Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................................1
Summary........................................................................................................................................1
Commentary...................................................................................................................................3
Application.....................................................................................................................................4
Conclusion......................................................................................................................................6
Bibliography...................................................................................................................................7
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1
Introduction
Sticky Faith, by Powell et al., is a practical book that outlines and defines the struggles
and challenges faced with building a lasting faith in youth ministry. The authors equip their
readers with real-world approaches and studies that display the reality of making lasting impacts
on youth’s lives. The lessons learned from this book can be used to generate a motivated, gospel-
led ministry that can have a rippling effect on evangelism and other faith-based movements.
Applying these lessons can prepare the ministry leader to have a more effective and impactful
ministry that overflows into every aspect of the youth’s life, inside and outside the walls of the
church.
Summary
The authors start by defining what “sticky faith” is and the reality of youth ministry. This
reality is met with an intimidating realization that based on a survey conducted by the Barna
Group 40 to 50 percent of teens that attend youth groups quit attending after graduation.1 After
reading this discovery, the authors begin to paint the picture that there is a need for a deeper and
“stickier” faith to prevent the fall off from students after graduation. Understanding the drastic
drop is essential in preventing the amount of those who are no longer attending. The authors
focus on building a supportive community around youth ministry and families. Some of the ways
that this is addressed are by fostering relationships such as mentorships and implementing youth
into church settings so that they begin to gain a sense of belonging. Fostering relationships is
fundamental in the development of a youth’s faith. A quote by Dr. Christian Smith found that the
impressions left by parents are paramount in how children mature and grow in their faith. He
1 Powell, Kara Eckmann, Brad M. Griffin, and Cheryl A. Crawford. 2011. Sticky Faith: Practical Ideas to
Nurture Long-Term Faith in Teenagers. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. p 15
2
states that “The most important social influence in shaping young people’s religious lives is the
religious life modeled and taught to them by their parents.”2 Parents are without a doubt the most
influential aspect of a young person’s spiritual walk. Children who not only hear but also see
their parents living out their faith at home are more likely to be consistent with their faith as well
when they graduate high school and move on to other areas of their lives.
Mentorship is also another theme of Sticky Faith. Mentorships allow older people to pour
into the lives of youth and have them relate to their faith through circumstances and use the bible
to overcome obstacles in their lives. Studies have shown according to Erica Knuth that the more
adults who seek out youth to help in applying their faith to everyday walks the better.3 The
author’s approach to mentoring is a model called 5:1 mentoring.4 This mentoring approach
allows the child to bounce between a group of adults and receive advice as their needs vary,
similar to that of bumper rails on a bowling lane.
The overarching theme of the book is relationships and how they can develop students
into a deeper relationship that sticks throughout their lives. Throughout the book, the authors
take time to point to the practical aspects of their ideas. The approach is more than theoretical,
but applicational. This method allows the readers to see more than a two-dimensional view of the
theory and begin to see how they could implement these ideas into changes that are seen in their
youth ministry.
2 Christian Smith with Melinda Lundquist Denton,<Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of
American Teenagers<(New York: Oxford Press, 2005), 56.
3 Erika C. Knuth,<Intergenerational Connections and Faith Development in Late Adolescence, Unpublished
Doctoral Dissertation (Pasadena, CA: Fuller Theological Seminary, Graduate School of Psychology, 2010).
4 Powell, Kara Eckmann, Brad M. Griffin, and Cheryl A. Crawford. 2011. Sticky Faith: Practical Ideas to
Nurture Long-Term Faith in Teenagers. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. p 84
3
Another theme observed in the book is that the authors spend time discussing the
common challenges that young people face in maintaining their faith; these include doubts,
distractions, other priorities, and how to address them from a ministry leader. The authors do a
great job of outlining the issues that are associated with challenges so that they can be properly
addressed. Problems youth face today is unique in the sense of evolving technology but not
exclusive in that they are the first to be faced with hardships, these issues are tackled through
relationships.5
Commentary
The biblical application of this book is most important as one reads and begins to apply
these principles to their ministry. One theme discussed in the summary was building a supportive
community. Whether done through mentorship or family discipleship the bible points to the
importance of this theme. In Hebrews 10:24-25, the author is writing a letter of encouragement
to “consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not forsaking the
meeting together, but encourage each other” [NIV] The biblical discipleship seen in this passage
is that as believers, we are to build each other up in encouragement and love. The goal is by
doing this we can pursue righteousness through Christ and continue the Christian walk.
Another theme of Sticky Faith is authentic conversations, having those hard
conversations with young adults, to have spiritual breakthroughs and further their faith. In the
book of Psalms, for example, the psalmist uses strong emotion while speaking with God. This
dialogue demonstrates the transparency and his relationship with God. David is known to have
written a vast majority of the Psalms and is seen pleading and crying out to God for strength and
5 Burns, Jim, and Mike DeVries. 2008. Uncommon Youth Ministry: Your Onramp to Launching an
Extraordinary Youth Ministry. Ventura, CA, U.S.A.: Regal. p 45
4
understanding. Also seen in James 1:5 where the author is encouraging their readers to ask God
for wisdom without doubting. This signifies seeking clarity and understanding in the journey of
walking with God.
