It is off the press! Ministering with Millennials published by AdventSource for the Center for Youth Evangelism. A total of 25 contributors--researchers, pastors, educators, health professionals and youth workers--touch on every aspect of this new generation, today's young adults and teenagers. This is one of the major challenges facing the Adventist Church today and everyone who cares about young people or the future of the Church needs to carefully read this volume.  

[Full disclosure: I am one of the contributors; "The Millennial Generation: A Demographic, Ethnographic and Religions Profile," pages 11-25.] 

The single most important item in the book is the last paper, "Church of Refuge: A Support Ministry for Youth and Young Adults" by Ron Whitehead and Jeff Boyd. It presents a simple strategy to turn things around--a network of local churches that are willing to take the steps necessary to engage with this new generation and not wait for conference administration or the General Conference committee to vote policies or budgets. 

Who is ready to do something now rather than waiting and jaw-boning the issue? The Center for Youth Evangelism is already prepared to help with consulting services, certification and marketing. The paper clearly outlines a theological foundation, careful research among a sample of young adults and nine characteristics that are necessary to be a Church of Refuge. 

1. A meaningful Sabbath experience

2. A discipleship process centered in a personal relationship with Christ

3. An active commitment to accepting people just as Jesus did

4. A strong sense of inclusive community

5. Support for young adults in their practical life challenges

6. Social action programs that demonstrate God's love outside the church through acts of service

7. Development of young adult leaders

8. An adequate budget for young adult ministries

9. Openness to innovation and change 

In order to be certified and included in the marketing campaign, a local church must first register at the web site www.churchofrefuge.org and then submit a written description of what it is doing in each of the nine areas listed above. This report will be reviewed by a team of young adults. "Once the certification team is convinced that the church is truly a safe, supportive and engaging community in which young adults can pursue their spiritual growth, it will receive Church of Refuge certification and be listed on the COR web site" and in other marketing materials (p 198). "Re-certification will occur on a yearly basis" to assure that the listings are current and the web site can be trusted by young adults looking for a church. 

This is an important issue that much has been written about in Adventist Today and on this web site over the past few years. Now, you can do something concrete to move toward a solution. (1) Tell young adults you know about this website. (2) Talk to your pastor and get the process going in your local church to be listed among the Churches of Refuge. 

To get a copy of the book, click here.