Return to flip book view
CHURCHCHURCHGrowing Young AssessmentGrowing Young AssessmentPowered by the Fuller Youth InstituteMonterey Church of ChristMonterey Church of ChristChurch Assessment Report | February 12, 2020Church Assessment Report | February 12, 2020
03040607082025Table of ContentsTable of ContentsIntroductionThe Growing Young WheelSummary of DemographicsChurch Summary Scores6 Core Commitment ResultsDetailed Demographic ResultsCreating Your Growing Young PlanBased on the model in the bestsellingbook, Growing YoungGrowing Youngfulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
IntroductionIntroductionStart with reality.Congratulations on taking the important and courageous step to complete thisassessment and define the reality of your congregation’s unique culture. Thisreport will shed light on how well your church is positioned to engageteenagers and young adults, as well as help you take next steps in a way thatbrings life and vitality to your overall congregation.To maximize your interpretation of these results, we recommend that some orall of your team read the book Growing Young. To help you get started, thefollowing pages of this report include a summary of the core concepts fromthe book.While the reality of so many congregations in America is that they findthemselves aging and shrinking, this doesn’t have to be your reality. You canbecome a church that young people increasingly discover and love, and youcan do so without buying into the hype or leaving older generations behind.We invite you to lean into your calling as a Jesus-centered community for allgenerations and allow the insights in this report to guide your next steps.3Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org3Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
The Growing Young WheelThe Growing Young WheelKeychain LeadershipKeychain LeadershipInstead of centralizing authority,empower others—especiallyyoung people.Empathy TodayEmpathy TodayInstead of judging or criticizing,step into the shoes of thisgeneration.Jesus’ MessageJesus’ MessageInstead of asserting formulaicgospel claims, welcome youngpeople into a Jesus-centered way oflife.Warm RelationshipsWarm RelationshipsInstead of focusing on coolworship or programs, aim forwarm peer and intergenerationalfriendships.Prioritize EverywherePrioritize EverywhereInstead of giving lip service tohow much young people matter,look for creative ways to tangiblysupport, resource, and involvethem in all facets of yourcongregation.Best NeighborsBest NeighborsInstead of condemning the worldoutside your walls, enable youngpeople to neighbor well locally andglobally.4Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Core Commitments SummaryCore Commitments SummaryOur deep and wide analysis of over 250 of our nation’s most innovative churches unearthed aGrowing Young Wheel and six core commitments. While there is no guarantee that enactingthese six core commitments in your congregation will produce better engagement withteenagers and young adults, they are the most universal commitments in churches with thegreatest proven effectiveness. In other words, while there are dozens of areas you could investyour time and energy, these are the six areas we think are most essential and where you shouldbegin.Note that the goal is not just to understand where you’re strong and weak, but also to movetoward a high score in each core commitment. This requires more than having good intentionsor hiring a great youth pastor. It requires long-term consistency, discipline, and careful attentionto the culture of your overall church. The good news? What’s good for young people is quitelikely good for the health of your whole congregation. For more context on this approach, seechapter 1 in Growing Young.The Assessment ScaleThe Assessment ScaleParticipants were asked to rate how true each of the statements in the assessment were of yourchurch overall. One is the lowest score, five is the highest, and an option for “Not Sure” was alsoincluded. Please note that for the purposes of this assessment, young people were defined asthose ages 15-29.5Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Summary of DemographicsSummary of DemographicsThe information below provides a snapshot ofthose whose voices are represented in yourassessment report. The ideal is that the groupwho participated in this assessment would be afairly representative sample of your overallcongregation.The scores on the next several pages areaverages based on everyone in your church whocompleted a survey. Beginning on page 20 youcan view scores broken down by specificdemographic categories (such as age group orrole in the church).ResponsesResponses417417 COMPLETED COMPLETED 000000 PARTIALLY COMPLETED PARTIALLY COMPLETEDAge GroupsAge Groups013013 AGES 14-17 AGES 14-17 037037 AGES 40-49 AGES 40-49023023 AGES 18-23 AGES 18-23 076076 AGES 50-59 AGES 50-59034034 