Co-authors Reggie Joiner, Chuck Bomar and Abbie Smith have put together this book to help adults understand their role and responsibility in the lives of college age people. If you're looking for a book to equip someone who has a heart to (or you want to encourage to) invest in a college age person...you just found it.
[The following exert is taken from the back cover]:
Many churches and families have programmed a youth ministry finish line at twelfth grade. We walk our seniors out the door, breathe a sigh of relief, and let them disappear for a few years. We assume they'll return to church later, probably as adults with young families in tow.
The problem is, if we let them go, we may never see them again. Too old for youth group and uncomfortable with labels, college-aged and twentysomething Christians become disconnected from faith. Almost imperceptibly, they become less and less involved in church and faith and, eventually, absent altogether - in what we call the slow fade. Yet as these young people face critical decisions that affect the rest of their lives, they need their faith communities more than ever.
So what's the answer? You. Coauthors Reggie Joiner, Chuck Bomar, and Abbie Smith - a senior pastor, a college pastor, and a twentysomething - offer insight and suggestions and make a compelling case for personal, intergenerational relationships as the way to stop the slow fade. It's easier than you think!
Description
Table Of Contents:
Introduction: A note to the reader Chapter 1 The Invisible Years Chapter 2 Personal Epic Chapter 3 Common Ground Chapter 4 Mentoring Redefined Chapter 5 A New Breed of Leader Chapter 6 Community of Faith Chapter 7 Mutual Transformation Appendix A A Note to Ministry Leaders Appendix B Myths and Hesitations Appendix C Shifting Perspectives
About the authors:
Reggie Joiner is the founder and CEO of the reThink Group, a nonprofit organization providing resources and training to help churches maximize their influence on the spritual growth of the next generation. He is the author of Think Orange, The Orange Leader Handbook, and coauthor of 7 Practices of Effective Ministry.
Chuck Bomar served for more than eight years as student/university pastor at Cornerstone in Simi Valley, California. Founder of CollegeLeader.org and author of College Ministry 101, he is now senior pastor of Colossae in Portland, Oregon. He and his wife, Barbara, have two beautiful daughters.
Abbie Smith wrote her first book, Can You Keep Your Faith in College?, while she was in college. She recently graduated from Talbot Seminary with a degree in spiritual formation and soul care and resides in Savannah, Georgia, as a writer and spiritual director.
Note: this book releases May 1, 2010, so will not ship until that date