This book is aimed at parents, but many of the ideas would be great for those in children's, youth, or family ministry. It's full of suggestions for how to build lasting faith in young people. It covers a whole range of topics, from having tough conversations to helping young adults transition out of home. (Review by Sarah Cowan)

This is a book of encouragement for parents on how to encourage their teenagers to develop a faith that sticks. The authors interviewed many college students who grew up in the faith on what helped their faith stick, and they conducted surveys that showed for a lot of college students, their faith did not stick. They used the data to give parents some suggestions. Basically it is to offer love and support for them, and give them room to come to faith on their own rather than pressure them. I can see the value of these suggestions, but it seems to me the main reason college students left their faith in college years is because they regard faith as very low on their priority among things to do in college. They see college years as a period of time to do other things -- explore, make friends, try new things.....whatever. It seems to me to be a twisted, mistaken understanding of what college years can be and should be. I feel parents need to ingrain into their children that faith is the underlying foundation of work and leisure. ( )

A pretty good book that looks at how we can help pass faith on to our children and help children see their faith as something that will help direct their lives. Some good advice and ideas and encouragement. The authors have some other resources that I might look at.
"When kids don't feel abandoned - but instead supported - by their parents and other adults, they are more likely to develop Sticky Faith."
"Parenting is a lifelong expression of nurturing tenderness and unbridled love. It is a long-term adventure, with ups and downs and wins and losses. ... Parenting is a marathon, and pacing is what matters most."
"How you express and live your faith will have, all things being equal, a greater impact on your child's life than any other factor. ...What they see and hear and experience growing up with you will communicate more about the essence and veracity of faith than anything they face or anyone they know."
"Sometimes our children pursue ways of following Jesus that while different from our ways are nonetheless genuine and even exciting. ...We seek to maintain and strengthen the trust relationship with our children, even as they are seeking their own space to find their way. ...Stick with Jesus always, and trust Jesus to always stick with you and your family." ( )

Taking the Heath brother's work in "Made to Stick" on marketing and trying to apply it to discipleship isn't the best idea. Not only are marketing and discipleship different in their purpose and outcome, but it also shows the general evangelical penchant to take popular ideas and catechize them into something churchy.

So although the book starts with an incorrect premise, it builds on this with an illogical approach to discipleship. Our kids our leaving church and not coming back....so do more of what we are doing now.....it will work better, somehow. This has not relation to the marketing ideas of "Made to Stick" and appears to contradict the hard research done by Barna in "UnChristian." There is plenty of evidence that shows the reason people are leaving evangelical churches is because they are shallow and vapid. Piling on the entertainment and telling people that their life will be better by coming to church WITHOUT linking their faith to Jesus's work on the cross (the authors of this book studiously avoid discussing what they mean by "faith" and any mention of the cross being central to why people are in church in the first place) is a recipe for failure.

So nice packaging, but poor scholarship in the content, plus, trying to rip off a successful book's title to make the material seem more relevant or authoritative equals a big fail for "Sticky Faith." Honestly, what they describe as "faith" and what they want to stick is not anything I'd be interested in or want my daughter to be connected to as the foundation for her church attendance. ( )

Should be required reading for all Christian parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, and mentors that want to impart their faith in very concrete and practical ways. Thanks to Wes Ingram for recommending. Excellent! ( )