Mission & Methods Inviting youth into Christian adulthood MI SSIO N The Mission Inviting Youth into Christian Adulthood “Wheatstone was my bridge between childhood and adulthood. It fostered Christian maturity by pointing out that life is full of things worth pursuing whatever the cost. It introduced the life I had always wanted but never knew existed.” JOHN, AC ADE M Y ALUMNUS Despite a larger emphasis on youth ministry than ever before, more than half of Christian youth still leave church as they form their adult identities. They begin to see Christianity as childish, naive, insular, and defensive. By leaving Christianity, they think that they will put away childish things and become mature. But that couldn't be further from the truth. Why is this happening? Because youth are failing to form adult identities within the church. We treat youth like kids, all the way up to 18, and then we send them away. And our ministries assume as if that was the only way for us to act. As a result, our youth form their new adult identities outside of the Christian communities that raised them.They leave the church, no longer able to identify with Christ from within their adult identities. But what would happen if we gave students a beautiful picture of Christian adulthood before they left, empowering them to pursue Christian maturity in any context? At Wheatstone, we believe that Christian maturity is the best, truest, most beautiful way to be human. No worldview is better, no question is too hard, and no experience is too complex for our faith. For that reason, our goal is to offer deep Christian adulthood fearlessly to youth while they set new trajectories for the rest of their lives. Take up the cause! Let’s invite youth into Christian adulthood. MI SSIO N mature in Christ As children approach adulthood they enter the “Wheatstone Window,” the pivotal timeframe when youth form adult identities. Ministry during this time has one of two trajectories: either students will enter adulthood fully identified with Christ, and see all parts of their lives leading toward Christian maturity. Or they’ll place their adult identity elsewhere, either leaving the church entirely or see Christianity as an “addition to” their identity, not its foundation. COLOSSIANS 1:28 This renewed focus on the “Wheatstone window,” with proven methods, will invite youth into a life fulfilled in Christ. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully Take up the cause! Let’s invite youth into Christian adulthood. E VENTS & SER VICES Inviting Youth Into Christian Adulthood Through six powerful methods Wheatstone’s events and services utilize each of our methods. In everything we do, we reference these and empower parents, pastors, and educators to practice them in their context. Discussion Exploration Holiness Seeking the fullness of God’s truth, together Exploring the world with courage, faith, and wonder Becoming like Christ, no matter where we are Community Creativity Prayer Finding or making Christian community anytime, anywhere Practicing meaningful work in joy and freedom Learning the assurance of God’s faithful presence Take up the cause! Let’s invite youth into Christian adulthood. ME THO DS Discussion Seeking the fullness of God’s truth, together. Wheatstone challenged me to engage my faith intellectually as well as spiritually. It not only exposed me to the great conversation, it invited me to join. It helped me realize how robust the gospel of Jesus is, and that the cost of discipleship includes my mind. I would not be the person I am today without the experiences I had at Wheatstone. LAUREN, 20 00 ALUM NA Youth always have big questions. And as their leaders, we have a simple choice. Will we invite them to explore their questions in the context of our Christian community, or will we force them to ask their questions with someone else? In order to make the faith their own and form Christ-like identities, youth need to ask and examine their honest questions. Christians are not transformed by holding the right conclusions, but by renewing our minds. If all youth have to help them are someone else's Christian ideas, they'll be liable to adopt new ideas whenever those seem attractive – and according to recent research on adolescent spirituality, that is exactly what they are doing. At Wheatstone, through regular discussion with youth about their big, honest questions – practiced in the context of prayerful, Christian community – we invite them to see that all truth is God's truth, and that they can rely on a faith in Christ, no matter what. Christian adults have minds that are ready to test and approve ideas (Ephesians 3:16). It's simple: if we do not gain renewed minds, we will remain as children, tossed by every wind of doctrine that presents itself (Ephesians 4:14). Take up the cause! Let’s invite youth into Christian adulthood. ME THO DS Exploration Exploring the world with courage, faith, and wonder. Wheatstone drew me into a depth that I had not experienced before. It taught me that I can discover Jesus not only in youth group, but as I read, look at art, converse with friends, and simply experience life. I've grown in ways that I never expected because my eyes were opened at Wheatstone. JAN AE, 200 8 ALUM NA God rules the whole world. At Wheatstone, we facilitate deep discoveries that lead youth to explore the world with enthusiasm and hope. Discoveries that go beyond current tastes so that our youth see that God's church includes enough riches for an entire life of unsearchable growth. As they form their adult identities, youth desire to explore new ideas, media, and experiences. We not only know this to be natural, but we believe that it is good, and that we should help them. Healthy transitions to adulthood drive every human to explore. Though it can be scary to watch the appearance of different clothes, hair, media, interests or even friends that reinforce these ideas, these can all be apart of a healthy transition to adulthood; when given the right context. While it may seem necessary to shield and even censor our youth from bad possibilities, the only message that this sends is that Christians are motivated by fear rather than the God who is real and faithful (Hebrews 10: 21 -23). Participants leave our programs in the confidence that they can go anywhere and know that nothing diminishes God’s identity, presence or dominion. Take up the cause! Let’s invite