In this workshop we will help you:

Introduction
Isn't This Just the Way It Is? Isn't This Just the Way It Should Be?

You probably are reading this because you recognize that reaching and keeping senior high youth is a life-and-death issue—statistically for the church and essentially for the youth! We realize that we cannot just assume that they will come back on their own someday. We are called to a ministry that gives life both now and eternally!

Sixty-five percent of American teens have been involved at one time in a religious youth group. Only 35% continue to be active.

In John 10:10, Jesus says, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (NRSV). It is up to us to offer that life. The question is, how do we offer abundant life in ways that meet the needs of 9–12th graders?

"We are losing most kids when we conduct a one-size-fits-all ministry."
— George Barna, Real Teens

To find answers to our question, Cokesbury asked Mike Ratliff—a veteran youth minister, ordained deacon, and professional youth ministry consultant—to take on a research project. He interviewed churches that are successfully retaining their older youth and who are reaching new high school youth.

The result of Mike's research is your textbook for this course. The book, Sacred Bridges: Making Lasting Connections Between Older Youth and the Church, tells the stories of these churches and points us toward four principles, or "sacred bridges," that are crucial for reaching and keeping senior highs.

Throughout this course you will be using this book as your textbook. Afterwards, you and your leadership team can continue to mine its wealth of information and distill from it additional ideas that will fit your situation.

What's important for now is that you take from this course and its resources the information, ideas, and inspiration that will renew commitment to your ministry with senior high youth.

Let's get started!

Read Sacred Bridges, pages 7–11. Then skip to pages 119–122 and read them for encouragement!