Additional information
by Chap Clark (Author), Steven Argue (Foreword by)
Outreach 2019 Recommended Resource of the Year (Youth and Children)
Teens and emerging adults don't feel at home in the church because they are not fully included in the church body. How can congregations nurture young adults, welcome them as siblings into God's household, and empower them to become fully embedded contributors within and to their faith community?
Integrating the latest research on adolescent faith and young adult ministry for the local church, this book presents a new way of thinking about youth ministry. Chap Clark offers today's youth leaders highly practical principles based on his extensive experience, showing how they can implement a sustainable youth ministry program in their local church. He presents the adoptive youth ministry model as a way to help congregations see youth ministry as a bridge to inclusion, participation, and contribution in the body of Christ. Clark's comprehensive plan for designing and implementing youth ministry shows churches how to intentionally welcome young people and create an environment where they belong.
Back Jacket
"Another winner from the mind and heart of Chap Clark"
"I read everything that Chap Clark writes on youth ministry with eager anticipation of being challenged, inspired, and motivated to figure out how to care for students in a deeper way. Adoptive Church, another winner from the mind and heart of Chap Clark, provides that deeper way. I highly recommend it."--Doug Fields, author of Purpose-Driven Youth Ministry; cofounder of Downloadyouthministry.com "Clark is one of the leading experts in the world on helping young people and emerging adults be energized with their faith. As a professor, he offers research and content that are second to none. As the senior pastor of one of America's finest churches, he understands how to integrate this research into the practical and life-changing principles needed today in every church. An important message for this generation of church leaders."
--Jim Burns, president, HomeWord; author of Confident Parenting and Creating an Intimate Marriage "Reflecting Clark's deepest convictions, Adoptive Church concretely presents the theology and practices of a church that welcomes adolescents as family."
--Cheryl Crawford, Azusa Pacific University "Don't read this book unless you are ready to think seriously about your ministry with young people. Do read this book if you want your young people to become lifelong disciples who take their place in the work and fellowship of God's kingdom. This is wisdom that can benefit us all."
--Ken Knipp, vice president of training, Young Life "Few can argue with the relative failure of the common programmatic youth ministry strategy for passing on faith to the next generation. Acknowledging his own failures, Clark jumps into the middle of the discussion to challenge your thinking about how we have been doing youth ministry for decades. If your passion is to see youth and emerging adults on a successful journey of becoming like Christ, then you need to read Adoptive Church. Clark provides practical steps to implement the changes necessary to create an adoptive environment where adolescent faith can grow and become deeply rooted."
--Jay Sedwick, Dallas Theological Seminary
Author Biography
Chap Clark (PhD, University of Denver), one of today's leading voices in youth and young adult ministry, is senior pastor at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, California. He is also president of ParenTeen, works closely with Young Life, and taught for over twenty years at Fuller Theological Seminary. A speaker, trainer, and consultant with more than thirty-five years of ministry experience, Clark is the author or coauthor of numerous books, including the bestsellers Hurt 2.0 and Sticky Faith, and has edited and contributed to Adoptive Youth Ministry and Youth Ministry in the 21st Century. Follow him on Twitter: @chapclark.
