Everything Changes (part 3): Three basic perspectives among emerging adults

As I have been talking with lots of Collegians and young adults this week, I’ve been trying to make sense out of what I have been hearing (read my previous two blog entries to find out more). My penchant for categories has come to the fore. Please note that the philosophical perspectives summarized below do not do justice to the complicated theories that comprise libraries full of books and articles. For the sake of helping us to wrap our minds around the worldview of emerging and young adults, here are three broad categories I’ve identified this week with summary explanations and possible implications for the church. I admit that I may be way off base. I might change my categories or ideas as I talk to a broader group of emerging adults and those who work with them. However, these three groupings of worldviews have appeared to come into focus for me:

Modernism/Foundationalism (old school)

Modernism is the worldview from which most contemporary adults (35+ in age) were educated and that through which we still make meaning of our world and our experiences. It is framed by the belief that there are universal absolute objective truths that we can see, uncover, or discover if we work hard enough or think hard enough. It’s this empirical scientific worldview which gave us the greatest generation and most major societal advancements of the last century. Students who approach the world through this lens ignore or criticize the “liberal” ideas they hear in class or see in some of their peers (or only learn the ideas to regurgitate on exams and in papers before promptly putting it out of their thoughts). These students speak our language and attend our churches & ministries. They lament with their parents and church members that the world is moving in the wrong direction. They find places they can escape (or find sanctuary) from the craziness of the academic world around them. Often these young people find solace in their religious practice and community. They too are frustrated that their evangelistic efforts rarely work and that numbers of their peers in churches and campus ministries are dwindling. They too want to make America and our churches "great again," bringing back the world they know to be better because it was grounded in unchanging truth. This worldview birthed the "Religious Right." To the modernist mindset, the “new age” ideas in colleges, schools, and on TV are disturbing. The solution is to withdraw or cocoon with likeminded friends and church members. They homeschool their children and seek alternative afterschool programs. They might even seek to live in communities and neighborhoods of people who share their worldview. The basic modernist idea is that we need to double down on our beliefs, organize around a hero or two, and through legislation and even strong-arm tactics, bring back the bygone golden era to protect our society from the evils of left-wing politics, education, and religion.

Postmodernism/Constructivism/Social Constructionism

Postmodern philosophy grew out of the 1960’s radicalism as an enlightenment of free thought, free action, and freedom to be. It sought to break down barriers of inequality and the mindless following of rules and/or authorities (sometimes referred to as “the man”), calling for a new guiding principle of love, equality, and positive emotional experiences. However, somewhere along the way, these ideas of freedom of expression were co-opted. A few influential writers like Foucault, Derrida, and Butler isolated and intellectualized the ideas from the communally embodied, emotional, experiential beginnings in what we have called the “Hippy movement” of the 1960s and 70s. The broad themes of unrest that emerged in the 60’s were reduced to an argument (starting in France) against the grand narratives of Modernism in language, art, and literature; thus, “Postmodernism.” The basic idea is that all knowledge is socially constructed; there is no empirical truth. Therefore, pure postmodernists believe that even science and scientific research should be called into question as being fundamentally biased, and therefore, flawed. 

Over time, the revelations of this period were appropriated by the intellectual elite who had no connection with practical applications save in the dismantling of anything deemed modern or bound by tradition. To get a more in-depth presentation of the various aspects of Postmodern thought, click this link: Postmodernism. 

Many of the questions being asked and ideas being deconstructed have needed to occur. I have often argued that all research is biased. It was out of this effort that the civil rights movement gained steam, questions were raised over the US military involvement in Vietnam (and other countries), and equal rights of women in the workplace. However, critics have argued that for many the true goal of intellectual Postmodernism is a total deconstruction and dismantling of societal norms without seeking to rebuild a better world in its place. Therefore, it is sometimes believed that Postmodernism is a negative or nihilistic worldview, not one that seeks a greater societal good. This is not always the case. Often such stereotypes oversimplify complex ideas and theories, and in doing so nullify the possibility of good discussions that need to occur. 

Quite often when I am visiting churches parents will ask me how their children grew up with such liberal ideas that are contrary to their worldview. I try to gently show these concerned parents that our children have believed what we have taught them in our homes, playgrounds, and schools: everyone is equal, everyone is valuable, everyone is special, every question raised or choice of living and being is OK, and diversity is essential. Many parents are comfortable with the ideas their children espouse, but others are surprised when their kids begin to repeat what parents might see as beliefs that are contrary to their own modernist worldviews. Our children have learned their lessons well. Those exposed to this worldview for the past 30-40 years have now become parents, legislators, educators, screenwriters, novelists, and marketers. In a nutshell, our students have been the beneficiaries of society’s efforts toward egalitarianism and civility.  

