Sticky Faith addresses one of the current top concerns about the church and raising kids: the reality that nearly half of all young people raised in Christian families walk away from their faith when they graduate from high school.

That’s the bad news. But here’s the good news: research also shows that parents are one of the primary influences on their child’s faith. This fact is one of the core convictions of Family Ministries at First Church.

Sticky Faith, written by FYI Executive Director Kara E. Powell and youth expert Chap Clark, is based on a six-year study from an innovative, research-based, and extensively field-tested project conducted by the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI). Their College Transition Project studied over 500 young people, 100 churches, and 50 families to identify the relationships and best practices to steer youth toward lifelong faith and service.

In the foreword to Sticky Faith, John Ortberg states:

…What is so helpful about this book is its immensely practical help. Kara and Chap are in constant dialogue with “real world” youth workers. Turning theory into concrete practice matters to us. It matters… to anyone who dedicates their time, energy, and even their whole lives to seeing young people embrace Jesus Christ at the core of who they are. Sticky Faith is… a journey into the heart of every adult who is forced to respond to the question of what, really, the church of Jesus Christ is called to be.1

This book is designed to equip parents with insights and ideas for nurturing long-term faith in children and young people, making it a “must-have” for families. It is an easy-to-read guide that offers parents a powerful strategy for actively encouraging their children’s spiritual growth so that it will stick with them into adulthood. Sticky Faith is available in the First Church BookCenter.

Reviewed by Pastor Brad Rogers

1Dr. Kara E. Powell and Dr. Chap Clark, Sticky Faith: Everyday Ideas to Build Lasting Faith in Your Kids, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011, p. 10.

Testimonial: It Reminds Them of Being with Their Grandparents

Having taught special education for 36 years, it wasn’t until retirement that I realized how much I missed working with children. As soon as I visited Wonder Years, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Now I look forward to spending time with the children every week and often have opportunities to help those with difficulty grasping math and letter recognition concepts. The school environment is warm and loving, and the children thrive. It is so cool to watch how polite they are, how well they play together, and how creative they can be.

The students love having “extra” people in the classroom. Each volunteer brings something unique. The children are eager to hear stories, learn about various jobs, and try new things. I would encourage church members to volunteer in the preschool to enhance the students’ educational experience and to enrich their own lives. I guarantee you will love it and get a lot of love back from the kids. Something as simple as visiting once a week to read to the class can make a difference in their lives.

Many of the students don’t have grandparents living nearby. Some have told me that they like having me work with them because it reminds them of their grandparents who they miss so much; another reason to volunteer in the preschool!

Cindy Urash
Wonder Years Preschool Classroom Volunteer