When caring adults from faith communities pass along their religious beliefs, values, history and time to help younger members of the congregation, the kids develop many of the resources they need to grow into healthy, happy adults.
Congregations are asset builders.
Ariz. Looking at activities involving youth through the lens of asset building can help a congregation affirm what you're already doing, as well as provide a direction for changing what you'd like to do better, says Staats, who is coordinating an asset-building project for the Arizona Ecumenical Council, as well as looking for ways for her own congregation to help youth develop a solid foundation. If congregations see themselves as a catalyst and a leader in the community on behalf of young people, we could get more done. Staats points out that congregations are naturally intergenerational. It takes the relationship between generations to build people of faith and character. When we relate intergenerationally, we're relating our values, we're sharing our faith, we're sharing our stories.