AGES 24-29 AGES 24-29 106106 AGES 60-69 AGES 60-69066066 AGES 30-39 AGES 30-39 060060 AGES 70+ AGES 70+Role in the ChurchRole in the Church008008 PASTOR OR CHURCH STAFF PASTOR OR CHURCH STAFF 269269 REGULAR ATTENDEE/PARTICIPANT REGULAR ATTENDEE/PARTICIPANT021021 CHURCH LEADERSHIP (NON-STAFF) CHURCH LEADERSHIP (NON-STAFF) 012012 OCCASIONAL ATTENDEE/PARTICIPANT OCCASIONAL ATTENDEE/PARTICIPANT104104 ACTIVE VOLUNTEER ACTIVE VOLUNTEER 003003 OTHER OTHERLength of InvolvementLength of Involvement047047 0-2 YEARS 0-2 YEARS 114114 11-20 YEARS 11-20 YEARS074074 3-5 YEARS 3-5 YEARS 109109 21-50 YEARS 21-50 YEARS071071 6-10 YEARS 6-10 YEARS 002002 51+ YEARS 51+ YEARS6Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Church Summary ScoresChurch Summary ScoresThis diagram reflects your overall church scores on each of the six core commitments. Yourcongregation’s assessment results indicate that Jesus’ message, best neighbors and warmrelationships are areas where your church is doing well. Keychain leadership, empathy todayand prioritize everywhere are areas where your church has some room for improvement.More detailed explanation of the ratings that were used to calculate your score on each corecommitment is contained on the next several pages. High: Above 3.75 Medium: Between 3.25 - 3.74 Low: Below 3.257Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
6 Core Commitment Results6 Core Commitment ResultsNot at all TrueNot at all True11 Slightly TrueSlightly True22 Moderately TrueModerately True33 Very TrueVery True44 Completely TrueCompletely True55 3.34 3.32 4.00 3.82 3.57 3.89Keychain Leadership: Your church received amedium score, which indicates you may need toimprove when it comes to empowering young people.We recommend prioritizing this area after other areaswhere you may have received a low score.Empathy Today: Your church received a mediumscore, which indicates you may need to improve atmoving beyond judging and criticizing and insteadstepping into the shoes of this generation. Werecommend prioritizing this area after other areaswhere you may have received a low scoreJesus’ Message: our church received a high score,which indicates you are doing well welcoming youngpeople into a Jesus-centered way of life. This may notbe the first area for you to focus your attention.Warm Relationships: Your church received a highscore, which indicates you are doing well creating anenvironment that is welcoming, accepting, authentic,hospitable, and caring. This may not be the first areafor you to focus your attention.Prioritize Everywhere: Your church received amedium score, which indicates you may need toimprove in your tangible, systemic commitment toallocate resources and attention to young peopleacross the life of your congregation. We recommendprioritizing this area after other areas where you mayhave received a low score.Best Neighbors: Your church received a high score,which indicates you do well going beyondcondemning the world outside your walls andenabling young people to neighbor well locally andglobally. This may not be the first area for you tofocus your attention.Keychain LeadershipKeychain LeadershipEmpathy TodayEmpathy TodayJesus’ MessageJesus’ MessageWarm RelationshipsWarm RelationshipsPrioritize EverywherePrioritize EverywhereBest NeighborsBest Neighbors8Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Unlock Keychain LeadershipUnlock Keychain LeadershipNot at all TrueNot at all True11 Slightly TrueSlightly True22 Moderately TrueModerately True33 Very TrueVery True44 Completely TrueCompletely True55…actively seeks out young people to take on responsibilities.3.25 …trusts young people with leadership responsibilities.3.38 …asks young people to participate in making important decisions.2.96 …invites young people to serve in key ministry roles.3.38 …empowers young leaders to take on challenges.3.33 …supports creative ideas and initiatives suggested by young people.3.38 …equips young people with the skills they need to lead ministries.3.34 …has experienced leaders who are training younger leaders.3.67 Your Church’s Average Score: 3.34Your Church’s Average Score: 3.34Keychain Leadership is a spirit and commitment demonstrated bypaid and volunteer leaders that permeates every area of the church.By keys, we mean the capabilities, power, and access of leaders thatcarry the potential to empower young people. Congregations thatdemonstrate keychain leadership move beyond centralizedauthority and empower others (especially young people) with theirown set of keys.9Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Empathize with Today’s Young PeopleEmpathize with Today’s Young PeopleNot at all TrueNot at all True11 Slightly TrueSlightly True22 Moderately TrueModerately True33 Very TrueVery True44 Completely TrueCompletely True55…is sensitive to the needs of different age groups in our church.3.61 …has healthy conversations about generational