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Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry
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Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Jul 13, 2020

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Page 1: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Healthy Youth Ministry

South Wisconsin

Passionate Believers

January 26, 2019Rev. Mark Kiessling

LCMS Youth Ministry

Page 2: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Background: Missing from the Pews• Millennials make up a quarter of the U.S.

Population, but make up only 12% of U.S. Church membership.*

• The LCMS fares slightly better with 15% of members being Millennials (approximately 300,000 of the Synod’s 2 million members).

LCMS Research Services & LCMS Youth Ministry

23% 25% 24%

24%12% 15%

19%

16%17%

20%

20%20%

15%

27% 24%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

US Population US Protestant Churches LCMS Membership

Children (under 18) Millennials (20 - 36) Generation X (37 - 51)

Baby Boomers (52 - 66) Seniors (over 66)*Faith Communities Today 2015 (www.faithcommunitiestoday.org)

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Page 3: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

South Wisconsin District• The LCMS recently started to ask for age

ranges of baptized membership.

• SWD’s numbers trend younger than LCMS averages.

LCMS Research Services & LCMS Youth Ministry

19%

15%

15%

21%

30%

Baptized Membership - SWD Congregations179 Congregations Reporting (86%)

Bapt Memb <18 Bapt Membs 18-34 Bapt Membs 35-49 Bapt Membs 50-64 Bapt Membs over 65

Page 4: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Background: Millennials were Never Here in Large Numbers

LCMS Research Services & LCMS Youth Ministry

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

4,000,000

4,500,000

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

Child Baptisms US Births

MillennialsBoomers Gen X Plurals

4

Page 5: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Background: Retention Must be Addressed

• The Synod’s rate of retaining children into adulthood (1-in-3) has not changed in the past three generations of adults

• Low retention of Baby Boomers into adulthood, led to lower rates of babies being born in the Synod (hence, fewer infant baptisms)

• Already beginning with low numbers, poor retention of Millennials has made them the smallest segment of Synod’s confirmed membership.

• As Millennials now start families of their own, the cycle could potentially continue as a smaller proportion of their children are born in the church.

• Retention rates are not likely to change on their own, therefore, for the sake of Millennials and the generations to come, retention must be addressed.

LCMS Research Services & LCMS Youth Ministry

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Page 6: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Congregational StudyTo Random Sample of LCMS Congregations:

“Tell us about your confirmands from 2004-2006.”

Millennial StudyTo Millennials who had some affiliation with the LCMS:

“Tell us about yourself, beliefs, and life in the Church/LCMS.”Follow up Focus Groups with individual Millennials

What was the research?

Page 7: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Background: 1-in-3 Rate of Retention of Millennials

LCMS Research Services & LCMS Youth Ministry

30%

11%

11%

15%

3%

10%

18%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

Whereabouts Unknown

No Longer Attending Church

Attends Other Denomination

Occasionally at Home Church

Different LCMS Near Home

Still LCMS but Moved Away

Regularly at Home Church• 2017 Confirmation Survey identified

around a 1-in-3 rate of retention for individuals after confirmation.2

• The large number of young people whose whereabouts are unknown are those who have lost contact with their home church, and likely are not attending church at all.

• This retention rate does not take into account baptized children lost prior to confirmation.

31% LCMS Retention

2. Specifically the survey asked congregations about individuals confirmed in 2004-2006. Approximately half of the respondents to the survey being pastors who were not present those years, which is one reason why the “whereabouts unknown” category is so high.

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Page 8: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Background: Pew Religious Landscape Survey (2014) Data Shows Similar Retention

LCMS Research Services & LCMS Youth Ministry

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

LCMS Evangelical Protestant All Other Unaffiliated

Pew RLS 2014: Current Church Membership of Those Raised LCMSMillennials All Ages

Source: http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/

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Page 9: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Who are we talking about?

•People whom Jesus loves, also deeply loved by parents, grandparents, family, pastors, and friends.

•Millennials – Born 1981-1996 (aged 23-38)Pool trended “young”

Page 10: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Who are we talking about?

• Millennial responses pertain to confirmed LCMS, and may or may no longer be LCMS members.

• Responses were grouped into these categories:

Active LCMS – In worship at least once a month (majority of responders)

Nominal LCMS – Consider themselves LCMS Lutherans, but do not attend monthly

Evangelical Protestant – WELS, SBC, PCA

Mainline Protestant – Mainly ELCA, PCUSA, UMC

Unaffiliated – Atheist, Agnostics, SBNR, or a different faith

Catholic/Orthodox – Not a significant sample

Page 11: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Why talk to young adults?

•Better understand or disprove Millennial “trends”• LCMS and General Christianity

• Business/Sales

• Technology

•Better understand today’s (and tomorrow’s) young parents

Page 12: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Qualifications of the

Retention Study

• It’s not about aggregate numbers

•Recommendations focused on retention of young people (and families)

•Not intended to recommend how congregations can connect with and integrate Millennials or Young Adults, however key practices were discovered from the data.

Page 13: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Set Context

Local/Congregational Level• Congregational Environment

• Healthy Congregations• Healthy Church Workers• Resilient against/deal

Biblically with conflict• Congregational “ownership”

• Lay Leadership• Pastor/Church Work

Transition

Page 14: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Set Context

Local/Congregational Level• Pastors and Church Workers

• For those who are Active LCMS, Pastors and Youth Ministry Practitioners were positive factors.

• For those who had left, they were as likely to be a “negative” influence on their walk in faith or LCMS.

• Families

• Parents and home environment matter

• Young People

• Help them connect to other LCMS young people, and resources, especially once they leave home.

Page 15: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Set Context

District/National Level and the Christian Church

• Districts and Synod addressing our “mobile” society.

• Increase intentionality in connecting young people post-graduation.

• Life-long discipleship by parents, pastors/workers, and the young people themselves.

• Existing or new networks for passing on members

• Transition in life for all ages

Page 16: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Set Context

District/National Level and the Christian Church

• What are major touchstones for LCMS congregations to be aware?

• Research: Connectivity of LCMS young adults in other denominations.

Page 17: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Qualities of a Healthy Youth

Ministry

Communities that have…

• Engaged Parents

• Supportive Adults

• Opportunities to Serve and Lead

• Warmth, Challenge and Grace

Page 18: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Qualities of a Healthy Youth

Ministry

Help each Young Person to…

• Deeply understand their Baptismal Faith/Identity

• Desire to live out their unique vocation(s)

• Develop resiliency of faith during life’s transitions and disappointment and to counter the forces of Satan and parts of today’s culture which are contrary to healthy Christian faith.

Page 19: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Healthy YM… engaged parents

Our research found Active LCMS Young Adults:

• Saw a high level of faith practiced by their parents (prayer and Bible reading at home, church attendance, serving or leading at church).

• Had healthy relationships with parents where they were comfortable talking about their faith and even doubts.

• Relationship with father was especially important.

Page 20: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Healthy YM… supportive

adults

• Clearly prioritize young people across the church. • In Jr./Sr. High, Active LCMS more likely attended a

youth-focused ministry event, servant events Lutheran/Christian camp experience, etc. (In other words, the church had active ministry for young people.)

• Intergenerational

• Longevity matters. When a pastor or other staff had served more than 10 years, retention rates were improved.

• Active LCMS young adults felt that their pastor cared about them personally, and that their church ministered to them through major life transitions, even if they were not in a “youth group”.

Page 21: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Healthy YM… opportunities

to serve and lead

• Suggestion: Mentors and reverse mentoring

• Suggestion: Belonging is not a pre-requisite for service. Service is a pathway towards belonging.

• Congregations with leaders under 32 show greater LCMS retention and fewer losses before high school graduation.

Page 22: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Healthy YM… warmth,

challenge, and grace

• Supportive, authentic, “safe” community of believers, open to questions and doubts

• Focused on teaching truth in love

• Tight community

• Adept at handling conflict

• Serve the community

• Relationship over program

Page 23: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Healthy YM… deeply

understand their

baptismal faith/identity

• Teach Well

• Identity…Community…Humble Confidence…Vocation…Mission and Service

• Faith Practices

• Honest conversations

• Relationships (Rubber hits the road)

Page 24: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Healthy YM… live out their

unique vocation(s)

• Confidence in daily living

• Loving my “neighbor”

• Witnessing in their daily lives

• Peer to peer connection

• Future Church Workers – supporting/creating the pipeline

• Active LCMS may likely be single, but if not, their spouse or significant other is most likely an LCMS Lutheran as well.

Page 25: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Healthy YM… resilient faith

in Christ.

• In the face of crisis

• In the face of expected transition• Transition post-High School

• Active LCMS were more likely to have attended an LCMS Campus Ministry while in college.

• In relationship to others and expected disagreement

• Urgency to Grow in Christ/Faith• Owning their faith

• In order to serve others

Page 26: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Comparing Church Attendance Over Time By Their Current Worship Attendance

LCMS Research Services & LCMS Youth Ministry

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Active Today

Not Attending

Active Today

Not Attending

Active Today

Not Attending

Hig

hsc

ho

ol

Gra

du

atio

nEa

rly

20

s

Weekly At least once a month Every couple of months Once or twice a year Not at all

“Active Today” includes all who attend worship at least monthly, regardless of church affiliation. “Not Attending” includes all others.

26

Page 27: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Graduation from Highschool and the Years Following are When Most Left the Church

LCMS Research Services & LCMS Youth Ministry

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Childhood

Highschool

Graduation

Early 20s

Mid 20s

Late 20s

Tracking Church Attendance over Timefor Young Adults not in Worship Today

Weekly At least once a month Every couple of months Once or twice a year Not at all

Chart includes all young adults who attended worship less than three times in the past year, regardless of denomination affiliation.

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Page 28: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Healthy YM… resilient faith

in Christ.

• In the face of crisis

• In the face of expected transition• Active LCMS were more likely to have not moved

away from home.

• In relationship to others and expected disagreement

• Urgency to Grow in Christ/Faith• Understanding personal belief in the one, true faith,

and place in community.

• In order to serve others and witness to Jesus

Page 29: Passionate Healthy Youth Ministry Believers...Healthy Youth Ministry South Wisconsin Passionate Believers January 26, 2019 Rev. Mark Kiessling LCMS Youth Ministry. Background: Missing

Healthy Youth Ministry

South Wisconsin

Passionate Believers

January 26, 2019Rev. Mark Kiessling

LCMS Youth Ministry