Spiritual Formation in Emerging Adulthood : A Practical Theology for College and Young Adult Ministry

Two veteran teachers explore spiritual formation of emerging adults, offering insight into the key developmental issues of this stage of life. The shift from adolescence to adulthood, a recently identified stage of life called "emerging adulthood," covers an increasing span of years in today's culture (roughly ages 18-30) due to later marriages and extended education. During this prolonged stage of exploration and self-definition, many young adults drift away from the church.

Here two authors--both veteran teachers who are experienced in young adult and campus ministry--address this new and urgent field of study, offering a Christian perspective on what it means to be spiritually formed into adulthood. They provide a "practical theology" for emerging adult ministry and offer insight into the key developmental issues of this stage of life, including identity, intimacy and sexuality, morality, church involvement, spiritual formation, vocation, and mentoring. The book bridges the gap between academic and popular literature on emerging adulthood and offers concrete ways to facilitate spiritual formation among emerging adults. "The shift from adolescence to adulthood, a recently identified stage of life called 'emerging adulthood, ' covers an increasing span of years in today's culture (roughly ages 18-30) due to later marriages and extended education. During this prolonged stage of exploration and self-definition, many young adults drift away from the church. Here two authors--both veteran teachers who are experienced in young adult and campus ministry--address this new and urgent field of study, offering a Christian perspective on what it means to be spiritually formed into adulthood. They provide a 'practical theology' for emerging adult ministry and offer insight into the key developmental issues of this stage of life, including identity, intimacy and sexuality, morality, church involvement, spiritual formation, vocation, and mentoring. The book bridges the gap between academic and popular literature on emerging adulthood and offers concrete ways to facilitate spiritual formation among emerging adults"--Publisher description. Faith: the emerging adult landscape Spiritual formation: reversing moralistic therapeutic deism Identity: internalization, refusal, and engagement Church: forming an ecclesiological vision Vocation: purpose and providence Morality: training the dispositions of the soul Sexuality: forming a sexual ethic Relationships: pitfalls and pathways Mentoring: past, present, and future.