differences.3.26 …recognizes the problems young people face in their day-to-day lives.3.38 …makes efforts to put itself “in the shoes” of young people.3.12 …is made up of adults who go out of their way to better understand young people’s perspectives.3.19 Your Church’s Average Score: 3.32Your Church’s Average Score: 3.32Beyond judging or criticizing, empathy is your church’s ability to stepinto the shoes of this generation.10Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Take Jesus’ Message SeriouslyTake Jesus’ Message SeriouslyNot at all TrueNot at all True11 Slightly TrueSlightly True22 Moderately TrueModerately True33 Very TrueVery True44 Completely TrueCompletely True55…has preaching that is relevant to people’s daily lives.3.92 …makes faith relevant to people’s daily lives.4.04 …preaches about the everyday implications of the gospel.4.00 …helps people see how their daily actions are part of God’s story.3.95 …encourages people to live out their faith in their daily actions.4.28 …challenges people to grow in their faith.4.07 …helps people understand their place in God’s story.3.91 …helps people apply Scripture to their everyday lives.3.97 …teaches people to trust Jesus even when it might cost them something.3.99 …encourages people to share their faith with others.4.05 …trains people to engage regularly in spiritual practices (e.g., prayer, reading the Bible).3.75 Your Church’s Average Score: 4.00Your Church’s Average Score: 4.00The commitment to take Jesus’ message seriously is both ademonstrated action and an overall spirit or ethos in churchesgrowing young. Instead of asserting formulaic gospel claims, itfocuses on welcoming young people into a Jesus-centered way oflife.11Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Fuel a Warm CommunityFuel a Warm CommunityNot at all TrueNot at all True11 Slightly TrueSlightly True22 Moderately TrueModerately True33 Very TrueVery True44 Completely TrueCompletely True55…makes visitors feel welcome.3.63 …is hospitable.3.89 …makes people feel accepted.3.75 …feels like a family.3.81 …integrates newcomers well.3.39 …has people who stay because of the strong sense of community.3.91 …is a place where people feel safe sharing their story.3.96 …supports families well.4.08 …helps people of all ages feel like they belong.3.59 …is a community I trust.4.14 Your Church’s Average Score: 3.82Your Church’s Average Score: 3.82Young people are drawn to churches with a warm sense ofcommunity, which they describe using words such as welcoming,accepting, belonging, authentic, hospitable, and caring.12Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Prioritize Young People (and Families) EverywherePrioritize Young People (and Families) EverywhereNot at all TrueNot at all True11 Slightly TrueSlightly True22 Moderately TrueModerately True33 Very TrueVery True44 Completely TrueCompletely True55…includes young people in all appropriate areas of ministry.3.44 …makes young people a primary focus.3.20 …has a thoughtful approach in our ministry to people in their 20’s.3.07 …invests sufficient resources in programming for young people.3.63 …allocates a significant proportion of our budget to young people.3.62 …consists of adults who are investing in young people.3.66 …values young people’s presence in our main worship gatherings.3.77 …has young people whose involvement makes our church better.3.86 …has a thoughtful approach in our ministry to teenagers.3.97 …has enough volunteers or staff members who minister to young people.3.35 Your Church’s Average Score: 3.57Your Church’s Average Score: 3.57Prioritizing Young People Everywhere is a tangible, systemiccommitment to allocate resources and attention to young people—not only through specific youth or young adult programming, butalso across the life of the congregation.13Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Be the Best NeighborsBe the Best NeighborsNot at all TrueNot at all True11 Slightly TrueSlightly True22 Moderately TrueModerately True33 Very TrueVery True44 Completely TrueCompletely True55…actively responds to global crises.3.51 …spends a generous amount of our financial resources caring for those outside of our congregation.3.96 …partners with the local community in significant ways.4.20 …shares stories of people or events from the global community.3.81 …actively cares for people in our neighborhood, including those who aren’t part of our church.3.80 …has a reputation as a caring neighbor in our community.4.11 …provides ongoing care to people living in other countries.4.18 …makes serving those in need a high priority.4.09 …actively addresses injustices in our society.3.14 …would be missed by the local community if we left.4.00 Your Church’s Average Score: 3.89Your Church’s Average Score: 3.89Churches that grow young go beyond condemning the world outsidetheir walls and enable young people to neighbor well locally