Many conservative Americans immediately dismiss Postmodernism as incompatible with their strongly held politics and/or religious beliefs because several of the most outspoken intellectuals who latched onto Postmodern ideas identified as Socialists or LGBTQ. These theorists appeared to be using their own perspective to explore and validate why their identities and beliefs were valid and should be accepted as normative. Many of these theorists are those lauded in academic settings and on whose work current identity politics are based. These complicated philosophical ideas have filtered down through the educational systems into society in France, Canada, and the US.

Postmodern ideas have been interpreted in the mainstream culture as relativism: “there are no absolutes; everything is relative.” Many Postmodern theorists cringe at the equivalency. While similar, the two philosophies are not exactly the same. In the world of many emerging and young adults, all reality is constructed within specific contexts and experiences; therefore, we should not judge others for their beliefs, appearance, choices, or lifestyles. For this generation, the statement, “that may be true for you, but it’s not my reality” is not a problematic, nor confusing thing to say or believe. It is what we as a society have, perhaps inadvertently, taught them. These ideas have become entrenched in most areas of the public sphere. It is our new cultural milieu in Europe, Canada, and the United States. 

Because of the rejection of grand narratives (inclusive metanarratives that attempt to explain everything), mainstream religions are typically avoided and often scoffed at. The term “spiritual but not religious” gained popularity among those who expressed a felt need for spirituality, but who rejected the holistic claims of religions. Any group or individual claiming to hold “the truth” is avoided, particularly if this truth excludes or might be thought to marginalize others in any way. There has been a rise in popularity of Buddhism, Hinduism and other more philosophical spiritualities that have meditative practices that can be removed from wholesale adherence to that faith. Contemplative or centering meditation, mindfulness, and Yoga are all borrowed from these faith traditions. Not all are practiced with a religious devotion, but all have spiritual applications and uses. Even the language used in the experiences comes from those religions. 

Again, it is important to understand that not all Postmodern ideas and questions are negative. There is truth in the claim that all knowledge and ideas are socially constructed - that is why each culture has deeply held beliefs and practices. We can probably also agree that there are some ideas and practices that need to be questioned and/or re-evaluated from time to time. Some systems need to be deconstructed.

Over the past two decades, Christian theologians and ministers have written about the many positive implications of postmodern ideals for the life of the church and for evangelism. Most of these writers, however, did not foresee the extent to which the ideas have been adopted, applied, and often perverted in the mainstream. In my ministry with students, it has sometimes been helpful to get them to identify the narratives or themes of their individual lives that are often very different from that of their peers. Helping them to see and understand the ways that they construct meaning can be cathartic. It can also help them to identify the ways that they are unique, the ways their talents and giftedness can be used in the future as a guide for career choices, relationships, etc. Sometimes it can help individuals gain some sense of agency in their lives when they have felt victimized or trapped by their past.

There are many different interpretations and manifestations of Postmodern thought. I encourage you to read broadly on the subject to better understand the philosophy and worldview as well as to help figure out how to parent, minister, and function in our changing society.

Hybrid Modern/Postmodern Worldview: 

There appears to be a large group of emerging and young adults who somehow bridge the disparate Modern and Postmodern worldviews and who try to navigate between the two opposed perspectives. These folks grew up in families and churches that were Modernist in belief and practice, yet they have friends, classmates, and teachers who operate from a Constructivistic worldview. These students may be deeply rooted in faith, but they live in a world of constant change and fluidity. Instead of hiding away or retreating from the ideas encountered in class and in popular culture, these emerging and young adults have somehow embraced both schools of thought, yet have relegated each, to varying degrees, to specific aspects of their lives. In many ways, they have skillfully become masters of compartmentalization. In religious practice, their faith is highly personal, yet they also enjoy lively, contemporary corporate worship. However, they are reticent to engage in evangelism because they don’t want to mix or challenge their worldviews. The answers and often convoluted theologies they have adopted work for them, but they don’t want to be tested against the questioning of their peers. Their segmentation and theological gymnastics work just fine in their own lives, thank you very much - just don't ask them too many questions or ask them to explain their systematic theology. 

