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The Slow Fade: Why You Matter in the Story of Twentysomethings
A discussion of the most overlooked and underdeveloped facet of the modern church—how to keep college-aged people engaged in faith. Many churches and families have programmed a youth ministry finish line at twelfth grade. They walk their seniors out the door, breathe a sigh of relief, and let them disappear for a few years. There is an assumption they’ll return to church later, as adults with young families.
Many never come back. They become less and less involved in church and faith and, eventually, absent altogether—they slowly fade away. Facing critical decisions that affect the rest of their lives, college-aged people need a faith community more than ever.
A senior pastor, a college pastor, and a twenty-something—rethink one-on-one mentorship as the way to end the slow fade. They offer insights and suggestions that will help anyone get started fighting the fade.
Many never come back. They become less and less involved in church and faith and, eventually, absent altogether—they slowly fade away. Facing critical decisions that affect the rest of their lives, college-aged people need a faith community more than ever.
A senior pastor, a college pastor, and a twenty-something—rethink one-on-one mentorship as the way to end the slow fade. They offer insights and suggestions that will help anyone get started fighting the fade.
176 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2010
12 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Reggie Joiner
64 books25 followersReggie Joiner is the founder and CEO of Orange, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to influence those who influence the next generation. Author of more than 30 books, including Think Orange, Seven Practices of Effective Ministry, and Lead Small. Reggie has changed the way churches and organizations create environments for and equip leaders, parents, and the next generation. Orange partners with over 8,000 churches internationally and is the architect of the Orange Conference and the Orange Tour, which provide national training opportunities for senior pastors, church leaders, and ministry volunteers.
Prior to Orange and along with Andy Stanley, Reggie co-founded North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia. During his 11 years as the executive director of Family Ministry, Reggie developed the new concepts of ministry for preschoolers, children, students, and married adults. He has found a way to wear orange for 4,353 days and counting.
Reggie is a graduate of Georgia Southwestern College. He and his wife Debbie have four grown children and live near Atlanta.
Prior to Orange and along with Andy Stanley, Reggie co-founded North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia. During his 11 years as the executive director of Family Ministry, Reggie developed the new concepts of ministry for preschoolers, children, students, and married adults. He has found a way to wear orange for 4,353 days and counting.
Reggie is a graduate of Georgia Southwestern College. He and his wife Debbie have four grown children and live near Atlanta.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 9, 2019
Good book about building relationships with college-aged people and getting them involved in the church to prevent the fade out after the graduation.
March 20, 2017
A great perspective on how to engage 18-25 year olds in the local church! One of the best explanations on what it means to be a mentor I've read. Quick & easy read!
April 9, 2011
A great book, for what it is.
This book is a very simple encouragement to "older" church members (say 30 to 60 somethings) to invest in the lives of college students. It took me about 90 minutes to read (cover to cover), and I walked away with hearing a very focused and simple message: college students are worth investing in.
Here are a few reasons the authors give for investing in students:
...they are in a critical phase of life and need guidance in answering life's most important questions
...they are passionate about life, and can teach us older people a thing or two about maintaining passion in ourselves as well as a sense of wonder and discovery about life
...as we mentor them (and this mentoring relationship is abut helping them learn to discern the voice of God), we also are spiritually transformed through the process
...they have something unique to offer the church in terms of life perspective and energy
Overall, this is a good resource for anyone who is interested in developing a relationship with a college age person, but doesn't know quite how to begin.
This book is a very simple encouragement to "older" church members (say 30 to 60 somethings) to invest in the lives of college students. It took me about 90 minutes to read (cover to cover), and I walked away with hearing a very focused and simple message: college students are worth investing in.
Here are a few reasons the authors give for investing in students:
...they are in a critical phase of life and need guidance in answering life's most important questions
...they are passionate about life, and can teach us older people a thing or two about maintaining passion in ourselves as well as a sense of wonder and discovery about life
...as we mentor them (and this mentoring relationship is abut helping them learn to discern the voice of God), we also are spiritually transformed through the process
...they have something unique to offer the church in terms of life perspective and energy
Overall, this is a good resource for anyone who is interested in developing a relationship with a college age person, but doesn't know quite how to begin.
September 27, 2013
I think the strength of this book lies in the first two chapters. If you have a heart for college aged youths in the Church, the first two chapters really hit home some of the main points of what they are looking for and what they are feeling.
From there the book is either anecdotes or the main crux of the book which is "college aged youths need mentors". After that, the chapters kind of break down into veering all over the place and the message gets muddled.
It's a quick read so if you get something out of it to get you thinking towards mentorship. However, once you really want to get deeper I would HIGHLY suggest - Howard Hendricks "As Iron Sharpens Iron - Building Character In A Mentoring Relationship" which covers both ends of the spectrum (the mentor and the mentee). http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10...
This book - it's a good start but nothing really stand out. Final Grade - D+
From there the book is either anecdotes or the main crux of the book which is "college aged youths need mentors". After that, the chapters kind of break down into veering all over the place and the message gets muddled.
It's a quick read so if you get something out of it to get you thinking towards mentorship. However, once you really want to get deeper I would HIGHLY suggest - Howard Hendricks "As Iron Sharpens Iron - Building Character In A Mentoring Relationship" which covers both ends of the spectrum (the mentor and the mentee). http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10...
This book - it's a good start but nothing really stand out. Final Grade - D+
June 7, 2015
I might be convinced to throttle back my endorsement to four stars, but really good stuff seems rare enough that this one seems deserving. How mature Christians relate to college-age adults and millenials seems such an important feature of our post-modern, post-Christian culture that I will stand by the remarkable rating for now. Treating those in this demographic, one-on-one, as of interest in their own right almost seems too simple to not consider, but there is a tendency to lump this important individual into their category, pending them "growing up" to be just like "us". While there are not discussion guide questions, the chapters all lend themselves to a small group kind of study.
May 21, 2010
College aged people need older intentional mentors in their lives committed to building relationships with them. So many life changing decisions are made in this life stage, yet the church as a whole has abandoned this age group drawing the ministry finish line at high school graduation. In addition to this, there is a lot that "older" mentors can learn from college students. Maybe even rediscovering lost wonder, discovery, and passion?
September 8, 2010
My biggest complaint with this book is that it's entire message could be boiled down to a few paragraphs. The rest of the space is taken up with anecdotes supporting the main idea and claim. Useful if you were not in agreement with the author, but redundant if you are.
October 8, 2011
This book made a lot of good points and seemed to be right on. With that said I would say that the content of the book is good but I found it to be very redundant and the flow of thought to be choppy. It is worth reading but would be more worthwhile in pamphlet form.
December 24, 2011
An insightful look at why 20 somethings are walking away from the church.
November 11, 2014
Must reading for parents who want their children to maintain their faith walk through high school and college. It felt a little exaggerated at times, but well written overall.
December 29, 2011
Great read! Very practical suggestions in being a mentor to college students. Hey! You're never too old to invest in the next generation!
June 26, 2012
It's not a novel concept but a good reminder about the importance of intentionally mentoring young adults.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews