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FAITH FOR EXILES

Availability: OUT OF STOCK, AVAILABLE TO ORDER
  • ISBN 9780801094187
  • Author KINNAMAN DAVID
  • Pub Date 01/01/2019
Publisher Baker Books
In a series of groundbreaking studies that led to two bestselling books, David Kinnaman and his Barna Group uncovered the truth about why young people are increasingly resisting and rejecting the church. But the news isn t all bleak. Recent...
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In a series of groundbreaking studies that led to two bestselling books, David Kinnaman and his Barna Group uncovered the truth about why young people are increasingly resisting and rejecting the church. But the news isn t all bleak. Recent analysis of Barna's incredible store of data reveals a hidden hope: the church is already perfectly equipped to meet young people's deepest desires and most pressing needs.

In Faith for Exiles, David Kinnaman teams up with former executive director of Youth Specialties Mark Matlock to reveal five formational practices that have the power to cultivate resilient faith in the next generation. Drawing on groundbreaking insights and never-before-released data, Kinnaman and Matlock show readers that God has not given up on the American church. In fact, the church is needed now more than ever.

Pastors, youth ministers, and concerned culture-watchers will find the hope they ve been looking for as they navigate a rapidly changing, increasingly alien culture alongside young, faithful, thriving Christians exiled in digital Babylon.

As reviewed by Dr. Stephen McQuoid in March 2020- 'This was recommended to me by my friend Ryan who is a former student and now brilliant youth and community pastor, I own him for the recommendation. Kinnaman is president of the Barna Group and therefore has his finger is on the pulse of culture and public opinion and Matlock works with youth pastors. This book is all about how to work with young adults in our new digital age (which the authors describe as the Digital Babylon). It is a book that utilises the huge research done by the Barna Group and while it is replete with useful statistics, it is not a book of statistics.

What the authors are trying to do is to map out the kind of young people the church is ministering to in today’s world and then give advice about what will be needed if we are to see a spiritual harvest taking place among the emerging generation. They divide young people (18-29 year olds) who grew up as Christian into one of four categories. First there are the Prodigals, young people who currently do not identify as Christians. They make up 22% of the core sample. Then there are Nomads who identify as Christian but have not been to church in recent months. They make up 30% of the sample. Then there are Habitual Churchgoers who do attend church as the name suggests, but they do not meet the foundational beliefs and lifestyle of disciples, these comprise 38%. Finally, there are Resilient Disciples who comprise just 10% of the core sample. They are committed followers of Jesus who hold firmly to biblical teaching and want to transform society.

The point of grouping young adults in this way is that the authors have a five-point plan of practices to help them develop spiritually so that the first three groupings can graduate towards Resilient Disciple status should they chose to do so. The same five points both characterise Resilient Disciples and enable them to continue making spiritual progress in life despite the ravages of culture. All of this is based on the findings of Barna’s extensive research. Each stage in the 5 point plan fills it’s own chapter and also includes research data as well as biblical perspectives. The five points are 1) Experience intimacy with Jesus 2) Develop muscles of Cultural Discernment 3) Forge meaningful Intergenerational Relationships 4) Train for Vocational Discipleship 5) Curb Entitlement and Self-Cantered Tendencies by Engaging in Countercultural Mission.

I think this book is a real winner, not just because it provides simple and practical advice for discipleship for the next generation, but also because the authors have done their homework and have a very good understanding of the people they are dealing with. Church leaders and youth workers take note.'


Product details:
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Baker Books, a Division of Baker Publishing Group; ITPE edition (3 Oct. 2019)
ISBN-13: 9780801094187
Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 1.7 x 14 cm