My fear is that when these Christian "hybrid" emerging adults exit college they will either move more fully into an unexamined skeptical Postmodern mindset and walk away from the church altogether or they will become casual church attendees, relegating their faith expression primarily to a personal quiet time each day. Keeping it solely personal will allow them to keep their faith while living in a Postmodern world without ever feeling or acknowledging the conflict between their coexisting, and seemingly conflicting, worldviews. 

Before the revelations of the past week I had not fully understood alumni who told me they "could not find a church" that met their needs, yet they continued to have a regular personal devotional as well as gather with a small group of like-minded friends for fellowship which often involved religious discussion and perhaps singing their favorite worship songs. They attend concerts of bands that primarily perform worship songs (complete with lyrics projected on huge screens behind the band). The crowd typically sings along. Folks have posted pictures of these concert events on social media with the caption, "I've been to church." Perhaps they have discovered or are creating a new form of "church" to which those of us more embedded in traditional models cannot relate? 

I think I am starting to understand their perspectives and how they arrived in this odd hybrid place. However, the question for me is what now? Where do we go from here? How do we seek to minister in this new context? Do our structures need to adapt and change? Does our method of outreach and evangelism need to change? Do our discipleship and teaching plans need to be adjusted? 

What are your thoughts? Let's continue to dialog with each other and with the emerging adults in our lives about their worldviews and how to best understand and minister to them.

Everything Changes (part 2): Some Responses

The Postmodern conception of no absolutes should not come as a surprise to those who are well read. However, the speed at which this philosophical idea has penetrated and permeated society, especially among younger generations, is disturbing to many adults. “The only thing in my world that is consistent is change,” collegians involved in our ministry have confessed. I posted an entry on my blog earlier this week that was birthed from a conversation with graduating seniors with whom I meet weekly for Bible study and reflection about commitment. Since the post went up I have received many comments via text, messenger, email, as well as personal conversations that support the observations and conclusions therein. This post is to share some of those responses. I will continue to explore these thoughts so please add your ideas, especially as they relate to your personal experiences and conversations with emerging adults. 

From Collegians:

[my paraphrase from a personal conversation] I completely agree. For my unbelieving friends, it’s even more true - there is nothing that we can rely on - even relationships. In fact, I understand why many of my peers don’t put extra effort into relationships when they begin to get rocky. It’s not worth it. Just find a new relationship. With sex too - why wait? When marriage is not a sure thing in your future it’s no surprise that folks believe you should just try to get whatever you can from a relationship while it lasts. (From a 3rd-year Christian collegian)

“I completely agree with that idea about change. But I don’t agree when it concerns faith. My faith is my foundation.” (From a junior student leader in BCM)

“This was so good, Nathan. Definitely the worldview I can relate to and would still hold if God didn’t wreck it & draw me in to seek His real, unchanging character. Maybe I would’ve never said it out loud but after growing up hearing about Old Testament God who floods the earth and sends His people to kill thousands and won’t even let Moses into the promised land when he strikes a rock once after his years of “faithful service” in contrast with New Testament God, it was hard to believe that He could not change. However, God in His sovereignty took me through suffering that legitimately called everything I thought about God into question & forced me to seek who He really is—steadfast, glory-driven, and the one who cannot change but changes everything. Maybe the most shocking/life-changing Word for me was in Genesis 3, when He LITERALLY kills animals to cover their shame, the aftermath of their sin. He makes the first blood shed on earth an animal’s blood when it so rightly deserved to be man. First of all, I’d never thought much about God’s grace in that chapter and if I had at all, it would’ve been that He changed his mind even though He promised death if they ate from the tree—upon further review, I realized I’d never been more wrong. This picture of God was so clearly the exact same God promising a sacrificial lamb all through the OT and sending His very SON in the NT. That idea rocked my world. God continued to draw me in more & more & reveal His character to me, especially His zeal for glory & His total sovereignty. A couple years later, it’s still sometimes hard to shake the worldview that faithfulness is conditional sometimes (especially when my eyes get off of God & on me/the world). Being faithful in the little things isn’t just hard or difficult, it’s impossible apart from God, but it’s part of sanctification and will come by God changing it in us so I’m praying about it for myself and my friends and my generation.” (From a current student at UGA)

“Love the blog post. Very ironic because I just wrote a paper about the exact same thing in [a class].... I think the best way [to reach out to nonbelievers] is how you mentioned God's faithfulness. I'm preaching on Joseph this Sunday and it's such an awesome story because it shows that even when bad things happen, God is still working for our good. Conveying that to people is important. And then for marriage, I wrote about love is not just an emotion but a decision. You may not always like your spouse or what they are doing in that moment but you should always love and sacrifice for them.” (From a BCM leader who is also on staff at a local church)

From Ministers and/or Teachers:

“This was interesting to read but I kind of understand from the students thinking. Not necessarily agreeing but something that should be discussed more! Thanks for sharing! Miss you friend!” (From a former Baptist Campus Minister Intern, now seminary student, who is only a few years post graduation). 

