Here at NFC Student Ministries (NFCSM) (or shall we say, NFC Generational Ministries (NFCGM), our hope and desire is to provide parents, grandparents, guardians, youth workers/leaders with resources, perspectives and tools that will encourage and equip them as they journey with young people.
This resource page is just that, an extension of NFCGM to you, whatever "description" you fall under. We promise to post relevant, theologically/Biblically sound and appropriate resources and commit to you that what you see here is rooted in our philosophy and vision of ministry.
Ministry to students/young adults is all about relationship and partnership. Knowing that, we welcome any and all questions, concerns, hopes, dreams and fears. We want to know where you are at, what you're experiencing, what you're reading and how we can come alongside you!
Check out some of these resources and let's chat...
Sticky Faith
We are big advocates of the folks at Sticky Faith. Pastors Nate/Brian/Carol/Marcus have been a part of a learning cohort with the Sticky Faith Project, which is a movement birthed out of the Fuller Youth Institute. The Sticky Faith ministry philosophy is all about nurturing the familial and intergenerational connections (both in the home and within the context of the faith community) in an effort to help students develop a "faith that sticks after high school". Here are some articles/videos for you to check out on this subject!
http://stickyfaith.org/articles/silence-is-not-golden
-The research affirms what we have known, but often ignored; parents are the primary faith-shaper of students. That being said, how do we as a faith community, and parents, navigate this reality in a way that puts the focus on the students? This article helps articulate the role of the family AND the role of the church AND how they can best work together. It's not an either/or, it's a both/and. And more importantly, it's a both/and in partnership.
http://stickyfaith.org/blog/shocking-teens-before-they-shock-you
-Tough conversations are just that, TOUGH! This article helps us to realize that the tough conversations are easier than dealing with the tough consequences of no conversations. Some perspective and some ideas await you here!
The Jesus Jacket video on the Sticky Faith website
-This video illustrates the very thing Sticky Faith (and NFCGM) is hoping to help students move beyond. "The Jesus Jacket" shows an underdeveloped faith identity in a student who grew up in a church and a Christian home. When faced with tough life decisions outside of the support of his family and faith-family, this student takes off his faith like a jacket. Watch the video and join our conversation so we can, together, find ways that this faith community can help students have a "faith that sticks" after high school!!!