Coming of Age: Exploring the Spirituality and Identity of Younger Men

What is the state of faith today among younger men in the church? How is the church responding to the spiritual needs of a new generation? Armed with these questions and many more, authors Roland Martinson, Paul Hill, and David Anderson conducted interviews with young men (ages 18-40) of differing life and faith experiences, and differing ethnic backgrounds in six regions of the U.S. This new book, Coming of Age, is based on the results of this study.

The study focuses on eleven factors that have an impact on the spiritual journeys of young men and offers practical advice to those who provide ministry to young men in the church. The health and vitality of the ELCA and other mainline denominations depends, in part, on keeping young men engaged in faith development and in connecting faith to life issues.

The first section of the book introduces the results of the survey and provides a theological, biblical, and sociological vision for ministry to men, as well as observations about the current scene. The second part of the book targets each of the key factors observed in the study. Young men and those who minister with and to them can explore these factors together and discover ways to enrich their personal faith journeys and the whole community of faith.

David W. Anderson is the Director of Home and Congregational Renewal at the Youth & Family Institute in Bloomington, MN. He is the coauthor of two books, The Child In Our Hands Leadership Manual, with Roland D. Martinson, and Frogs without Legs Can't Hear: Nurturing Disciples in Home and Congregation, with Paul G. Hill.

Paul G. Hill, noted author and speaker, was the Director of the Center for Youth Ministries of Wartburg Seminary. He will be joining the Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Initiative Team at Luther Seminary.

Roland D. Martinson is emeritus vice president and dean at Luther Seminary, where he was Carrie Baalson Professor of Children, Youth and Family Ministry. He has been a life-long supporter of youth ministry and a speaker on many church ministry topics. His works include: The Spirit and Culture of Youth Ministry (2010) and Coming of Age (Augsburg Fortress, 2006).