"The world we live in, the world I have come to know, is one that is full of change. So much so, that I find myself not only expecting change, but craving it. I want new experiences, new places, new people, new things. Change has become almost a synonym for success in some ways. If things are staying the same, it feels like failure - which I don’t really know how to explain. But if things are changing, it feels like success - 'at least things are moving, at least we are headed somewhere' are thoughts that run through my mind in times like this.

As a recent graduate, this concept has come up quite often for me. As I navigate this new season of life, of trying to decide where it is I need to go from here, as I try to discern what it is the Lord has for me in this life, I find myself anxious. I feel change coming, but now it's a change that I’m uncertain of. In the midst of this changing state of life, I do crave solid foundations - relationships, ideas, etc. - to cling to. I have been raised to believe in commitment, and I understand the merit of it, but the difficulty arises in seeing how it comes into play in such a changing world. When is it okay to leave a place that you’ve committed to? When is it not? These are questions that plague my mind. 

In conclusion, though, I believe you are right, this is most certainly an opportunity to minister well to an entire generation. I see beauty in commitment. I see the value there. It is just hard to know how to put it into practice at times. I am thankful for a God that is unchanging through the storms of life. I am thankful for a Savior who offers grace in EVERY circumstance. I am thankful for these truths about my King. However, in times like I am in, I feel like we (my generation) need people like yourself to come alongside us and encourage us to receive that blessing of commitment, to learn how to navigate it well, and to rid ourselves of anxiety and stress by trusting in the unchanging One." (From a recent graduate, current youth minister/seminarian)

“Great thoughts and insights. I think this highlights that one of the greatest gifts clergy, mentors, parents, etc can give our teenagers/emerging adults is that of a consistent presence. In addition, I am glad you discussed how faithfulness correlates with action. That reminds us that one of the strengths of this generation is their determination to equate beliefs and actions and to distrust those entities/institutions/individuals that cannot back up beliefs with the corresponding action.” (From a 30 something, seminary-trained college administrator/teacher, and former associate pastor)

"We don't need to try to change their worldview, but learn how to engage with them and teach them how God wants to enter into their world and provide a foundation for connection to the divine and to others." (From a thirty-something Lutheran pastor)

“This is all really good and very accurate. I think you’ve found something good to spend time praying over and exploring.” (From an emerging Adult who is an elementary school teacher)

“Why does this have to be a negative? Several folks who commented on Facebook don’t seem to understand these ideas so they dismiss them as crazy or immature. These ideas are not going away, but will only become more pervasive. How can we think differently so as to embrace these ideas of change? How can we begin to see what they see and adapt our teaching and ministry accordingly?” (From a 50+ year-old parent and middle school teacher)

Updated 12/6/17

Everything Changes (part 1): The prevailing worldview of emerging adults

"I'm struggling with anxiety."
"I'm taking medication for depression and panic attacks."
"There is nothing in my life that I can rely on."
"I am afraid I will be alone forever."
"I have a 3.94 grade point average, but I am afraid I am going to flunk out of school."

This week individual students in our ministry have confessed to feeling each of these to me.

We have been discussing relationships this semester through the framework of the Old Testament book of the Song of Solomon. Primarily, we have been addressing love, dating, and marriage; but, of course, we have alluded to all types of relationships in which our students at the University of Georgia might find themselves. This past week at our worship Gathering, I had the honor of wrapping up the series by addressing the topic of faithfulness. I began my talk by saying that commitment seems different for each generation. My father's generation went to work right out of high school or college and expected to retire from the company that first employed them. Similarly, they expected that job to provide not only a good salary, but a good pension after retirement until they died. My generation doesn't have such lofty expectations, but we do believe that there are some commitments and relationships that are for life. I told of how when we were engaged, Karen and I agreed that divorce would never be an option for us. We would do whatever it took to make this marriage work. That conversation occurred over 32 years ago. While we have had a few rough spots in the midst of wedded bliss, we have always been determined to work through whatever issue came along.

