Spirituality [Spiritual Disciplines]

[aka Nurture Spiritual Growth--iCOR; Taking Jesus’ Message Seriously--GYA; Passionate Spirituality--NCD; Lead Whole-Self--AdventHealth]]


Faith Development Resources


EVERYDAY COMPASSION

EVERYDAY COMPASSION Leaders serve the needs of others out of a genuine love and interest in their present and eternal well-being. They share the Gospel compassionately with those seeking reconciliation with GOD in both verbal and non-verbal ways. Th…

EVERYDAY COMPASSION
Leaders serve the needs of others out of a genuine love and interest in their present and eternal well-being. They share the Gospel compassionately with those seeking reconciliation with GOD in both verbal and non-verbal ways. They deploy their skills and abilities for the good of others in a manner that allows the Holy Spirit to work in the mundane, the miraculous, and everything in between.

• Serving [Felt needs, hands-and-feet, ears-and-mouth of Jesus, action, short-term and long-term]
Sharing [Testimony, proclaim, accept, identify “Good News,” listen, connect]
Reconciling [Listen well, sympathize and empathize, prioritize, forgive, flows from Christ connection]
Applying Giftedness [Identify by action-reflection, expecting God in the mundane and miraculous]

[aka Promote Mission--iCOR; Be the Best Neighbors--GYA; Need-Oriented Evangelism--NCD; Lead Results--AdventHealth]


Everyday Compassion Resources