Faith Beyond Youth Group: Five Ways to Form Character and Cultivate Lifelong Discipleship

by Kara Powell, Jen Bradbury, Brad M. Griffin

Most typical youth ministries today produce nice, obedient kids who behave themselves--and then leave the church and the faith. Even those who remain struggle to extend their own faith beyond youth group. They seem like "good kids," but their lives and decisions outside youth group aren't oriented towards Jesus. Clearly that is not our goal. So what are we doing wrong? And how can we better serve the unique needs of the most anxious, adaptive, and diverse generation in history?

If you're tired of youth ministry that fails to change lives, it's time to change youth ministry. Building on two decades of the Fuller Youth Institute's work and incorporating extensive new research and interviews, Faith Beyond Youth Group identifies the reasons youth ministry often fails both short-term and long-term, and offers five ways adult youth leaders can cultivate character for a lifetime of growing closer to Jesus rather than drifting away. It shows leaders how to cultivate trust, model growth, teach for transformation, practice together, and make meaning so that the teenagers can become adults who hold fast to the truth 24/7 and boldly live out a robust faith in a watching world.

Genres: Christian, Young Adult, Leadership

220 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2023

About the author

Dr. Kara Powell is the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI), a faculty member at Fuller Theological Seminary, and Fuller's Chief of Leadership Formation. Named by Christianity Today as one of “50 Women You Should Know,” Kara serves as a Youth and Family Strategist for Orange, and also speaks regularly at parenting and leadership conferences. Kara is the author or coauthor of a number of books, including 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, Growing Young, Growing With, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family, Sticky Faith Curriculum, Can I Ask That?, Deep Justice Journeys, Deep Justice in a Broken World, Deep Ministry in a Shallow World, and the Good Sex Youth Ministry Curriculum. Kara lives with her husband Dave and their three teenage and young adult children, Nathan, Krista, and Jessica, in Southern California.

Reviews

[Zachary Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book on youth ministry I've read. This is the way to go. Relational discipleship that forms character is what connects with young people, not formulaic programs that reduce discipleship to behavior modification.

The book communicates its research-based conclusions clearly, connecting to theological tradition while being relevant to current generations. It's practical, thought-provoking, and potentially transformative. It was augmented by reading it with fellow youth workers (shoutout Ray and Abel), and we all can't wait to introduce it to others we work with!

[Doug Bradbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only pick this book up if you are ready to rethink the way you do youth ministry! It turns out it was never about the awesome program we created.

[Brian Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best youth ministry book I’ve read in the last five years. Super thankful for the folks at Fuller who lean into quality research to help youth workers in their work with young people. I encourage every youth worker to give it a read for lasting discipleship in students.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots to think about. Many things I would like to be intentional about in both working with our church’s youth group and in my parenting!

[Zach Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

yeesh.

[Conrade Yap · Rating 5 out of 5]

What about the rest of the week? Is there more the faith than the weekly meetings? In recent times, there have been questions about what Church-goers do beyond Sundays. In marketplace ministries, this concern comes in the form of Faith beyond Sundays. Paul Stevens coins this as "The Other Six Days." Laura Nash and Scott McLellan write about this in "Work on Monday, Church on Sunday." Several other authors such as Wayne Jacobsen, Maurice Johnson, and Tony Carvalho word prefer to describe such emphases as "Beyond Sundays." All of these authors want to encourage believers to practice their faith not just on Sundays but every day of the week. What these authors have done, Kara Powell, Jen Bradbury, and Brad M. Griffin want to do the same for youths. Faith should not be limited to a mere once-every-weekend or regular once-a-week youth group meetings. It should be daily, or as often as possible. When interviewing youth ministry leaders, Powell et al note a common occurrence, that after a while, the enthusiasm loses steam. The "We agree it's not working" feedback is sending alarm bells across churches with conventional youth program models. Factor in the high burn-out rate of youth workers, perhaps, it is a good time for leaders to look at some of the more specific areas of concern beyond the mere rest of the week question. Questions such as:

- Are the lives of teenagers improved because of their time at youth groups?
- How is their faith strengthened?
- Are they becoming a positive force for the gospel?
- Have they become more engaged in the spiritual disciplines in their personal time?
- How do we engage kids in such a way to form their faith in Jesus?
- ........

