SDA Youth State of emergency
Seventh-day Adventist Youth/Young AdultsFebruary 20, 2009
Updated April 3, 2009
To: All Conference Youth/Young Adult Directors:
Dear Youth Directors:
We had an awesome time last month meeting with our committees and advisories in Myrtle Beach, SC. During these hard economic times we clearly understand why several of you were not present.
Last year, during our 2008 NAD Committee and Advisory Meetings in Dallas, TX, we discussed and shared a list of resources that needed to be developed to help meet the spiritual challenges and needs of our youth. Well, during our January 2009 meetings we introduced a taste of what is coming. A major Senior Youth Initiative was not only introduced but overwhelmingly embraced by the Youth Committee and Advisory. There was unanimous support for the concept and method for immediate development.
The ISSUE:
We are all tired of hearing about someone’s latest research on why youth are leaving the church. I became an elected conference youth director in 1991 and we are still doing the same research and drawing the same conclusions. Only now, we have become more sophisticated in how we share repeated conclusions. We just repackage the same old thing and offer a discount as a bargain. While I do not trivialize relevant research, I do question the lack of an intentional plan. In essence, let’s stop talking and get serious about remediating the problem. For example, a certain article was entitled “Where are the youth?” I am sure a nice sum of money was offered for the article which led to the author getting another research contract. I can answer that question for nothing: They are at home on Sabbath morning and other churches on Sunday morning!!!
The PROBLEM:
Many Adventist Churches are not very sensitive in understanding or meeting the needs of youth and young adults. Truth be told, some are doing their best while most could care less. If you need a research reference, just make a “random” visit on Sabbath morning. Allow me to create a metaphor to help us understand where we are and where we are going. Imagine the church as a swimming pool. Everybody is swimming. Some were born in the pool, some jumped in willingly, some were forced in, some are not sure how they got in, but they are all trying to swim.
Some are having an awesome time while others are not doing so well as they struggle to keep afloat. Worst, some are drowning and no one is aware.
The SIGN ignored: Perhaps many would not have gotten in if they had seen the sign posted in front of the church. It reads, “NO LIFE GUARD ON DUTY” “SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK”. Maybe now you can understand why we have the problem with youth and young adult attrition in SDA Church.
The SOLUTION:
John 10:10 “The thief comes to kill and to destroy, but I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” In essence, Jesus is the GOD of Life and His disciple or followers are Life Guards. Therefore this initiative will be named and called “MISSION LIFE GUARD” (MLG) Copyright © 2008 NAD.
The Lord impressed upon me to look at the structure of life guard training for some answers and we found plenty. Many are not familiar with how to recognize a youth or young adult in distress. Some may appear to be enjoying the splash but in reality they are drowning.
Therefore, for recruitment purposes we asked 56 people a survey or bait question - “How would you like to become a certified life guard without getting in the water?” 49 said yes, 5 asked how, and 2 were not sure. Test this for yourself.
Consider the team’s 4 Step process for development called “ ICE-G”
Step 1 – IDENTIFY (def. – to establish the identity)
One of the reasons the pathfinder ministry has survived so well in many places is because we know who the spotters are. In every church where there is a pathfinder ministry, there is a director. The director knows the area coordinator, the area coordinator knows the conference coordinator, the conference coordinator knows the union coordinator, and the union coordinator knows the division coordinator.
Let’s get to work! Here at the division, we have identified someone in the field who has a deep passion for senior youth to serve as our coordinator (the same as Allan Martin for young adults, Bill Wood for Camps, and Ron Pickell for Public Campuses). We have asked each union and conference to choose the same. Each conference will then choose 5 or 6 area coordinators according to their territorial structure. Therefore the spotter’s team should consist of the following:
Division – 1 Union -9 Conferences -58 Conference Areas 5 avg. x 58 = 290 Total Spotters – 358
Step 2 – CERTIFY (def. – to confirm formally as true, accurate or genuine)
Training Curriculum – In the spiritual realms, what constitutes the following:
Beginning Swimming
Intermediate Swimming
Advanced Swimming
LIFE GUARD Training
Water Safety Instructor (WSI – What does this stand for spiritually?) We have the answer!!!
First Aid, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc. Sorry, I can’t give too much or someone may get tempted to jump ahead of us. LOL (No problem, God already gave the punch line, this you don’t know, LOL)
Step 3 – EXEMPLIFY (def. – to illustrate by example)
This is an exciting part. I cannot comment any further, but I think you get the picture.
Step 4 – GLORIFY (def. – to give honor or praise)
This is the best part because it makes saving our youth and young adults worth the effort and challenge. Stay tuned!!!
ACTION PLAN
1. Launch concept – NAD Ministries Convention Myrtle beach January 2009
2. Letter to conference youth directors
3. Involve Youth/Young Adult Ministry Professional in Development
4. Have conference youth leaders select Spotters by March 1, 2009
5. Teleconference with all 358 spotters on March 16, 2009
6. Spotters have 7 days to email suggestions and comment to Taskforce
7. Development Taskforce Retreat (Confirmed) – April 19-22, 2009
8. Ready for Publication – May 1, 2009
9. Press Release – May 15, 2009
10. Sept. Teleconf. with Union & Conference MLG
11. Nov. Teleconf. With Union & Conference MLG – Prepare Training for 2010 JCI Prayer Conferences
12. Encourage conferences to add MLG with other scheduled training in 2010
13. Praise God for Step 4!!!!!!!!!!
Finally, we have something that will inspire every church member to become a Life Saver without getting in the water. We will be able to equip youth leaders, pastors, parents and most importantly, the youth. The most exciting part of this initiative, is that when a youth accepts the LIFE PRESERVER or wears the LIFE VEST by coming back to church. They too begin immediate training to become a certified MISSION LIFE GUARD. Once they are trained to save others they will have purpose for staying in the church.
For the immediate, we need your help with LEVEL 1 (IDENTIFY). Please make this a matter of much prayer as you hand pick leaders who will assist you in launching the MLG Initiative. We will provide a job description for the conference and area MLG candidates. Training can take place from a distance so this will not involve the need for a budget, etc. We are well into the electronic/digital age which makes it more convenient for training and support without cost. Of course Advent Youth Television will play a major part in televising training via the internet, etc.
There is much more to this, but I am trying to keep it short for now by just giving you a glimpse of how we will respond to this Youth Ministry State of Emergency in North America. We will get our precious youth back and by God’s grace the phrase “youth and young adult attrition in the SDA Church” will be a thing of the past as we prepare for our Lord’s soon coming.
We sincerely pray that you will not procrastinate on this, but follow through immediately and send the NAMES and EMAILS of your selected 5 or 6 MLG initial spotters in preparation for our call on March 16. This will be a brief 30 minute call to share the vision. Following the call, questions and comments can be emailed. Please send names to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and copy This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
It’s time to be INTENTIONAL about getting back at the enemy who has been responsible for drowning so many of our youth and young adults. Let’s begin saving some lives today. With this plan, the 358 can be the beginning for making certain we have trained, certified, designated MISSION LIFE GUARDS in all of our 6000 churches in NAD.
Teleconference Call Information:
Date: March 16, 2009
Time: 3:00 p.m. EST
Call Duration: 30 minutes
Number to Dial:
Code:
Number of Participants: 358
Attendance Record: When calling please say your name and conference (***Very Important***)
Please do not give this number to anyone else other than your designees. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Blessings,
James
