Tag Archives: young adult

Great Website Resources for Parents of Emerging Adults

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Photo Courtesy of Aaron Robert Photography. Copyright 2013. www.aaronrobertphotography.com

Parenting an emerging adult is not always easy.  EA Resources is designed to provide resources to equip parents to prepare them for the journey ahead.

Here are some great sources to bookmark, or to subscribe to their e-mail subscriptions.  They provide great insight into the challenges faced by emerging adults and their parents.

About Parenting

Relevant Magazine

College Affordability

Saving 4 College

Boundless

Sticky Faith

Center for Parent and Youth Understanding

If you know of a resource, please send me a link at gdavid@earesources.org.

 

X-Men and Emerging Adulthood – Entrance Exam

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I found this image on the web, and wanted to share it with my readers.  Other than being an Extreme Marvel Fan, I love how this comic defines the importance of becoming autonomous.

Act for Yourselves - X-menAutonomy is the ability to make decisions and deal with the consequences.  Here are a few questions to test whether or not you are able to think and act for yourselves.

1.  Can I tell someone “no” without worrying whether or not they still like me?

2.  Do I have a clear understanding of who I am, and what I like (personal identity) which is distinct from those around me?

3.  Can I make decisions without asking everyone around me?

4.  Am I afraid to make decisions because I fear my decision will leave me alone or isolated from others?

5.  Do I seek friends who look, act, and sound exactly like me?

6.  Do I always wait to see what everyone else is doing before making a decision or expressing an opinion?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicksilver_(comics)

7.  Do I have trouble making decisions about what I like or want to do?

8.   Can I tell someone my opinion without stress?

9.  Am I able to withstand peer pressure?

10.  Do I enjoy diversity, or does it make me uncomfortable?

Establishing your personal autonomy is crucial for your development into adulthood.

 

 

I wish that my journey into autonomy would have also granted me access into the X-men.  I guess the good news is that I never have to wear a spandex suit.

Dr. G. David Boyd is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources, a non-profit designed to encourage emerging adults and their parents.

Questions to Consider Before You Get Engaged

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“Sadly, some couples rush toward marriage as soon as they taste the initial burst of romance. They may have only dated for a few months, but their blissful feelings convince them that they are destined for each other.”

The article comes from Dating with Pure Passion: More than Rules, More than Courtship, More than a Formula by Rob Eagar, Copyright 2006.dating with pure passion

For those considering engagement, here are some questions to consider:

1.  Are you both married to Jesus?

2.  Can you resolve conflict together?

3.  Have you both dealt with your baggage?

4.  Do you have the support of family and friends?

5.  Have you sought pre-engagement counseling together?

6.  Do you bring out the best in each other?

7.  Is leadership properly established in your relationships?

8.  Are you truly passionate about each other?

Read the article HERE.

While I don’t agree with everything stated in the article, I believe that it is important to carefully reflect before stepping into engagement.

Dr. G. David Boyd is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources.  david in hat - black

McDonalds faces ‘Millennial’ Problem

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I am a pretty big fan of McDonalds.  I was actually there early this morning.  Sitting at a hightop table working on my computer while sipping my large sweet tea and making good use of their free wifi.

So I am sad to hear the news that McDonalds sales are slumping due to the majority of Millennials who prefer other restaurants (however, I won’t be losing any sleep over it).  Here is the article.  McDonalds must make changes and shift with the changing culture if it wants to stay at the top of the industry.

While it is not important to me whether or not Millennials are going to McDonalds, it does bother me to know that so many emerging adults are leaving the Church behind.  I believe that a spiritual community is foundation for a follower of Christ.

This week, I am consulting with a church in Austin, MN.  This church has a desire to reach the Millennials in their town, and I look forward to how God is going to speak to us.

If your church is interested in reaching the Millennials in your community but doesn’t know where to begin, please let me know.  I would love the opportunity to come alongside your group as we seek to reach a new generation.

david in hat - blackDr. G. David Boyd is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources.  If you are interested in having him speak to your community about Millennals, and how your church can build a ministry to emerging adults, you can contact him at gdavid@earesources.org.

 

Emerging Adults – In Defense of a New Human Life Phase

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Millennials have been called many names during their pursuit of adulthood including:  lazy, narcissistic, immature, and other words that I prefer not to type.  The purpose of this article is to explain why a new human life phase is beneficial to both Millennials and the rest of us.  Continue reading →

Recruiting a Team for Emerging Adult Ministry

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If you desire to minister to emerging adults in your church, I highly encourage you to create a team.  Teamwork makes your journey more fun, and allows you to accomplish more than if you are working alone.  While a good team can expand your reach and ministry; however, a bad team can exhaust you and hold you back from making a difference.

So if you recruiting people to minister to emerging adults, here are some essential qualities.

1.  Community Builders

ftflagler-washington-pictures-4376127-h[1]These are the people that everyone wants to be around.  There is just something contagious about who they are, and what they bring into a room.  I actively recruit several “life-of-the-party” people before launching any type of small group or community, because they will be the glue that makes new people stick.  These people are your front-line welcome the new guests.  You want your new guests to walk away saying, “Wow, I really liked the people we met.”

2.  Accepting

Look for teammates who readily accept others for who they are and where they are in life.   Some people breathe judgmental attitudes, while others regularly speak their mind.  While I do believe in the gift of discernment, sometimes people claim this spiritual gift because they simply want to speak their mind.  After being raised with a postmodern mindset, emerging adults will run from those who claim to have all the answers.

Emerging adults must be safe to express who they are, and where they are truly at in their faith journey without fear of becoming a spiritual project of someone else within the group.  I want teammates who are gifted at asking questions, rather than giving advice.  A wise team will fully accept others for who they are, and wait for God to do the work.

3.  Consistent

One consistent worker is worth – twenty part-timers.  Due to the constant changes in their lives,  emerging adults are looking for consistency.  Emerging adults want to know who is going to be at meetings before they show up.  When looking for workers, I ask those who were not otherwise involved in church ministry because I want my teammates fully devoted to our goal.  Availability is also important because your teammates must have enough margin to be available to your group outside of your weekly scheduled meeting.

4.  Intergenerational

Your team should include emerging adults.  If you have no emerging adults on your team, you are already communicating that they are not capable of leading or contributing to the ministry.  Emerging adults have great potential to give and lead within any ministry.

Your team should also include other generations who have traveled further down life’s road and can offer a different perspective.  However, older adults need to understand that emerging adults are looking to develop relationships that involve give-and-take rather than downward-focused.  As the team enters each week with an expectation of receiving, it will be amazing what God will do in their lives as they serve.

While you may be overwhelmed by starting a ministry to emerging adults, the beauty about starting a ministry is that you can pick your team.  Choose wisely.  Spend time praying over who God is calling you to invite into this exciting movement.

david in hat - blackDr. G. David Boyd is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources.  He is passionate about seeing Emerging Adults survive and thrive in our world and the church.

Keys to Finding a Good Church

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church (2)The multiple life transitions of young adulthood make it essential for EAs to find a new community.   Part of a new community for a disciple of Christ is finding a group of Christians who can encourage and support you in your journey. Continue reading →