While statistics are pointing to lower levels of depression and drug use as well as improved academic performance, there are troubling numbers about parental relationships. The authors peel off the outer layer of youth group ministry to uncover the struggles of ministry with youths. An important purpose is to discover ways to instill faith in them. They look at the need for character development. They help us ponder the differences between character formation vs our culture's version of "good kids." They point out three reasons why "character gaps" exist and the need to ask three big questions: "Who am I?" "Where do I fit?" "What difference can I make?" They also take notice of cultural changes and how we need to adapt the way we approach the ministry. This includes a deeper sensitivity toward mental health concerns. Another concern is about how past strategies, even those well-intentioned ones (from predominantly white cultures) have unwittingly harmed marginalized communities. We read about the five-point compass to build character, and the need to incorporate trust through consistency and closeness. In looking at modeling growth, they show us the four barriers to modeling growth and propose some navigational tools to model growth for youths.

Chapter Six shows us the limits of conventional models of Youth ministries. People increasingly do not want to accept the formula of: "Game+Worship+20min Talk+Small Groups = Success." This is due to a misplaced mental model as well as a gradual decline in trusting authority figures. If one shifts more toward critical thinking instead of conformity-type strategies, youths will be more receptive. Even the conventional ways of urging Bible reading and prayer can fall on dull ears and uninspired hearts. The chapters on "Practicing Together" give us ways in which we can go beyond mere instruction into inspired practices. One effective way is to share our struggles so that youths will identify with our stories. Another way is to work on making meaning in the activities we do. Finally, the authors help us to map our own life of faith.

My Thoughts
==============
Let me offer three thoughts about this book. First, every generation has its own set of challenges. We should not downplay or embellish the problems of any one generation. When it comes to youth ministry work, I have often heard the comment that "Youth ministry nowadays is harder than before." That is at most only partially true. Working with youths has always been challenging. More accurately, youth ministry is essentially about adaptation. The better and faster we understand the uniqueness of each generation, the better we can equip ourselves to work with new generational thinking. This is what this book is trying to teach us, about the unique changes that are occurring in the minds and hearts of Gen Z folks and beyond. One key strength the authors have consistently done is the compare and contrast past strategies and to chart out the way forward. I find that particularly helpful because they are familiar anchoring points so that we can see the differences for ourselves. By first acknowledging where we are, we can then navigate to where we want to go.

Second, the need to establish trust is more important than ever. Past strategies often deal with assumptions that the programs and activities automatically attract people. Faith development is assumed rather than actively engaged with. If the hard skills are the programs and techniques of youth ministry, then the soft skills are the relational aspect. Cultivating trust is an essential soft skill we all need to do. With a deepening loss of trust in authority and the cultural disdain over leaders in general, cultivating trust should be key, and all planned activities need to have this focus. Modeling growth is part of that trust strategy. Using the bank account metaphor, Church perception generally begins with a deficit of trust. We need to make deposits to bring the balance back to a healthy level.

Finally, how effective will this book be for the future of youth ministry? That depends on several factors. Are leaders willing to acknowledge changes happening in the youths of today and tomorrow? What about the willingness to let go of outdated investments and start afresh with new ones? How quickly can we educate Church boards (especially those majority seniors-led) to change? Where are the role models of today? How do we develop new models that would appeal to the younger folks? We need to make a distinction between keeping timeless principles and accommodating changing trends. For instance, Bible study is a timeless principle for spiritual growth. How we approach it can be adapted according to the questions young people raise. Do not be afraid to deal with these questions head-on. By showing young people that we genuinely care about their faith, they will open up and help us in the youth ministry. We need to move away from the "sage-by-the-stage" to become the "guide-by-the-side" model.