andglobally.14Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Openness to ChangeOpenness to ChangeWhile your scores on the six core commitments provide a snapshot of where your church isnow, much of your work moving forward will be to determine how much change needs to takeplace and how quickly those changes should be implemented. While these components aredistinct from the research behind the six Growing Young core commitments, your scores on thispage and the next may help you discern next steps.The scores immediately below represent how open your church is to implementing necessarychanges for the sake of its mission.Not at all TrueNot at all True11 Slightly TrueSlightly True22 Moderately TrueModerately True33 Very TrueVery True44 Completely TrueCompletely True55…has key leaders who are willing to make changes when necessary.4.02 …has many people who are willing to contribute to making changes.3.68 …is open to making changes to strengthen our ministry with young people.3.90 Your Church’s Average Score: 3.87Your Church’s Average Score: 3.87Your church received a high score in this area, which indicates your congregation is quite opento changing for increased health and effectiveness. As you consider future shifts, there is likelyexisting energy or flexibility you can tap into and maximize.15Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Urgency for ChangeUrgency for ChangeUrgency for change is an understanding that changes must take place to improve the healthand effectiveness of your church. While your score on openness to change indicates if yourcongregation is open to changing at some point, your score on urgency for change indicates ifyour congregation sees a need for changes now.Not at all TrueNot at all True11 Slightly TrueSlightly True22 Moderately TrueModerately True33 Very TrueVery True44 Completely TrueCompletely True55…must make significant changes to strengthen our ministry with young people.3.16 …has key leaders who want changes to happen now.3.70 …has many people who want changes to happen now.3.38 Your Church’s Average Score: 3.41Your Church’s Average Score: 3.41Your church received a medium score in this area, which indicates your congregation may notthink changes need to happen now. You might want to do additional work or exploration herebefore introducing changes quickly.16Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Avg. ScoreAvg. Score4.284.204.184.144.114.094.08Strongest AreasStrongest AreasThis page represents the seven statements that received the highestaverage ratings in your congregation, along with the correspondingcore commitment for each statement. Reflect on any commonalities orpatterns you observe between the statements.StatementStatement…encourages people to live out their faith in their daily actions.Jesus’ MessageJesus’ Message…partners with the local community in significant ways.Best NeighborsBest Neighbors…provides ongoing care to people living in other countries.Best NeighborsBest Neighbors…is a community I trust.Warm RelationshipsWarm Relationships…has a reputation as a caring neighbor in our community.Best NeighborsBest Neighbors…makes serving those in need a high priority.Best NeighborsBest Neighbors…supports families well.Warm RelationshipsWarm Relationships17Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Avg. ScoreAvg. Score2.963.073.123.143.163.193.20Weakest AreasWeakest AreasThis page represents the seven statements that received the lowestaverage ratings in your congregation, along with the correspondingcore commitment for each statement. Reflect on any commonalities orpatterns you observe between the statements.StatementStatement…asks young people to participate in making important decisions.Keychain LeadershipKeychain Leadership…has a thoughtful approach in our ministry to people in their 20’s.Prioritize EverywherePrioritize Everywhere…makes efforts to put itself “in the shoes” of young people.Empathy TodayEmpathy Today…actively addresses injustices in our society.Best NeighborsBest Neighbors…must make significant changes to strengthen our ministry with young people.Urgency for ChangeUrgency for Change…is made up of adults who go out of their way to better understand young people’sperspectives.Empathy TodayEmpathy Today…makes young people a primary focus.Prioritize EverywherePrioritize Everywhere18Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Avg. ScoreAvg. Score3.163.073.352.963.383.263.25Areas of Key DifferencesAreas of Key DifferencesThe information below reflects the seven statements in which participants from yourcongregation differed most significantly. These are areas to pay attention to, as perspectives inyour church may be sharply divided. For each statement, the average rating is provided on theright. Below the average rating, the number of participants who selected each score is reflected.StatementStatement…must make significant changes to strengthen our ministry