Today's generation of students have very different understandings of commitment from my father's generation and from my own. I admitted to those gathered for worship that I don't really understand how today's emerging (18-27) and young (28-32) adults think about commitment and faithfulness. It seems very fluid to me. A few days later I was leading a small group of graduating seniors in a bible study on the same topic. We were discussing my sermon. I ventured to ask the four students present, "define faithfulness and commitment for me. How do you understand the two terms?"

What they told me left me stunned.

They began with faithfulness. Faithfulness, according to the fourth and fifth-year college students gathered around the table, is what one does to fulfill a commitment. It is an action-based word. Commitment refers to the promises one makes and are situated in time, place, and circumstances. The group continued to flesh out their ideas. They talked about the ways and circumstances in which they might change their mind after making a solid commitment. I asked a few follow-up questions, including, "what is the one foundational truth that you can count on?" Their answer - "everything changes." I pressed, "So the only thing you can count on in life is that tomorrow will be different than today? That what you know, feel, and understand today will be different or will not exist tomorrow?" They all agreed.

I asked the question again, just to make sure I had heard them correctly. "So I hear you saying that the only constant in your world, the only thing on which you can rely with absolute certainty, is that everything changes, that what you know to be true today might very well be different tomorrow?" Again, they all agreed.

I told them I needed a minute. I sat stunned, letting the impact of this realization sink in.

These were all Christian students, who have been in our program of ministry and discipleship for 4-5 years. For these students, many of them leaders in our Christian campus organization, there is no firm foundation, no solid rock on which they can rely! After I recovered, I told the group that this realization would probably change the way that I do collegiate ministry.

As we continued to talk I asked about specific examples that have been sources of frustration to the collegiate ministry staff. For example, when students apply for leadership positions in our ministry in the spring we ask them to commit to attend specific events and activities already on the calendar for the following fall, winter, and spring. The vast majority of student applicants readily assent to all of the required activities. A few rare students will provide specific details of why they may not be able to make one or another event. However, when those events arise the following year, many student leaders will emerge with excuses of why they cannot attend. When I asked my gathered Bible study group about this example none of them saw a problem with these student's actions. They suggested that when they commit to something in the future they mean it at the time of commitment. However, for them, reality might change. If reality changes, their commitments no longer are valid because they were made under different circumstances. These emerging adults then feel completely justified in changing their mind with no guilt, thus breaking their previous commitment. Such realities could include another better or more fun opportunity that could not have been foreseen (like a concert by a trendy new band). The same argument can also be made for moral and ethical issues.

Every decision, every commitment, every promise, every relationship for contemporary young adults is based on present realities.

For many emerging and young adults today, there are no anchors, no constants. There are no people, relationships, institutions, ideals, or ideas that are unchanging. In their world, everything changes. Permanence is but a word with no practical example. Like the permanent hair treatment my wife used to get in the 80's, which eventually faded and washed away, for contemporary students, nothing remains the same for long. Phones costing upwards of $1000.00 need to be replaced at least every year or two (even when they still work great), because they become obsolete. Jobs lose their luster after just a few weeks. College majors are switched on a whim. Relationships quickly lose their spark and are cast aside. Best friends come and go. Marriages end. Parents get divorced. The country is always at war, though the enemies seem to switch with the seasons. There is a constant fear of a terrorist attacking somewhere, sometime when we will least expect it. But it will come - even when safe at church or in our classroom. Our heroes of faith and politics fall after being caught in one scandal or another. When even the best apartments and/or roommates begin to wear on you, you move locations and swap for new companions each year.

Everything changes. Nothing is reliable.

Just as clothing styles cycle, washing machines, and furniture are only made to last three to five years. The manufacturers know that consumers soon tire of even the most expensive products. In a few years, they are aware that shoppers will want the newest, shiniest, and most advanced versions so there is no need to make long-lasting products. Repairs often cost as much as a new machine because the equipment is engineered to be made quickly and inexpensively, but not to be easily repaired. They have learned not to get too emotionally attached to anything or anyone because to do so will mean pain when the relationship shifts or the feelings change. Even the business world knows everything changes. Nothing is made to last long.

For many in this generation, even the idea of God being unchanging, being ever-loving, ever-faithful is hard, if not impossible to grasp, much less believe and put faith and trust in. Just as these emerging adult's reality, situation, and feelings change constantly, so must God's, they believe. "God may love me today," they think, "but what about tomorrow? Surely God will feel different about me tomorrow."

