Rust-Oleum offers several creative products that have great potential for student ministries and even the church office.

1. Magnetic Primer
2. Dry Erase Paint
3. Chalkboard Paint
4. Glow in the Dark Paint

So if you are looking to magnetize your walls, write on them, or even create patterns that glow in the dark, Rust-Oleum offers affordable solutions to make it happen. 

[via CoolBusinessIdeas.com]

One out of every 12 full-time workers in the United States admit illegal drug use in the past month according to a new survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. Among those who admitted using illegal drugs in the past month:

• 19.0% were ages 18 to 25
• 10.3% were ages 26 to 34
• 7.0% were ages 35 to 49
• 2.6% were ages 50 to 64

Based on these numbers, 1 out of every 5 students that a college ministry wants to reach has a problem with illegal drugs.

I am surprised by how common illegal drug use is, but this is a good reminder that despite the “everything’s okay” appearance that people project on the outside, people often have hidden problems that need God’s help.

[via Yahoo! News]

GenDigital shares some research from the Youth Trends’s Lifestyle Report that shows that blogs are growing in popularity among young people.

• 44% report reading a blog site at least once in the past week
  an increase from 36% last fall

• 32% report commenting on another blog site at least once in the past week 

• 22% report updating their own personal blog at least once in the past week
  an increase from 13% last fall
  >> 25% of males
  >> 19% of females

Teen blog use is expected to continue increasing, which suggests that blogging is starting to be and will be an excellent way for youth groups and college ministries to keep their students informed. 

[via Ypulse]

Threads Media sent me the leadership kit for a new Bible study curriculum called “In Transit: What Do You Do With Your Wait?” by Mike Harder of Highpoint Church (Memphis, TN).

It is a very comprehensive 6 session study that even includes three short videos, four music tracks, and three audio tracks to compliment the learning process. It investigates how Joseph, David, and Jesus handled seasons of waiting and explores how such times can have great purpose in our lives too.

It is a good topic for young adults.

A 2004 UCLA survey reveals:

• 79% of college freshman believe in God
  >> 90% of politically conservative students
  >> 80% of politically “middle-of-the-road” students
  >> 64% of politically liberal students

Researchers also discovered three distinct conceptions of God.

1. A Personal God (40% of students)
   - feel a “sense of connection with God/Higher Power”
   - feel “loved by God”
   - ”gain spiritual strength by trusting in a Higher Power”
2. An All Powerful God  (37% of students)
   - creator, judge, supreme being, and/or protector
3. A Mystical God (15% of students)
   - universal spirit, divine mystery, nature, enlightenment, and/or part of me

10% of students rejected all three perceptions of God.

Additionally, The Christian Post reports that religious and spiritual interest is growing in popularity on college campuses.

In a quest to find what is popular online, Youth Trends recently asked 17-to-25-year-olds to name their top three favorite websites. Facebook.com dominated the results among both men and women.

Among Women Ages 17-25

1. 69% Facebook
2. 38% MySpace
3. 22% YouTube
4. 13% Google
5. 10% CNN

Among Men Ages 17-25

1. 56% Facebook
2. 19% YouTube
3. 17% Yahoo!
4. 17% Google
5. 16% ESPN

Keep in mind that these are their favorite sites and not necessarily the ones they most traffic. Regardless, Facebook is the place for your church to reach young adults.

To learn more about how your church can reach people with Facebook, read our previous posts about advertising on Facebook and how Guts Church used Facebook to reach Tulsa students.

Full report: eMarketer
[via Mashable]

Despite the promiscuous messages found in TV, music, and movies, the prospect of lifelong partnership and marriage is more important to young Americans than having sex according to research by Youthography.

Among Americans aged 14-29:

• 77.8% viewed “having a lifelong partner” as important
• 64.2% viewed “getting married” as important
• 46.1% viewed “having sex” as important

Consider it proof that American young people are serious about learning how to have a healthy marriage and relationships. If you preach it, they will listen.

[via Ypulse]

The Pew Research Center released a survey report that examines how young people ages 18 to 25 (born between 1981 & 1988) view their lives, futures, and politics. They are called Generation Next and only 68% of them think their generation is unique and distinct.

Religion

• 44% Protestant (52% in ’88)
• 25% Catholic (29% in ’88)
• 20% No Religion :: Atheist :: Agnostic (11% in ’88)
• 7% Other (6% in ’88)
• 2% Jewish (2% in ’88)
• 2% Don’t Know (0% in ’88)Â

Most Important Problems Facing Them

• 30% money :: finances :: debt
• 18% college :: education
• 16% career :: job
• 12% no problems
• 7% family :: relationships

Who They Admire Most

• 25% people they know (teacher :: boss :: family member)
• 19% no one
• 14% entertainers (athletes :: singers :: actors)
• 8% political leaders
• 6% spiritual leaders

Lifestyle

• 85% of men exercise
  78% of women exercise
• 51% of men play video games
  21% of women play video games
• 48% of men drink alcohol
  34% of women drink alcohol
• 37% of men smoke cigarettes
  25% of women smoke cigarettes
• 10% of men take illegal drugs
  7% of women take illegal drugs

Other Statistics

• 80% (roughly) say they talked to their parents in the past day
  73% see their parents at least once a week
  50% see their parents daily
• 73% say their parents have helped them financially in the past year
• 58% think homosexuality should be encouraged
  32% think it should be discouraged
• 51% say they sent or received a text message over the phone in the past day
• 50% (roughly) say they have either gotten a tattoo, dyed their hair an untraditional color, or had a body piercing in a place other than their ear lobe
• 48% identified more with the Democratic Party
  35% affiliated more with the GOP
• 40%+ have created a personal profile on a social networking site
• 12% do not use the Internet

The full report is a comprehensive analysis of Generation Next and has plenty of more insights into their generation.

[via Monday Morning Insight]