with young people. (Urgency)Not At All True: 31 Slightly True: 70 Moderately True: 95 Very True: 89 Completely True: 48…has a thoughtful approach in our ministry to people in their 20’s. (Prioritize)Not At All True: 28 Slightly True: 63 Moderately True: 87 Very True: 79 Completely True: 30…has enough volunteers or staff members who minister to young people. (Prioritize)Not At All True: 29 Slightly True: 34 Moderately True: 90 Very True: 119 Completely True: 41…asks young people to participate in making important decisions. (Keychain)Not At All True: 28 Slightly True: 69 Moderately True: 96 Very True: 64 Completely True: 25…invites young people to serve in key ministry roles. (Keychain)Not At All True: 14 Slightly True: 62 Moderately True: 93 Very True: 111 Completely True: 53…has healthy conversations about generational differences. (Empathy)Not At All True: 22 Slightly True: 60 Moderately True: 139 Very True: 102 Completely True: 49…actively seeks out young people to take on responsibilities. (Keychain)Not At All True: 13 Slightly True: 65 Moderately True: 106 Very True: 84 Completely True: 4219Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Detailed Demographic ResultsDetailed Demographic ResultsWhile page six provided you with a snapshot of whose voices are represented in this report, thenext several pages provide you with a more detailed look at how the scores differ whenorganized by demographic categories (including age group, role in the church, and gender). Asyou review the scores below, consider where there are areas of significant difference orsimilarity, and what the implications might be for your congregation.In order to protect anonymity, if a demographic category only includes one response, thatresponse will not be visible.Ratings Based on Age GroupRatings Based on Age GroupThe information below and on page twenty-one provides greater insight into the participationand responses of different age groups. The bar graph (labeled “Number of Respondents in EachAge Group”) reflects the number of participants from each age group. The table on page twenty-one (labeled “Table of Average Ratings by Age Group”) reflects the average scores from each agegroup on the six core commitments, as well as openness and urgency for change. The linegraph on page twenty-one (labeled “Graph of Average Ratings by Age Group”) represents thesame numbers as the table, but presents it in graph form.Number of Respondents in Each Age GroupNumber of Respondents in Each Age GroupAges 14-17Ages 14-17Ages 18-23Ages 18-23Ages 24-29Ages 24-29Ages 30-39Ages 30-39Ages 40-49Ages 40-49Ages 50+Ages 50+ 1313 2323 3434 6666 3737 24224220Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Table of Average Ratings by Age GroupTable of Average Ratings by Age GroupAgesAges14 to 1714 to 17 AgesAges18 to 2318 to 23 AgesAges24 to 2924 to 29 AgesAges30 to 3930 to 39 AgesAges40 to 4940 to 49 AgeAge50+50+KeychainKeychain 3.17 3.06 2.96 3.27 3.47 3.45EmpathyEmpathy 2.77 2.98 2.86 3.28 3.36 3.47MessageMessage 3.55 3.76 3.88 4.07 4.03 4.04WarmWarm 3.44 3.77 3.83 3.75 3.56 3.89PrioritizePrioritize 3.48 3.30 3.07 3.50 3.64 3.68NeighborsNeighbors 3.50 3.68 3.92 4.00 3.93 3.90OpennessOpenness 3.12 3.79 3.73 3.93 3.87 3.92UrgencyUrgency 3.41 3.49 3.53 3.57 3.44 3.33Graph of Average Ratings by Age GroupGraph of Average Ratings by Age Group21Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Ratings Based on Role in the ChurchRatings Based on Role in the ChurchThe information below and on page twenty-three provides greater insight into the participationand responses of those in different roles in your church. The bar graph (labeled “Number ofRespondents Based on Church Role”) reflects the number of participants from each rolecategory. The table on page twenty-three (labeled “Table of Average Ratings by Church Role”)reflects the average scores from each role category on the six core commitments, as well asopenness and urgency for change. The line graph on page twenty-three (labeled “Graph ofAverage Ratings by Church Role”) represents the same numbers as the table, but presents it ingraph form.Number of Respondents Based on Church RoleNumber of Respondents Based on Church RolePastor or ChurchPastor or ChurchStaffStaffChurch LeadershipChurch Leadership(Non-Staff)(Non-Staff)Active VolunteerActive VolunteerRegular Attendee/Regular Attendee/ParticipantParticipantOccasional Attendee/Occasional Attendee/ParticipantParticipantOtherOther 88 2121 104104 269269 1212 3322Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Table of Average Ratings by Church RoleTable of Average Ratings by Church RolePastor /Pastor /Church StaffChurch Staff LeadershipLeadership(Non-Staff)(Non-Staff) ActiveActiveVolunteerVolunteer RegularRegularAttendeeAttendee OccasionalOccasionalAttendeeAttendee OtherOtherKeychainKeychain 2.60 2.94 3.15 3.49 3.54 3.52EmpathyEmpathy 2.49 3.13 3.08 3.46 3.61 3.36MessageMessage 