Of course there are exceptions to this worldview. There are young and emerging adults who present a more traditional understanding of commitment, who do not see the world as being so fluid. But even with many of these - for I have talked with them - they feel only loosely connected to such a staid belief. They too have known far too much change if not in their own experience, in that of their friends.

Is there any wonder so many students suffer from medically diagnosed anxiety disorders and depression? Is it any wonder so many are on pills for anxiety and depression? Is there any wonder young adults are hesitant to enter into any type of committed relationships, much less a marriage when they are confident that such an arrangement, based on fleeting emotions, will probably soon end? It's much safer, they believe, to move-in with someone they love, knowing that it will end before too long, than to enter into a marriage commitment when divorce is the likely outcome!

I am becoming more and more convinced that understanding someone's worldview is essential to understanding that individual. What one believes determines how they live. One cannot simply overcome core perspectives. Worldview is literally the lens through which the world is seen and experienced. One's worldview determines not only one's thoughts, but also one's actions, beliefs, hopes, and expectations.

Dan McAdams (1985) has suggested that humans make meaning through stories. The grand narratives we believe and tell ourselves are the essential frameworks for our lives. Our stories comprise our worldview. This idea also applies to communities. Each culture in the world has shared stories that bind them together. Tribes have common stories that give their community meaning. Outsiders may not see, and if seen, often do not understand many of the stories a particular tribe might share. The result is that outsiders interpret these tribes as odd, weird, or uneducated. To successfully work with emerging adults one must understand the core narratives and common plots shared within their culture.

It has become clear to me that many emerging and young adults today have no secure foundation upon which to build a comforting and safe worldview. Some may argue that this perspective is only a passing developmental task. That soon these emerging adults will find secure footing in their world as they come to know themselves better, as their identity solidifies. Jeff Arnett (2004), in proposing a new stage of development between adolescence and young adulthood, says that "emerging adulthood" is marked by instability, identity exploration, self-focus, a feeling of being in-between, and innumerable possibilities. However, in Arnett's research and writing these ideations are quickly worked through and appear directly related to jobs, personal relationships, and similar age-related issues. What I heard from my students during the Bible study seemed to be a much more pervasive issue - a worldview. In fact, their prevailing perspective is that there is no solid foundation, no constant, no solid, no enduring truth or relationship. In their world, everything changes.

I have begun asking students and young adults if this idea is true in their experience. So far none have contradicted the fluidity of their lives, of their worlds. I have also begun talking with campus ministry colleagues about the worldview of those with whom we work. Each one has been just as shocked as I was about this revelation. Each has also said we need to be talking about this to find some ways to properly engage our students about this issue.

I want to invite you to join in the conversation, seeking positive ways to help counter this narrative of constant change and/or help our students find firm ground in the midst of their changing world.

So how do we seek to do ministry in such a milieu? How do we, who believe in the existence of a loving, relational God who is omnipresent and unchanging, teach this truth of this generation?

Here are a few suggestions:

1) Initiate casual listening conversations with young adults about commitment, faithfulness, and their expectations for the future. Listen to their fears. Listen to understand their perspective while gently sharing your own worldview. Seek to understand both sides of the very different generational perspectives on commitment and change. Engaging in conversation about this specific topic will allow us to address their often unspoken reality and embedded fear of being alone or abandoned.

2) Initiate conversations with colleagues in collegiate ministry, with those who mentor emerging adults, and with those who employ twenty-somethings about effective ways to engage this age group who have varying worldviews about the world. I surmise that there is not going to be a one-size-fits-all approach that helps emerging adults feel secure in the world - even from a faith perspective. We need to pool our expertise and share what we are learning.

3) Do a personal study of the Bible on the topic of the faithfulness of God so you can have an informed discussion about the topic with young people who believe the world has no solid footholds. For Christians, our worldview should be centered in the reality of Jesus and our ever-present God who promised the eternal Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, to be God-with-us, to guide us, comfort us, speak to us, and never leave us. Knowing the reality of God is a strong foundation on which to build a more worldview that is not one of fear, but confidence and security no matter what is happening around us.

4) Use information gleaned in the above personal study to plan a study group, a course of teaching, or a sermon series for your community of faith on the topic of God's faithfulness in the midst of change and chaos.

5) Find a sympathetic and knowledgeable pastoral counselor or counseling pastor who will come into your group to lead a study on managing anxiety in times of chaos and change. Talking about the subject publicly can begin to take away the stigma of admitting having such problems/fears.

6) Find emerging adults and older members of your faith community who have strong testimonies of God's faithfulness in the midst of periods of drastic change. Have them share their stories in worship settings to demonstrate that this worldview is inaccurate.