Tough challenges remain for anyone who refuses to adapt. Eventually, I believe we all need to apply the questions of trust to ourselves. If we have not learned to trust God, why should anyone else learn of us? Youth ministry is tough when we do it on our strengths and resources. When the Spirit of God blows, we need to raise our sails to go along. Thanks to Powell, Bradbury, and Griffin, we have a new necessary resource to help us do just that.

Kara Powell, PhD, is the chief of leadership formation and executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) at Fuller Theological Seminary (see FullerYouthInstitute.org). Named by Christianity Today as one of "50 Women to Watch," Kara serves as a youth and family strategist for Orange and speaks regularly at parenting and leadership conferences. Kara has authored or co-authored numerous books, including 3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future, 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, Growing With, Growing Young, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family and the entire Sticky Faith series. Kara and her husband, Dave, are regularly inspired by the learning and laughter that comes from their three teenage and young adult children. You can find Kara at KaraPowell.com.

Jen Bradbury serves as content director for the Fuller Youth Institute and a volunteer youth pastor at her local Episcopal church. With more than twenty years of experience in youth ministry, she's the author of several books, including The Jesus Gap, The Real Jesus, Called: A Novel About Youth Ministry Transitions,and What Do I Believe About What I Believe? Jen and her husband, Doug, live in the Chicagoland area where they can regularly be found adventuring with their two young daughters. You can find Jen at YMJen.com.

Brad M. Griffin is the senior director of content and research for the Fuller Youth Institute, where he develops research-based training for youth ministry leaders and families. A speaker, writer, and volunteer pastor, Brad is the coauthor of over fifteen books, including 3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future, 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, Growing Young, and several Sticky Faith books. Brad and his wife, Missy, live in Southern California and share life with their three teenage and young adult children. You can find Brad on Instagram at @BGriffinFYI.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Books via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

[George P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A statement in Faith Beyond Youth Group captures the urgency of helping teenagers cultivate lifelong faith in Jesus Christ:

"While spiritual and religious activity under age eighteen seems to slightly increase the odds of faith lasting after youth group, a compilation of studies indicates that about 40 to 50 percent of youth group kids drift from God and the faith community after graduation."

How should churches respond?

Kara Powell, Jen Bradbury, and Brad M. Griffin propose they focus on character formation. For them, faith beyond youth group means “Jesus-centered character that matters every day.” And character means “living out Jesus’ goodness every day by loving God and our neighbors.”

How can churches help teens cultivate such faith?

The authors do not offer an easy formula. As they put it, “X + Y does not always = Christlike character.” Readers seeking a quick fix should look elsewhere.

Instead, the authors outline five practices to help teens become lifelong disciples. These practices emerge from surveys, literature reviews, interviews and site visits conducted by the Fuller Youth Institute, where the authors work.

1. Cultivate trust. Trust is “teenagers’ confidence that when they offer something personally important to a leader, that leader will act in their best interests.” Leaders cultivate that trust through consistency (“relational longevity”) and closeness (“relational proximity”).

2. Model growth. Too often, youth work focuses on telling rather than showing. For youth workers, modeling means “showing others who we are every day.” Workers reproduce who they are, not just what they teach.

3. Teach for transformation. Teaching is more than information transfer. The danger of merely passing on information is having youth know “what they’re supposed to believe but not why it matters or how to live out their faith in their daily lives.”

4. Practice together. Practice means “moving beyond the head and heart; it takes us into our bodies.” In other words, true knowledge and sincere feeling result in changed action. The authors advocate a see, do, and teach model for helping teens put their faith into practice.

5. Make meaning. As a follow-up to practicing together, meaning-making involves “intentionally reflecting with teenagers on their actions and experiences to spark insight and growth.”

For each of these practices, the authors outline barriers, cite Jesus’ example, and offer suggestions for implementation. The book ends with a 30-question survey to help youth workers assess the state of their current ministry vis-à-vis these practices.

I recommend this book for youth workers, whether pastoral staff or volunteer.