3.71 3.87 3.85 4.07 4.02 3.94WarmWarm 3.59 3.80 3.71 3.88 3.70 3.66PrioritizePrioritize 3.09 3.34 3.40 3.68 3.53 3.83NeighborsNeighbors 3.74 3.64 3.81 3.95 3.83 4.26OpennessOpenness 3.46 3.75 3.77 3.92 3.97 4.00UrgencyUrgency 3.26 3.28 3.41 3.43 3.22 4.00Graph of Average Ratings by Church RoleGraph of Average Ratings by Church Role23Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Ratings Based on GenderRatings Based on GenderThe information below provides greater insight into the participation and responses of men andwomen in your church. The bar graph (labeled “Number of Respondents Based on Gender”)reflects the number of male and female participants. The table (labeled “Table of AverageRatings by Gender”) reflects the average scores from men and women on the six corecommitments, as well as openness and urgency for change.Number of Respondents Based on GenderNumber of Respondents Based on GenderMaleMaleFemaleFemaleTable of Average Ratings by GenderTable of Average Ratings by GenderMaleMale FemaleFemaleKeychain LeadershipKeychain Leadership 3.34 3.35Empathy TodayEmpathy Today 3.33 3.32Jesus’ MessageJesus’ Message 4.00 3.99Warm RelationshipsWarm Relationships 3.84 3.80Prioritize EverywherePrioritize Everywhere 3.56 3.57Best NeighborsBest Neighbors 3.85 3.92Openness to ChangeOpenness to Change 3.89 3.85Urgency for ChangeUrgency for Change 3.40 3.41 179179 23823824Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Creating Your Growing Young PlanCreating Your Growing Young PlanPractical ideas and exercises for the journeyThis report sheds light on the currentreality of your church and how well it ispositioned to engage young people. Yournext step is to ensure the insights you’vegained move from ideas on paper or inyour head and propel your congregationin the direction God is leading. On thefollowing pages, you will find practicalideas to move forward on each corecommitment (you can find additional ideasin each corresponding chapter of thebook), as well as exercises to help youreflect on your results and create a planfor your church to thrive.Note that it is central to growing youngthat your church achieves a level ofthreshold competency in each of the corecommitments, rather than settling forbeing high in some and low in others. Werecommend you work through thefollowing pages alongside chapter 8 of thebook Growing Young, which provides morepractical advice on navigating change forthe long haul.25Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Unlocking Keychain LeadershipUnlocking Keychain LeadershipChurches that grow young are brimming with staff, volunteers, and parents who demonstratekeychain leadership. Keys refer to the capabilities, power, and access of leaders that carry thepotential to empower young people. Keychain leaders are pastoral and congregational leaderswho are acutely aware of the keys on their keychain and intentional about entrusting andempowering all generations, including teenagers and emerging adults, with their own sets ofkeys.Ideas for ActionIdeas for ActionEvaluate your own keychain leadership. List your major responsibilities in a singlecolumn, then in a second column note whether you hold the keys to that area, have sharedthe keys to that area, or have given away the keys to that area. Consider ways you mighttrain someone else and hand over the keys. You might even take a step further by seekingfeedback from one or two trusted leaders about how well you share the keys of leadership.Empower young leaders to envision new doors with new keys. Keychain leadership isn’tjust about giving young people keys to existing doors or expecting them to carry on existingsystems and structures, but inviting them to help envision new ways forward. Further,practicing keychain leadership requires mutuality, which may mean no more “business-as-usual.” Discuss what new doors and new keys might be needed in your congregation.Empathizing with Today’s Young PeopleEmpathizing with Today’s Young PeopleChurches that grow young dive into the deep waters of teenagers’ and young adults’ lives.Empathy goes beyond patronizing young people and displaying a superficial or false sympathy.At its best, empathy is feeling with young people, sitting on the curbs of their lives, celebratingtheir dreams, and grieving over their despair.Ideas for ActionIdeas for ActionRewind to your own journey as a young person. If you have access to your oldyearbooks, pictures, videos, or journals from those seasons, take a few moments to perusethem. What was your own quest for identity, belonging, and purpose like? What helped yousurge ahead? What roadblocks slowed your progress? How can these memories increaseyour empathy for the teenagers and young adults in your church?Dive deeper into relationships with the young people in your church. Start with oneteenager or young adult and let them know you want to understand their world. If you feelout of touch