7) Find hymns, poems/stories, books and scriptural examples of God's faithfulness to use in various settings with young adults. I've listed some below. I welcome you to suggest ideas in the comments. Explain the stories behind each hymn or poem before presenting or singing it in a worship setting.

• Hymns: Great is Thy Faithfulness, The Solid Rock, How Firm a Foundation, and It is Well with My Soul. What are some others you would suggest? 
• Poems/stories: What are some recommendations?
• Books: Ideas for fiction or non-fiction books you have read?
• Websites/blog posts: Henri Nouwen Society on covenants, 
• Scripture: Abraham's story (Genesis 12-21), Moses's story & the Exodus story (found in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy), Joshua (Joshua and Judges; ending with Judges 2:1), Jesus promise of his presence (Matthew 28:18-20), Jesus's giving of the Holy Spirit (John 20:22), Psalm 40:1-3.

References

• Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen (2004). Emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the twenties. New York: Oxford University Press. 

• Dunn, Richard R., and Jana L. Sundene (2012). Shaping the journey of emerging adults: Life-giving rhythms for spiritual transformation. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press. 

• McAdams, Dan P. (1985). Power intimacy, and the life story: Personological inquiries into identity. Homewood: Dorsey Press. 

edited/updated 12/6/17

Back to the farm: Meet Jenny & Chris Jackson

Nestled just outside of Pine Mountain in Southwest Georgia, on short White Cemetery Road lies the quaint, four acre, Jenny Jack Sun Farm. On Wednesday the barn at the front of the property bustles with activity as people from the community drop by for fresh produce grown without the aid of pesticides. The farmers are UGA alumni Jenny and Chris Jackson. Jenny and Chris both served on the leadership team of Baptist Collegiate Ministries while in college.

According to Chris, Jenny is the brains behind the operation; he is the brawn. While Chris was obtaining an education degree at UGA, Jenny studied agriculture. She grew up on a farm, helping her dad with the endless chores while falling in love with the process of food production. In school she became enamored with the idea of sustainable farming. After graduating she and Chris moved back to Pine Mountain where she went to work in Mr. Cason's Garden at Calloway Gardens and Chris taught and coached at a nearby high school. After a year they decided to broaden their agricultural experience and moved to Hawaii as interns for two different farmers. They brought back deep tans and enough practical knowledge to begin their own small business. Conveniently, Jenny's dad offered her a portion of his property for their venture. He was nearing retirement and was thrilled to give Jenny and Chris a spot to carry on the family business.

Chris loves the work. Though days are long and sometimes the tasks monotonous Chris has found solace in contemplation. He says weeding rows of beans can be therapeutic. He has learned to allow the land to determine his daily schedule. When it rains he and the crew work in the barn, cleaning, organizing, preparing farm implements or gearing up for the farm markets. Like a younger version of Wendell Berry, Chris is also a writer who desires for Americans to slow down and notice where their food comes from. Chris composes weekly newsletters for the farm, eloquently describing the various chores that are being accomplished (complete with pictures of the crew at work) as well as giving a preview of the available harvest for sale at the on-farm-market and at local weekend markets. In an early winter newsletter Chris wrote,

"It seems a little early to think on strawberries. They’re a springtime treasure; a classic southern favorite, rewarding our steady diet of winter soups, canned tomatoes and sweet potatoes prepared every way possible. Come May they present themselves sweet and juicy, tasting perfect raw and right now without any process or rinse. Strawberries are the year’s first straight from the garden dessert, their deep red coat seems exotic and fascinating, unreal compared to the neutrality of static winter. The first one is a handshake, an open door, an anticipated introduction to warmth and intrepid flavor and a time of year full of pure goodness. How appropriate we celebrate this delicacy in the Spring, but the time to begin preparing for those satiated moments is now. This afternoon while I was steadily constructing a fence, Max, Molly, and Courteney were planting the 1500 strawberry plugs that arrived from South Carolina yesterday."

Farming has deepened Chris's Christian faith. The work in the middle of nature has given him opportunities each day to ponder God's goodness and God's creation. It has helped him let go of past ideas of satisfaction and given him a deep appreciation for simple things. Chris is an avid reader and deep thinker. He has introduced me to several authors who have become my new favorites. Two writers that have inspired him the most are Richard Rohr (Everything Belongs) and Wendell Berry (Jayber Crow, and others).

