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.