with youth culture, or even culture overall, admit it. Ask them to help you. Thendo the same with another young person.26Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Taking Jesus’ Message SeriouslyTaking Jesus’ Message SeriouslyIn churches growing young, Jesus reigns over poor theology and his words ring true for youngsojourners hungry for life-giving direction. Proclaiming Jesus as the centerpiece of the story ofGod and seeking to live out his message in everyday relationships, these churches reclaim thevery heart of the Good News. This commitment to take Jesus’ message seriously is both ademonstrated action and an overall spirit or ethos.Ideas for ActionIdeas for ActionAsk a handful of young people in your church what they believe. Invite a few highschool students, college-age emerging adults, and young adults in their late twenties tomeet individually or in small groups. Ask them to describe the gospel to you as theyunderstand it. Perhaps start with the question, “How would you describe your faith toothers?” Use their responses to help you identify gaps in understanding and inform howyou teach, preach, or select curriculum.Emphasize being saved for something now, not just fromfrom something later. One leadershared with us, “The gospel doesn’t sound like good news if it doesn’t apply until afteryou’re dead.” With your team, discuss what an appropriate emphasis might look like foryour church.Fueling a Warm CommunityFueling a Warm CommunityOur research reveals that church structures and programs are important, but alone they simplyare not enough to effectively engage younger generations. Young people are searching forwarmth, which they describe using words such as welcoming, accepting, belonging, authentic,hospitable, and caring. Warmth is more than superficial community. It‘s like family. In fact, thephrase “like family” surfaced as one of the most common terms young people used to describetheir church in our study.Ideas for ActionIdeas for ActionAsk a handful of young people in your church to gauge the congregation’s relationaltemperature. On a scale of icy, cool, room temperature, or fireside warm, what rating wouldthey give your community? Ask why they think the temperature is what it is and what ideasthey have for fostering more warmth.Consider how your worship gatherings might function less like a theatre and more like afamily room. This might not necessarily mean physically, but in terms of the tone and feelof the gathering. How might you help people feel at home among the church community?27Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Prioritizing Young People (and Families) EverywherePrioritizing Young People (and Families) EverywhereThe hinge point separating churches that grow old from those that grow young is priority. Whenchurches prioritize young people—and their families—everywhere, they take a step beyond bothempathy and warmth. They allocate resources, energy, and attention to teenagers and young adultsboth inside and outside their walls. You will need everyone in your church to prioritize young people ifyou hope to make worthwhile and lasting progress.Ideas for ActionIdeas for ActionGather others from your congregation to discuss how well and where young people areprioritized. Using a “red-light, yellow-light, green-light” metric, list current ministries of the churchand assign a color to each ministry based on how much young people are prioritized in that area.A green light means high priority, a yellow light means medium priority, and a red light means lowpriority. Lead a follow-up discussion identifying why young people have, and haven’t, beenprioritized in particular areas.Ask this question of every ministry in your church: “How could young people be part of thisministry [or more significantly involved]?” Are there areas of your church where young people areunintentionally excluded simply because you haven’t considered how they might be involved?Being the Best NeighborsBeing the Best NeighborsChurches growing young strive to be the best neighbors, both locally and globally. They wiselymaintain a balance as they interact with our culture and world. On the one hand, they do not simplymimic the surrounding culture. On the other hand, they are not so separate from the world that theylose their ability to relate. This careful dance affects how they serve, pursue justice, help teenagers andyoung adults find their calling, interact with popular culture, and respond to heated issues.Ideas for ActionIdeas for ActionBetter understand who your neighbors are. Begin by examining census data of yourneighborhood. Pay attention to household income, ethnic and age diversity, and poverty andeducation levels. Does anything surprise you? Consider gathering a group who will study yourcommunity more intently based on what you learn through census data. Host gatherings withneighbors, informally survey community