Like poet/farmer Wendell Berry, moving away from the city and learning to live in a small town has given Chris a greater appreciation for all people. Chris believes that everyone has something they can teach him; everyone is special and deserves to be respected and treated with importance. Our urban and suburban culture has not only disconnected us from the land and our source of food (most people don't even think about where the food they purchase at big box grocery stores was grown), it has also removed us from the many relationships that small town, agrarian life demands. Chris says he has learned more about Jesus' teachings about loving your neighbors and enemies since moving to the farm. He told story after story of the amazing people he has met while living in Pine Mountain. Some he knows he would have discounted as annoying in his previous life. But he says getting to know people below the surface has shown Chris that everyone is not only worth knowing, but everyone has experiences and knowledge that can enrich his life and work.

The couple loves small town life. They are involved a local church that is within walking distance from the farm. They also love monthly pot-luck dinners at the community center in Pine Mountain where they get to meet their neighbors around the table. Each dinner also features a presentation and discussion. Chris has made presentations on sustainable farming practices and on books he has read. Each time he participates his relationships with his neighbors is deepened, his mind is expanded, and his life is made more full.

Food has become much more important to Chris. He has always enjoyed eating, but being involved with agriculture has given the many Biblical passages about food new meaning. The simple act of dining with someone can be spiritual - enjoying the communion of fellowship over a meal can be a holy experience. Each summer Jenny and Chris partner with a local chef to host farm dinners. People drive hours to attend these communal events on the farm. Each dinner features food grown onsite and is served at one long table where everyone is seated together, family style. Watching diners share a laugh, get to know new people, all while eating amazing food and hearing about how it was grown gives Chris a deep sense of pride and satisfaction.

Chris and Jenny have also partnered with a local ministry that seeks to give former migrant workers a since of belonging while helping them feed their families. Reserving a portion of their land for the ministry, Chris assists folks with the process of growing and harvesting their own food. He gets a deep sense of satisfaction watching folks become more independent while learning more healthy eating habits.

You can find their produce at the on-farm market (707 White Cemetery Road, Pine Mountain, GA 31822) and at weekend markets in LaGrange and Columbus. They can be contacted at jennyjackfarm@gmail.com or 706-333-4479. This summer I encourage you to get some of their heirloom tomatoes - the best I've ever eaten!

From Mic Man to leader of the band: Meet Ben Robbins

Saturdays in Athens. There is nothing quite like it. Sanford Stadium comes alive with almost 100,000 cheering fans on game days in the fall. As a student, Ben Robbins helped work the student section into a frenzy. He was "Mic Man," a member of the cheer leading squad who stood on a platform just across the hedges, microphone in hand, guiding the standing collegiate faithful in support of the Dawgs.

He still stands on a stage each weekend, but in a much smaller setting, for a much different purpose. Ben is the worship leader at Longleaf church in Warner Robins. Prior to joining the team at Longleaf, Ben led worship for the contemporary service at Roswell Street Baptist Church. In addition to his duties on the sidelines during football games, Ben also led music at BCM. For two years he led the BCM Impact Band, traveling to churches to led youth events, DNow weekends, and worship services. His senior year he led the BCM House Band.

Not only is Ben an outstanding musician, he gets worship. He knows that he is not just strumming his guitar for a sing along, he carries the burden of leading the congregation to praise God each week. He works hard with his talented band members each week - most of whom have been with him since their BCM Impact Band days - to compose a musical set that fits the theme of the day, skillfully blending musical worship, scripture, sights, sounds, and textures to guide worshipers to the throne of God. He also writes and arranges music. Many weeks the songs performed by the band in worship have been written or arranged just for the occasion. Let year he released his first CD of covers and arrangements of popular worship songs. This year he will release his first collection of original worship tracks.

It is so satisfying as a collegiate minister to watch God at work in the lives of those who have come through the BCM! The day Ben received his first batch of CD's in the mail Franklin Scott and I were in Warner Robins for a collegiate minister's meeting. Ben brought one of the disks to us before we left town. Franklin and I listened - and worshiped - all the way back to Athens!

This summer Ben and his band will lead worship for the Merge and Superwow youth events sponsored by the Georgia Baptist Convention. I'm so excited for the opportunity for so many youth in the state to hear and meet Ben. Not only is he a great worship leader, he is an incredible man of integrity who seeks to live out his faith in all that he does. You can hear some of Ben's music by clicking this link

[Ben is married to the former Paige Martin from Savannah, Georgia. Read a post about her here! She is equally as incredible!]