P.S. If you like my review, please click "Helpful" on my Amazon review page.

P.P.S. I wrote this review for the winter 2024 issue of Influence magazine.

[Peter Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Faith Beyond Youth Group” is a very encouraging book and should be on every youth worker’s desk or at least visible on a shelf and in reach…right next to “Sticky Faith: youth workers edition.” That’s my conclusion, that’s the bottom-line up front.

Faith Beyond Youth Group (FBYG from here on) successfully maps a way forward for youth leaders (as well as church leadership and parents) pondering the question, “how do I (we) set up young people to maintain their Christian identity in the short and long term?” [not a quote from the book]. The authors’ goal is to develop “Jesus-centered character that matters every day” in the lives of young people and they developed “a new compass” to guide leaders and youth in that direction. In Chapter 3 they explain the five points of the compass and the remainder of the book unpacks the meaning of each point in detail. The compass as a guide is memorable and something you can carry with you in ministry.

I approached the book hopeful and yet conscious of the possibility it might not apply to the volunteer youth leader with a small youth group in an aging congregation and no post-COVID structure (my situation). I’m happy to say that while many of the quotes and example experiences do seem to come from large, organized, academically trained and led groups, the concepts and suggestions are scalable and clearly applicable to any church setting. This book is practical for any size youth group whether led by vocational ministers or volunteers.

Authors Kara Powell, Jen Bradbury and Brad M. Griffin bring real life examples from both their own experiences as youth leaders and those of 378 current youth leaders engaged in their research.
They lay a good foundation by addressing the meaning of the word and concept of “character.” They make the point that forming character and forming “good kids” are not the same thing and not a true measure of success. The contrast between “good kids” and “Christlike character” hit home. I was a good kid decades ago (I’m 62 as I write this) and somehow missed developing Christlike character in youth group. I’m sure I’m not alone and the author’s focus on addressing this difference is important.

The authors’ passion for young people and youth leaders shines through in the writing. Particularly in the section “This Generation We Love” (found in Chapter 2) where they focus on Gen Z and provide “…an empathetic summary: Gen Z is anxious, adaptive and diverse.” They go on to discuss each of these traits in depth and provide helpful ways to approach them.
Where James Emery White’s book “Meet Generation Z” [Baker Books; 2017} educates a reader on the broad characteristics and broad implications of Gen Z on the church, “Faith Beyond Youth Group” narrows the focus to youth group dynamics in a way that is particularly practical for youth leaders. Read FBYG first and “Meet Generation Z” later for its broader perspective.

Two other thoughts:
• “Reflection Questions” at the end of chapters prompts the reader to take the concepts out of the theoretical and to find ways put them into action.
• Don’t skip the Notes section at the end of the book. There is additional good information and explanations to be gleaned.

If you’ve read this far then you might be interested in my “preface” (or “full disclosure”) here at the end.

I “stumbled” on Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) and “Sticky Faith” about 1 year ago in my favorite thrift store (Legacy Thrift) while scanning for my favorite author’s names (Stott, Bonhoeffer, Buechner, Berry, etc.) on the book spines. I paused on the words “Sticky Faith” in clean, simple lettering on one book and then moved on. But then I went back and gave it a second look because of the subtitle “youth worker edition.” This time I pulled it off the shelf and ran through the table of contents. For .50 cents I had nothing to lose…and I’ve had nothing to regret.

Fast forward a few months and I’m a Sticky Faith fan…though not without critically thinking about what FYI puts out. I think their research and analysis is spot on. I really believe FYI and now “Faith Beyond Youth Group” are a Spirit-provided gift to help propel our church congregation’s youth group forward.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book verifies what I've thought for awhile: the old ways of doing things are over. Or they should be. Because if you keep doing things the old way, the church is going to die out. It used to be that culture was in alignment with church values. Consequently, youth group didn't have to go deep. It could be a place to just have fun and talk about Jesus. Play and talk. Not so anymore. Kids are facing an identity crisis when it comes to who they are. Their character, values, and beliefs are being challenged left and right. No one is telling them outside of church that they are children of God, designed to be his model on earth just as Jesus was.