The authors are seen walking through challenges that youth and their leaders face. Many
times, it can seem “unchristian” to have struggles in the Christian walk. However, in John 16:33,
Jesus is depicted as telling his disciples that they will face trials and tribulations in their walk.
This is not the end of the story. Jesus continues to encourage his followers to “fear not” because
he has overcome the world. This can be encouraging and exciting news for youth and leaders
who are struggling to find the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel and to put their trust in the
lord and seek him for strength.
The whole theme of the book is to create in young adults a faith that stays true and
consistent for the duration of their lives. This theme is incredibly biblical and can be seen from
cover to cover. Specifically in Matthew 7:24-27 in the parable of the wise and foolish builders.
This parable is fundamental in laying the framework in the illustration of building our lies on the
solid foundation of Jesus’ teachings. This parable does an amazing job of demonstrating the need
for young people to develop a long-lasting faith that will stand up to trials, and tribulations, and
sustain them throughout their life.
Application
Applications from this book can be taken and implemented into current ministry settings.
The ways that they are implemented should be based on the biblical and spiritual long-term
visions and goals that the leadership wishes to see in the lives of their congregants. One
application that can be transformative in youth ministry is furthering the understanding and
practice of building a supportive community. The “how” is detrimental to the success of this
5
step. First, youth ministry does this with “D-Groups” (Discipleship groups) or small groups.
These groups allow youth to voice their concerns, agreements, and questions in a small
community setting. These small groups can be established based on age, or gender but can be
instrumental in getting youth heard while also surrounding them with a similar demographic.
This is especially beneficial when it comes to topics such as sexual tensions and romantic
relationships. Separating these groups for these studies can prove to shed some gender-specific
light that can help young adults before entering college or early career choices out of high
school.
Another application gained from this book is practical strategies. Implementing youth
into church functions outside of specific youth ministry is vital in furthering their development of
practical skills and sense of ownership in their faith community. Establishing service connections
with youth to volunteer in other areas of the church benefits the church and allows for an avenue
for generational mentorship as well as allows youth to begin experiencing what it means to serve.
Serving firsthand demonstrates the ability to be the hands and feet of Christ as depicted in 1
Corinthians 12:27 [NIV], Paul is illustrating the gifts from God and how each believer is given a
gift that varies but when applied and worked together achieves so much for the Kingdom of God.
The third application that this book illuminates is the long-term impact. Youth ministries
and churches should be focused on equipping young adults with a foundation of faith that will
continue to sustain them throughout their lives. The way that this is accomplished is through
theological teachings, providing opportunities for spiritual growth and discipleship. Stunting
young adults in theology is one of the most common issues plaguing youth ministry today. Youth
pastors and senior pastors alike are pulling away from deep theological thought and shortening
scripture readings. Attention spans are getting shorter, and the understanding of basic religious
6
tenets is getting shallower. As ministry leaders, we must continue to drive the motivation for
apologetics and catechism training. Sticky faith is the goal that should push the efforts of our
teachings and studies. Teaching young adults how to evangelize is essential in growing the
ministry as well as being obedient to God’s command seen in Matthew 28. It starts with
discipleship and ends with evangelism. First, the students must understand what they believe
before they are mobilized and sent into their peer groups outside of the walls of the church to
defend their faith.
Conclusion
The book Sticky Faith is an exemplary book that should be on the shelf of every ministry
leader, whether youth or not. The principles that are taught in this book are essential in defining
and overcoming challenges, and issues common with youth ministry. As leaders, one must be
diligent in discipling and mentoring young adults so that they continue to grow spiritually and in
their faith. By using real-life applications and stories, the authors of Sticky Faith have given their
readers example after example of ministry “do’s and don’ts” to grow their ministry deeper
towards a biblical foundation that is rooted in truth. The goal of a youth ministry is to equip
youth with answers and understanding of the Christian walk so that when they are faced with
trials, they can turn to God and flee temptations. Family relationships and church mentorship are
key in developing youth and guiding them throughout their early teenage years into young
adulthood to have and maintain a sticky faith.
7
Bibliography
Burns, Jim, and Mike DeVries. 2008. Uncommon Youth Ministry: Your Onramp to Launching an
Extraordinary Youth Ministry. Ventura, CA, U.S.A.: Regal.
Christian Smith with Melinda Lundquist Denton, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual
Lives of American Teenagers (New York: Oxford Press, 2005), 56.
Erika C. Knuth, Intergenerational Connections and Faith Development in Late Adolescence,
Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation (Pasadena, CA: Fuller Theological Seminary, Graduate
School of Psychology, 2010).
Powell, Kara Eckmann, Brad M. Griffin, and Cheryl A. Crawford. 2011. Sticky Faith: Practical
Ideas to Nurture Long-Term Faith in Teenagers. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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