The listening tour is a significant objective of the first year of our institute. This tour will focus on doing as much listening as we can about the challenges African American pastors and churches are facing, resources that could be incorporated into the curriculum, and learning all we can about African American emerging and young adults.

Qualitative methodology will be used such as focus groups and individual interviews with open-ended, well-crafted, and culturally informed questions. Focus groups will be conducted with senior pastors, churched emerging adults, and unchurched emerging adults. Based on what is learned, we will initiate the start of a significant curriculum revision, as well as write a final report that will be helpful to us and hopefully to many others as we move ahead.

• First Baptist Church of Glenarden – Glenarden, MD
• New Beginnings Church – Matthews, NC (Charlotte)
• Salem Baptist Church of Chicago – Chicago, IL