Besides that, kids are STRESSED OUT. From being over scheduled, to loading up on AP classes, to social media addiction, to lack of privacy, it's a tornado out there. Kids need rest. They need a place where they can let it all out. They do need to talk, but the talk needs to be meaningful, in a safe, nonjudgemental place, where they can get guidance on what Jesus says about it. It's not so much leader led like it used to be. Kids have a role to play in deciding what they need from youth group.

Then, after they feel like the adults have something to offer, a listening ear, understanding, a model, kids can begin to step into their purpose. They will begin to see their value and worth and realize God can use them for good in this world. That's when character develops. That's when youth group adds value to their lives. And that's when their faith goes beyond youth group.

The authors of this book do a great job making the case I just described. It's a start for any youth leader wanting to change things. But as the last chapter is titled "Your Own Map," you're on your own to work out the details. They do provide a questionnaire that could be given to your kids to get the ball rolling with their input. But as far as a skeleton plan or detailed examples of leaders who've turned it around, it doesn't exist here. Some youth groups are so close to extinction, leaders need massive help, ideas, and suggestions. I wish this book went further in that regard.

What it does have is a structure to each chapter. The chapter titles tell you in theory what you need to start doing, such as chapter 4: cultivate trust or chapter 5: model growth. Each chapter gives you an overview of the topic, a list of the barriers (so you can get around them), an explanation of how Jesus did it with his disciples (so you can always bring the discussion back to Jesus), and a list of "tools" or ideas you can start implementing in your meetings. The book gives ideas, just not clear cut plans. You have to figure that out.

Agreeing with the book is not enough. You have to implement it. Not easy, even knowing what you have to do. You need to start somewhere and this book is great for that.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuller Youth Institute has done it again with another challenging and informative book that will impact that landscape of youth ministry for years to come. Faith Beyond Youth Group is their latest offering that launched this week. Having been on a book launch team of theirs in the past, I was excited join again and have access to a pre-order edition to devour before release date.

I love that FYI grounds their books in solid research and data accompanied by compelling real-life stories. Faith Beyond Youth Group is easy to read but chock-full of challenging ideas to propel us to better ways of engaging young people with lifelong faith. They use the image of a compass to guide youth ministry to attend to the five most important things they discovered that develop Christlike character.

This book is not just for youth leaders (although they will certainly benefit, no matter the size of their youth group or ministry). It is also a great read for parents, church leaders and, as FYI puts it “other caring adults” who want to see young people develop a faith that impacts every day of the week and extends throughout life.

As an Aussie, there is always a level of local and cultural interpretation to consider exactly how transferable research and ideas are that originate in another country. FYI’s five point compass for character can be readily applied in Australian settings.

Another thing I love about FYI is the way they continue to expand the authorship of their books, making space for new contributors to research, work and write alongside the most experienced and well-known team.

[Rick Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book encouraged me to continue in ministry.

Faith Beyond Youth Group is another incredibly helpful book from the Fuller Youth Institute. Early, the book resonates with youth ministers who struggle. The authors appeal to ministers close to burnout who question whether or not their ministry makes a difference. I felt encouraged that my work matters and my efforts are significant. That alone was a gift. Then, the book shapes out a way forward. They articulate and outline a path of developing *character* in young people as foundation for lasting faith in students. 

At first, I was wary. Is focusing on character just behavior modification? Are we endorsing Moralistic Therapeutic Deism? No. Not at all. 

There is a heavy focus on modeling Christ in our lives - both the adults and students. The main content of FBYG lays out a "compass" for navigating this development in students. The ideas presented in the compass are neither new, nor dazzling. Instead, they are compelling and timely reminders of the most important elements necessary in building Christ-like character, true character, in the lives of students. As I work with students, it feels like there is a rising character crisis in young people. While every generation of adolescents does morally questionable activities - Is this generation struggling in character development more than others? Regardless - this book is a powerful reminder to what it looks like to truly disciple teenagers. To help show them Christ and encourage them to live out that character.