members about their needs, and meet with localgovernment and law enforcement workers to understand important issues.Examine your church’s theology of culture and how it contributes to your congregation’sinteractions with the world outside your doors. With your leadership team (and a few teenagers oremerging adults) discuss the following questions: What do our current actions and publiccommunication reveal about our posture toward culture and the world around us? What do weactually believe about how our church should interact with culture and the world around us? Aswe compare what we actually believe to what we currently communicate, what are two or threeshifts our church needs to make in order to be the best neighbors?28Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Determining Your Next StepsDetermining Your Next StepsUse the prompts on this page to help your team move from an understanding of what needs tochange to creating a plan for how your church can make those changes. You might considerhaving members of your team work through these questions first on their own, then workthrough them together as a team.1. Review your scores on the six core commitments (especially pages 7-14). Which two corecommitments are most important for your church to work on first? As you look at the moredetailed scores within those two core commitments, are there specific areas where youneed to improve most?2. Considering your seven strongest and weakest ratings (pages 17-18), what commonalitiesor patterns stand out? How might you respond to or address these?3. Review your scores on the ratings by age group (pages 20-21). How well do different agegroups align and differ in their responses? What are the implications of this for yourchurch?4. What do your scores about openness and urgency for change (pages 15-16) tell you abouthow willing your congregation is to make changes, as well as how quickly you shouldintroduce those changes?29Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
5. What else do you find insightful or noteworthy about your assessment results?6. Reflecting on your answers to the questions above, what are 2-4 goals you might want toset as next steps?7. Do you have the best voices represented in this conversation in order to make progress onthese goals? Who are other stakeholders who should be involved and how might youinvolve them?8. How and when will you share these results with your congregation?30Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org
Ready to make strategic shiftsReady to make strategic shiftsthat will last?that will last?Let our expert team help you grow youngThrough our work with hundreds of churches, we’ve found growing young is more like amarathon than a sprint. We want to continue to support you on your journey, especially as youhit roadblocks or if you’re not making progress as fast as you’d like. These next steps can helpyou shift your congregational culture: Rather than put all the work on your shoulders toconvince others this topic is important, allow thebook to do the work for you. Gather a group ofleaders (perhaps staff, volunteers, elders or boardmembers, or parents) and read through the booktogether. Discounts for bulk purchases can befound at:fulleryouthinstitute.org/store/growingyoung You don’t have to guess about the best wayforward or shoulder the stress of change on yourown. Allow one of our experienced, expertcoaches to help you keep the big picture in mindand focus your efforts strategically. Moreinformation can be found at:fulleryouthinstitute.org/assessment/coach Invite a dynamic Growing Young speaker tointroduce the content or build momentum for aleader training, parent meeting, sermon, or someother venue. More details at:https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/training/speakers If you’re ready to jumpstart full-scale culturechange, yearlong customized training through theGrowing Young Cohort is for you. You and otherteam members will participate in monthlywebinars, personalized coaching, 2 in-personsummits led by Growing Young co-authors andFuller Seminary faculty, and much more. Moreinformation can be found at:fulleryouthinstitute.org/growingyoung/cohort Ready for full-scale culture change, but prefer thatwe come to you? Enlist the expertise of one of ourexperienced consultants who will spend time onsite at your congregation and help you gainmaximum insight from your assessment results,discern and cast a compelling vision for yourcongregation’s future, and implement the changesnecessary to grow young. Find out more at:fulleryouthinstitute.org/assessment/consultantRead Growing Young as a team.Read Growing Young as a team.Connect to a coach.Connect to a coach.Invite a speaker.Invite a speaker.Join a cohort.Join a cohort.Enlist a consultant.Enlist a consultant.31Copyright © 2020 Fuller Youth Institute. All rights reserved.fulleryouthinstitute.orgfulleryouthinstitute.org