Growing With: Every Parent’s Guide to Helping Teenagers and Young Adults Thrive in Their Faith, Family, and Future

Growing up doesn’t mean growing apart. It means Growing With.

As a parent of a teenager or young adult, you may feel as though you’re guessing about what to do next–with mixed results. You want to stay connected with your maturing child, but you’re not sure how. And deep down, you fear your child doesn’t want or need you.

Based on brand-new research and interviews with remarkable families, Growing With equips you to take steps toward your teenager or young adult in a mutual journey of intentional growth that trusts God to transform your entire family. By highlighting three groundbreaking strategies, authors Kara Powell and Steven Argue show that it’s never too early or too late to

• accept the child you have, not the child you wish you had
• work toward solutions rather than only identifying problems
• develop empathy that nudges rather than judges
• fight for your child, not against them
• connect your child with a faith and a church big enough to handle their doubts and struggles
• dive into tough discussions about dating, career, and finances
• unleash your child’s passions and talents to change our world

“As pastors, my colleagues and I have countless counseling sessions with parents and their adulting children in which both generations have to learn fresh ways to engage each other. I couldn’t be happier that Kara Powell and Steve Argue have given leaders and parents a map to navigate this critical space!” — Bryan Loritts, pastor of Abundant Life; author of Insider/Outsider

Kara Powell is the executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) and a faculty member at Fuller Theological Seminary (see fulleryouthinstitute.org). Named by Christianity Today as one of "50 Women to Watch," Kara serves as a youth and family strategist for Orange, and also speaks regularly at parenting and leadership conferences. Kara is the author or coauthor of a number of books, including Growing Young, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family, Sticky Faith Curriculum, Can I Ask That?, Deep Justice Journeys, Essential Leadership, Deep Justice in a Broken World, Deep Ministry in a Shallow World, and the Good Sex Youth Ministry Curriculum.

Steven Argue is associate professor of youth, family, and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary and applied research strategist at the Fuller Youth Institute. He also serves on the board for the Association of Youth Ministry Educators. Steve researches, speaks, and writes regularly on topics surrounding adolescence, emerging adulthood, faith, and spiritual struggle. He and his wife, Jen, love being the parents of three emerging adult daughters.