1 = I tend to strongly disagree 2 = I tend to disagree 3 = I tend to agree 4 = I tend to strongly agree 40. I genuinely enjoy going to my church.
1 (1 pt) 2 (2) 3 (3) 4 (4)
41. My church helps me grow in my relationship with Christ.
1 (1) 2 (2) 3 (3) 4 (4)
42. I have a relationship with at least one other person in my church who is not a pastor or church staff member.
1 (1) 2 (2) 3 (3) 4 (4)
43. I have a strong relationship with a pastor or leader in my church.
1 (1) 2 (2) 3 (3) 4 (4)
44. I feel comfortable inviting my friends to my church’s activities.
1 (1) 2 (2) 3 (3) 4 (4)
45. What is your full legal name? (If your name has changed since high school, please give your maiden name in parentheses) ___________________________________
134 APPENDIX 3
DESCRIPTION OF EXPERT PANEL
The expert panel consisted of
Bill McKinley, Founding member of ACSI, helped draft the original by-laws, Member Emeritus for the ACSI Board, Association of Christian Schools International, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Christian education experience of more than 52 years in the classroom and in administration.
Brian Rose, Assistant Head of Schools, The First Academy, Orlando, Florida. Christian education experience of more than 25 years, the majority of those being in
administration.
Steve Whitaker, Ph.D, Head of Schools, The First Academy, Orlando, Florida. Christian education experience of more than 23 years, the majority of those being in
administration.
Chris Blanton, Youth Pastor, Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, Tennessee. Youth ministry experience of more than 12 years in local church ministry.
John Steen, Youth Pastor, Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Youth ministry experience of more than 24 years in local church ministry.
Steve Wright, Pastor of Discipleship, First Baptist Church West Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Florida. Youth ministry experience of more than 18 years in local church
ministry.
APPENDIX 4
EMAIL TO EXPERT PANEL
Dear [Expert Panel],
I am conducting a research study that seeks to analyze the church retention rates for Christian high school graduates. The goal of this research will be to survey Christian high school graduates who formerly participated in a youth ministry in an effort to compare their current levels of church involvement against their commitment levels during high school. As a part of this process, I invited you to participate in this study as an expert panelist due to your leadership, training, and research competencies in the field of youth ministry. I am sending you a copy of the survey instrument to be used in the study as well as instructions stating my expectations for your evaluation. Upon completion of this study, you will be receiving a summary of the results.
I know that this will require a significant portion of your time and I would like to express my thankfulness for your valuable input. Please send me any questions that you may have during this process. I can be reached through email at (email address) or via cell phone at (cell phone).
Once again, thank you for your time and continued investment in the lives of adolescents. It is my hope that this research will help us better understand how to impact teenagers with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Attached you will find the Youth Ministry Retention Questionnaire and the Instructions for the Expert Panel.
Thanks,
Travis Kaiser Teaching Pastor
Florence Baptist Church 642 Mt Zion Road Florence, Ky 41042
136 APPENDIX 5
INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXPERT PANEL
Thank you for agreeing to serve as a contributor on this expert panel. Your time and commitment to my research will enable both practitioners and future researchers to better understand the phenomenon of youth ministry retention. Please evaluate the Youth Ministry Retention Questionnaire (YMRQ) in the following ways.
1. Read the instrument carefully, noting the following with regard to questions used to assess youth ministry commitment (questions 1 through 15):
a. Are these questions accurate measures of youth ministry commitment for high school students?
b. In general, do the responses listed below the questions represent varying degrees of youth ministry commitment for high school students?
2. Read the instrument carefully, noting the following with regard to questions used to assess youth ministry commitment (questions 30-44):
a. Are these questions accurate measures of youth ministry commitment for young adults?
b. In general, do the responses listed below the questions represent varying degrees of current church involvement?
3. Do the survey questions sufficiently address the issues of youth ministry commitment, demographics, and church involvement?
4. Upon completion of this review, please send your responses to the researcher via email to Travis Kaiser [email address].
APPENDIX 6
ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT
OF FAITH
1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative, inerrant Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21).
2. We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1, Matthew 28:19, John 10:30).
3. We believe in the deity of Christ (John 10:33), His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:35), His sinless life (Hebrews 4: 15, 7:26), His miracles (John 2:11), His vicarious and atoning death (1 Corinthians 15:3, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 2:9),His Resurrection (John 11:25, 1 Corinthians 15:4),His Ascension to the right hand of God (Mark 16:19),His personal return in power and glory (Acts 1:11, Revelation 19:11).
4. We believe in the absolute necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit for salvation because of the exceeding sinfulness of human nature, and that men are justified on the single ground of faith in the shed blood of Christ, and that only by God’s grace and through faith alone are we saved (John 3:16–19, 5:24; Romans 3:23, 5:8–9;
Ephesians 2:8–10; Titus 3:5).
5. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; that they are saved unto the resurrection of life, and that they are lost unto the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:28–29).
6. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 2:12–13, Galatians 3:26–28).
7. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life (Romans 8:13–14; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19–
20; Ephesians 4:30, 5:18).
138 APPENDIX 7
CORRESPONDENCE WITH PARTICIPANTS
Dear Christian School Graduate,
You are receiving this letter because you graduated from (name of school). I am conducting some research with young adults who were involved in student ministry during high school and seeing where they are now in terms of their church involvement.
I would like to invite you to participate in this research via an online survey, in which you basically answer a few questions about your youth ministry experience and your current church involvement. The survey will take no longer than 15 minutes, information collected will be absolutely confidential, you will not be solicited as a result of this survey, and your email address will not be given to another party. If you participate, you will be entered to win a new iPad mini!
If you would like to participate, please go to this link: (survey link). If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at (email address).
I hope you will give serious consideration to this opportunity. Your response will be part of a national effort to help churches more effectively reach students for Jesus and help them grow in their faith. Thanks, and please take the survey as soon as possible. There is only a limited amount of time for this research to be conducted.
Sincerely, Travis Kaiser
APPENDIX 8
THANK YOU LETTER TO PRINCIPALS
Travis Kaiser Address
City, State, Zip Code Phone Number Email Address Month & Day, Year Youth Pastor’s Name Church Name
Church Street Address Church City & Zip Code Dear Principal,
I want to thank you for your partnership in my research project. Without your help it would have never been completed. Many of you commented that it was a
worthwhile project and I believe that this work will be a catalyst for further investigation into the spiritual lives of young people.
I will be completing my research soon and the results will be published this May.
As promised, I have included a copy of the research conclusions. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me.
Thanks again for believing in my work and for your partnership.
Sincerely,
Travis Kaiser
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