Three Decades of
Understanding Adventist Youth
The Valuegenesis (VG) Project is a research effort that has been going strong for over thirty years, providing a unique window into the lives, beliefs, and experiences of Adventist young people. This enduring collaboration involves the North American Division (NAD) Office of Education, the John Hancock Center for Youth and Family Ministry at La Sierra University (LSU), and a dedicated team of researchers. Together, they have conducted three previous studies known as VG1 (1990), VG2 (2000), and VG3 (2010). These investigations have offered crucial insights into the Seventh-day Adventist community.
Roger Dudley
Bailey Gillespie
In October 2021, the project launched its fourth iteration, Valuegenesis 4 (VG4), albeit slightly delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest effort continues the tradition of exploring the faith and well-being of Adventist youth.
VG4, as its predecessors, is a group effort involving various stakeholders: the NAD Office of Education, the Office of Research at LSU’s School of Education, and the John Hancock Center for Youth and Family Ministry at LSU. The project is led by Dr. Chang-Ho Ji, who serves as the Director, Principal Investigator, and Chief Statistician, along with key team members, such as Dr. Josue Anguiano-Vega, Dr. Friedbert Ninow, Dr. Timothy Gillespie, Vy Cao, and several doctoral students from LSU.
North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, Office of Education
Office of Research, School of Education, La Sierra University
H.M.S Richards Divinity School, La Sierra University
The main aim of the Valuegenesis Project, especially VG4, is to understand and evaluate the current state of Adventist youth. It seeks to answer questions like, “How are they doing in their faith development, school life, family, and personal growth?” and “Are they doing better or worse than they were 10, 20, or 30 years ago?” The project aims to predict the future by understanding the past and identifying patterns and trends. It delves into the reasons behind these changes, exploring the ‘why’ and ‘what next.’
VG4, like VG1-VG3, has a particular interest in understanding the connections among individuals, schools, churches, and families. This understanding helps in shaping NAD and its policies and fostering dialogue between youth, educators, families, ministers, and church leaders, thus facilitating a better grasp of the needs and challenges faced by Adventist youth.
Regarding the questionnaire items, VG4 builds on the foundation of the earlier versions, maintaining 209 questions that comprise 54% of the survey items. These questions cover various topics including personal religiosity, SDA doctrinal faith, salvation theology, faith maturity, personal devotion, denominational loyalty, church programs, faith growth, and the overall climate within the church, school, and family. Additionally, it explores various aspects of the Adventist lifestyle such as substance use, depression, physical abuse, educational aspirations, and the roles of family and school in instilling values.
What is new in VG4? It introduces several fresh dimensions and areas of inquiry, reflecting the changing landscape of Adventist youth and contemporary societal concerns. Some of these new areas of focus include the followings:
- Youth Faith: A deeper look into the spiritual orientation, expression, and trust in God among Adventist youth.
- Adventist Identity & Esteem: Examining how Adventist youth perceive and identify with their faith.
- Lifestyle & Mental Health: A more comprehensive exploration of lifestyle choices and their impact on mental health, including a more extensive focus on issues like bullying, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and eating disorders.
- School Satisfaction & Diversity Issues: Insights into how satisfied Adventist youth are with their educational environments and the promotion of diversity.
- LGBTQ, Internet Use, & Internet Use Addiction: An examination of LGBTQ issues and the effects of internet use and addiction on Adventist youth.
- Positive Life & Psychology: A focus on psychological well-being, happiness, gratitude, optimism, resilience, self-efficacy, compassion, altruism, growth mindset, and work ethics.
- Perspectives: An exploration of life goals and worldviews of Adventist youth.
In a nutshell, the Valuegenesis Project, now entering its fourth decade with VG4, continues to be a vital resource for the Seventh-day Adventist community. By examining the beliefs, experiences, and well-being of Adventist youth, this project provides invaluable insights that can inform policies, foster dialogue, and facilitate the development of more supportive and responsive educational and religious environments. VG4, with its expanded scope, is well-positioned to address the challenges and opportunities facing Adventist youth in the 21st century, reflecting the project’s enduring commitment to understanding and nurturing the faith of younger generations.