[Michael Welbers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you want to get some practical ideas of how to engage young people in your life and church right now so that they will reflect Christ’s character today and in the future? Then this book may be your next read.

It includes a good balance of theory, stories and examples, recommended resources, reflection questions and further applications.

The authors use the idea of a Compass to give us directions, and it all focuses on building character (not mere behavior). We don’t want “good” kids, but kids with Christlike character, which goes much deeper. We want students not only to realize that Christianity is true (knowledge), but that it is good (character). In order to do so, the leaders themselves also have to grow, and the book frequently reminds us of that.

The Compass focuses on relationships, specifically how to cultivate trust, model faith, teach for transformation, practice together, and make meaning. Each chapter gives an overview, some examples (including how Jesus related to His ‘youth group’ (the disciples!), barriers and practical ideas (navigational tools), and the book ends with the reader reviewing their own current ministry and creating a road map for possible next steps in the days, weeks and months to come.

A quick read but still much material to process. Read it with your team and start implementing ideas. Ministry is a journey, and each journey starts with the first step. So read, reflect, and then continue to relate to teenagers as God leads you.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Faith Beyond Youth Group, the Fuller Youth Institute team offers yet another important conversation into the world of student ministry. What does it look like for students to have a faith that lasts beyond youth group? Sometimes, it is best for us to gauge ministry effectiveness by looking at the results. Based on the results we are often getting in long-term faith in the next generation. Beyond Youth Group becomes an issue of vital importance.

To combat this trend, the FYI team proposes a focus on character development as a key discipleship focus for student ministries. Students with lasting faith as long-term disciples live in a way where Jesus-centered character shapes their everyday lives.

The process of character driven discipleship is broken down into a compass path throughout the book explored with a chapter for each of the defined points on the compass. The five focuses on the compass are: make meaning, cultivate trust, model growth, teach for transformation, and practice together.

By understanding and developing a specific plan, churches can begin to disciple students into a lifestyle of faith where the character of Jesus is formed in them as they walk with Jesus beyond youth group into a lifetime of faith.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are raising or leading kids, teens, or young adults and you long for them to find their identity, belonging, and purpose in Christ...this book is for you. I have been volunteering/working in Family Ministry for almost twenty years and this book both changed my mind and affirmed some of our current ideas on how to increase personal connection and spiritual growth with young people in meaningful ways. I have MANY favorite quotes, but I will choose this one to highlight as it resonates deeply with how highly I value personal connection and authenticity. Modeling is "showing others who we are every day. Today's anxious, adaptive, and diverse teenagers wonder: Are you for real Are you the same outside church as you are inside? Leaders today can model consistency and integrity as they live everyday faith imperfectly, both in and beyond the church. In this way, our ministries become communities of practice and growth." I can't wait to start reading this with all of my volunteers as we pray and reflect on how God will use this book to spark curiosity, humility, and growth in our lives and the lives of the young people we lead and love.

[Geoff Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great book written by the Fuller Youth Team. I was impressed with but not surprised with how well-researched it was truly felt that it offered a genuine space for anyone reading to challenged in addition to learning and growing.

I was challenged to implement their compass which consisted of cultivating trust, modeling growth, teaching for transformation, practicing together, making meaning. I believe that Kara Powell, Jen Bradbury, Brad Griffin work hard to create a space of authenticity in their writing.

The research provided by Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) affirms “the longing of their hearts is not to know more but to belong more.” I found that it raise several questions: How do we intentionally build spaces where belonging is a pathway to knowing Jesus and living out the Good News of the Gospel in this generations world? How can we empower them with ownership and the ability without filling them with additional stressors and anxiety?

Recommended reading for all people working with teens especially for parents, youth workers, and all those invested in the faith of today’s young people.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The work done here is well done.

