We are currently inviting churches from these backgrounds:
African American
Asian American
Latino/a
Multicultural
The curriculum is flexible and designed for:
Youth group meetings
Bible studies
Sunday schools
Christian schools
Participating churches receive the full curriculum at no cost, which includes:
Teaching Manual with lesson plans and activities
Companion book (Different by Design) containing the lesson content
The curriculum is free in exchange for churches:
Sending youth leaders to a training session on January 9, 2026, at Biola University
Teaching the curriculum between January and May 2026
Joining a research study to help evaluate its impact
This study examines how the curriculum supports adolescents’ spiritual formation and ethnic identity development.
Study activities
Parents provide consent before youth participate.
Adolescents complete a short online survey before and after the curriculum (same questions both times).
A small group of 4 adolescents per church (2 male, 2 female) take part in interviews before and after the curriculum, usually via Zoom.
Youth leaders share feedback afterward to improve the curriculum.
Sample survey questions
Spiritual formation: “I have a personal relationship with God” (1 = Strongly disagree to 5 = Strongly agree)
Ethnic identity: “I feel a strong sense of belonging to my ethnic group” (1 = Strongly disagree to 5 = Strongly agree)
Sample interview questions
Spiritual formation: When have you felt especially close to God? Which practices (prayer, worship, Bible reading, service) are most meaningful to you?
Ethnic identity: What do you enjoy most about your heritage? When has your ethnicity felt important at church, school, or in your community?
Integration: Do you feel God values your cultural background? How does it help you contribute uniquely to your church or God’s work?