youth into Christian adulthood. ME THO DS Holiness Becoming like Christ, no matter where we are. Wheatstone is about learning not just head knowledge and obscure facts, but how to be a better, more virtuous human being. Some people will tell you that your Wheatstone experience is about learning, and it is, but the word that most closely describes Wheatstone? Love. There are very few times in your life that you can clearly point to and say 'my life changed here.' Wheatstone will be one of them. PAUL, 2 006 ALUM NUS Children are to do as they are told. They often can't or shouldn't understand the reasons for what they hear. But at some point, we each must move from being people who simply do what other people tell us, to being people who can know and say what to do. This pattern holds equally well for our social and our spiritual lives. At some point, we each must move from passively doing Christian things because we're told to, to actively and passionately modeling our lives in the example of Christ. In other words, we should live as disciples, growing up to the full stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). At Wheatstone, our goal is to empower families, youth ministries, and schools to point youth toward Jesus: the person, the source and model of holiness. Even in life’s most difficult circumstances, we must see that the imitation of Jesus is always available. We must point them in the right direction and then set them free to be followers of Christ. Becoming the sort of people that can be like Christ no matter where they are lead because they are his disciples. (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). Take up the cause! Let’s invite youth into Christian adulthood. ME THO DS Community Finding and making Christian community anytime, anywhere. This was the unexpected jewel of Wheatstone: That I became part of a community that learned to love and is learning to love as Jesus loves. By experiencing the gentle yet honest love of God through my community, I feel better equipped to love others in my life simply, with less of me and more of Christ. SANDY, 20 12 ALUM NA As youth continue to find and create their adult identities, the exploratory nature of this time usually calls them to “leave the nest.” But this doesn’t mean that they won’t have a nest. They have to find one, or help make a new one. At Wheatstone, we believe an important part of adulthood is learning how to find or form Christian community. Unfortunately, it isn't enough to provide solid Christian community while youth are with us. We must also train them to find it wherever they go while also becoming a mature community member. Youth must meaningfully connect them to the body of Christ and to make sure that they know how to recognize it. (Ephesians 3:17-19). In truth, it is to usher youth to participate in the work and identity of the church and not merely be a consumer. By giving them a vision of the unique beauty and power of Christian community, some practical training in building new friendships, and instruction in what to look for in a church, we can help ensure that, wherever they go, our youth will never be alone. Take up the cause! Let’s invite youth into Christian adulthood. ME THO DS Creativity Practicing meaningful work in joy and freedom. Now, when I speak or present to new people, I speak with my own thoughts and beliefs. Wheatstone helped me connect to the world around me in a new way, and gave me the courage to speak my soul through what I see. It helped awaken the artist within me. JASON, 20 07 ALUM NA When we consider what keeps more Americans from attaining Christian maturity, something that appears on any list is the never-satisfied sense of consumerism. And youth in particular are more marketed to, more empowered to consume, and more capable of consumption than any previous generation. From every direction, they receive appeal after appeal. From every corner (or screen), pleasures and distractions are offered 24 hours a day. With the ever increasing push for convenience and choice, it's easy to believe that eventually, we give up on difficult things— connectedness, grief and productivity—and never be bothered by the loss. These things take work and they take time. Two things difficult to ask of anyone, let alone an adolescent. At Wheatstone, our message is that rewards for these things are truly good and at hand. God made us for connectedness and creativity, for meaningful work and rest, not for mere passivity and consumption. And what he made us for is better, more beautiful, and truer, if only we could see it. As leaders of youth, it's our pressing responsibility to point them to that abundant life (Ephesians 4:17-24). Take up the cause! Let’s invite youth into Christian adulthood. ME THO DS Prayer Learning the assurance of God’s faithful presence. Before I came to Wheatstone, I had completely given up on God and didn't believe at all. Now I feel like I need God so that I can have peace in everything. I found peace here. I grew the most in prayer this week, because I haven't been praying at all, and then I was told to pray for 30 minutes to an hour. I'm leaving with understanding that I don't have to be totally certain, and I will take that and search for truth in the Bible. KELLY, 201 4 ALUM NA With all that we do here at Wheatstone, nothing is believed to be more important, or more meaningful than teaching youth how to pray. The reality is that no matter what their circumstances become, or where they may be, youth can always pray, and it will always help. Even in the worst of circumstances, we may not be able to project our parenting or our mentoring, but we can be sure that God is able and willing to meet them anywhere. Our job, is to help them commit and connect to God through prayer quickly, eagerly, and honestly. We do this in several ways: • Assure that prayer is taught as a priority for mature Christian living. • Model prayer regularly. • Remove impediments to prayer. • Teach the many and creative ways of “how to pray.” Prayer is the one always-accessible practice of the Christian life, and it is powerful. Yet so many youth leave their communities still praying with elementary language, or afraid, bored or limited in their understanding of what it could be. The time is short. Now, before they go, we must eagerly teach them to pray. (Ephesians 1:16-23) Take up the cause! Let’s invite youth into Christian adulthood.