It is well-researched and offers space for everyone reading to learn and grow. In addition, they do comment on some of the more complex processes of addressing issues currently in the church that will plague it as they open with the toughest to overcome: character, which requires the work of building new determinants.

The work of creating a space of authenticity and empathy has been heard, but the way it addresses the direction of needing to fulfill the work of the understanding of character from examples of the Bibles that have support in seeing the difficulty and challenge of humanity while finding hope and examples of faith being imperfect and beautiful.

Good reminders: it takes a lot of consistent offerings to support building these more authentic relationships and an offering of not expertise in space but shared community of equitable desires for all involved.

Recommended reading for all people working with teens in the church and outside of it.

[Andrew Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not knowing much about this book beyond it's title and pedigree of it's bench of authors, I went into it thinking it would be similar to Andy Root's "End of Youth Ministry," suggesting that youth group as we know it is an ineffective relic. Much to my eventual elation, the book is more a research-based (it's a Fuller book, so duh!) celebration of the "bright spots" within the youth group model with practical and easily implementable ideas. If you've read other Fuller Youth books and have been at work trying to implement their findings, you'll find this book affirming and hopeful. If I were to rank this on a tier list with other FYI books, I'd probably set it alongside "Growing With." "Growing Young" will always be my first recommendation for Fuller books with "Sticky Faith" as a close second. "Faith Beyond Youth Group" compliments/fits nicely with other books from these authors - I recommend!

[Paul Amlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a frequent book reviewer, but as I have in the past, I will gratefully endorse a work from FYI. In my previous role as program director for youth ministry in a large denomination, I received a call from the folks at FYI inviting participation in a wide reaching panel to look at growing young in churches. Since then, Kara and team have been relentlessly and passionately researching, listening, and asking great questions.

I’ve worked with youth and young adults for more than 35 years. One thing I can guarantee is that the way this ministry happens has changed. Dramatically.

In Faith Beyond Youth Group we (the church) are reminded that faith formation happens at home and is lived out in the daily lives of young people.

I’d recommend any church professional with involvement in faith formation spend time with this book, and others from FYI. It is time to adapt and encourage.

[Brandyn Jaymes · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts:
A great book for those working in a church setting with students. Many of these ideas align with my master's degree focusing on discipleship and these ideas flow perfectly into my role as youth director. This book is helpful to youth leaders. It is an opportunity to examine your group, method, values, and the students you work with. This book has a great set up of reflection questions as well as a road map to utilize these ideas in your own context. There is a lot of research in this book that continues to highlight the need for churches to care about students.

Who is this for:
This book is for churches, youth pastors, and those who work with students. It is a researched book that highlights seeing Jesus move in students lives and how youth workers can facilitate this relationship.

Comments, Questions, Concerns:
This book has great questions and ways to adapt the ideas into your own context.

[WillyB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would personally say this is a 4.5 (but because Elementary math taught me how to round up it gets the 5 star. I read this book as part of a cohort and found myself really enjoying it. It’s a very easy read with real concrete ways to improve and add depth to your ministry. There’s definite examples that make your skin crawl and wonder if we’re too caught up in purity culture in terms of our references, but there are also other times where the stories make you look into the mirror and truly reflect on the ministry your doing and challenge you to go further. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone in youth ministry (ministry being in any context of being supportive of youth in faith or secular places). The ending of the book summed it up in terms of a survey/reflection and will be the exact survey I use for my youth and their families. Here’s to continuing to follow the compass and provide a space that has long lasting impact beyond their 6 years within the ministry.

[KRL · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a passion to encourage young people to connect to their faith, are willing to put in the work necessary to model growth for young people, and will commit to take the time necessary to help young people find belonging and meaning on their journey with Jesus this book is for you! Faith After Youth Group has both encouraged me as a minister to youth and challenged me to go to new heights for and with my students. Faith After Youth Group provides encouragement for leaders who may feel burnt out or ineffective, practical navigational tools to put feet and hands to faith, barriers to be aware of in ministry to young people, and practical research to give life to the truth shared within the book. if you are ready to grow in your faith alongside your young people, Faith Beyond Youth Group is sure to give you the tools you need to ignite a spark in you, your youth, and your ministry.

[Zach Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

If it was possible to give this 10 stars, I would!

As a veteran youth worker of over 20 years, and someone who teaches youth ministry to undergraduates, I appreciate this resource so much!

The research-driven conclusion of this book is that what helps faith to “stick” beyond youth group is CHARACTER. “If faith is what is believed, then character is faith lived out in real time.”

This book gives those of us who love Jesus, His Church, and young people a “compass” to help guide us in producing people of character.

I can’t recommend this book enough!

Who should read it:

Every youth worker.
Every person serving in youth or children’s ministry in ANY way.
Every lead pastor
Every parent.
Every teacher.
Every coach.

[Angela Cipolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuller Youth Institute has done it again. In a day when churches are struggling to keep youth engaged, this book is both a challenge to our assumptions and a beacon of hope. It is backed by research and provides numerous stories and examples to put flesh on the research. While it doesn't provide curriculum or format, it does provide techniques and guideposts to help apply these principles to your own context. It will speak to every denomination and every size church. It is created for today's young people and is very insightful into their strengths and challenges. I would recommend this to anyone who cares about young people, especially every youth leader!

[Joseph Stroup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kara and the folks at the Fuller Youth Institute are always on the top of my list when it comes to mindful reading about how we care for and lead young people in to a faith that last. This is an excellent resource for churches, parents, youth leaders to think about when it comes to the practice of ministry to young people. The chapters are clear and concise on the material and the reflection questions make this an excellent resource for discussion in groups as you ponder the practical ways to make ministry truly effective. I heartily recommend this as a way to challenge the expectations of what makes a youth group or ministry to youth "good" and how we lead young people today.

[Jaron Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I often get disappointed in myself when I come across a student who doesn't know the Bible the way I wish they did. I question if I'm focusing on the right things in youth group or teaching effectively when we gather. However, as I look at many of my graduates, I see Christ more clearly in them now than when they entered the youth group. I appreciate how this book emphasizes Christian character over biblical knowledge without abandoning the importance of Scripture. There were some good practical ideas in here too.

[Johnny Sprinkle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I wish there was a half star system for Goodreads!

I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend for anyone in student ministry.
The research and next steps are incredibly insightful and convicting.

However, a lot of the examples and ideas represented simply cannot translate to my area and my ministry. I understand that will happen when a book like this tries to reach a very wide audience (which i am appreciative of!). But, it leaves me skimming or skipping portions that I cannot utilize.
For that reason, 3.5 seems right to me.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you work with kids and students or want to know more about the next generation, this book is a must read. Kara and the FYI team provide incredible insight through the compass analogy to teach, instruct, model, and lead the next generation in following Jesus that will change and help you do ministry. As culture changes, our ministries need to continually change to stay relevant, and this book will help ministries be forward thinking in relating to the next generation.

[Brandon Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuller Youth Institute has done it again in writing an incredibly helpful book on youth ministry. I found the research discovery on character formation fascinating, and helpful. Their 5 keys are crucial to implementation and are well laid out. I see this as really important for the next phase of youth ministry in our congregations. I highly recommend this for anyone who cares about future generations’ faith.

[Kristin Franke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been in youth ministry for going on 16 years, and this book is one of the best I’ve read in consolidating a TON of research into 5 major ways to reconsider how we do youth ministry. Some of the ideas may totally revolutionize your ministry. Some of them may affirm the great work you’re already doing. And some of them may just give you words to explain to others what you already intuitively knew in ministry. This is going on the top of my list of recommendations for youth ministry books!

[Tyler Hensley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s really encouraging to have this book, Kara and her team sum up what I’ve been seeing, experiencing and feeling led in over the last two years in student ministry.

This book should be required reading for anyone who works with students in the church. We have to let students lead and try and fail and encourage them to keep growing in their apprenticeship to Jesus. That’s when Faith beyond youth group lasts.