Whether you find yourself in her shoes or older ones, her reflections and practical suggestions will prove meaningful for the mutual journey of truly hearing one another and developing empathy. Have fun. Discern the Need: Someone (a young adult, a parent, a priest, or religious) determines that young adult ministry is vital to the parish and that there are a good number of young adults in the pews who would participate. So were the disciples. And because I believe your voice matters, I wrote this guide to help you think through the best way to use your voice at your church. This report confirms what previous research has documented: Many congregations say they want to reach younger people, but most are unwilling to change their worship or priorities to make it happen. NOTE: This list is taken from the USCCB document, Sons and Daughters of the Light: A Pastoral Plan for Ministry with Young Adults (1996). Theres something about two or more gathering together before God, asking Him what He wants. We act out of those beliefs. Not only will this give you valuable experiences from which to draw upon, but it will also demonstrate to your churchs leadership that you can be trusted with more responsibility. This reinforces to your community that not only are you a safe person to talk to, but you will also go the extra mile to genuinely understand from where they are coming. Teaching young people information is important. Then, that group comes up with a great idea and puts it into practice. This is where you pray the right people onto your team, asking God to send workers for the harvest (Luke 10:2). When there is little openness to change, reaching young adults is unlikely. Offering to serve and submitting to authority is a great start.. Maybe have a commissioning service for graduating seniors. When our hearts are completely given over to the Father, we will soon find our plans align with what Hes already doing in the world. We are in a new season in the church, Jill reminds me. There has to be a shared knowledge about Scripture, theology and life. Dont just make them feel valued; value them. find out what they're passionate about in life. The good news is that young adults are far from missing in most congregations. Young adult leadership development. If a young person feels compelled to spiritual leadership, he or she can all too easily find peers in the Old and New Testaments, not to mention current-day peers who've experienced those same terrifying feelings of conviction. They are college students, workers, and professionals; they are persons in military service; they are single, married, divorced, or widowed; they are with or without children; they are newcomers in search of a better life. Be humble to admit your needs and mistakes. If you are or work with young adults, ages 18 to 39, these resources may be helpful. Or, invite them to be part of a small group you lead with other young adults interested in growing in leadership. Continue meeting at the same location for games, food, and worship/prayer, but now is the time to start planning an evening where you can meet (maybe at someones house or your church) every week for a devotional, fellowship, and probably more food. It is better because you will have blind spots, and having a team that isnt afraid to help you with those helps you grow and shows that your team is comfortable and safe enough to talk about hard things. Ive seen churches where the youth or worship pastor also serves in the young adult capacity. Then, if youre really lucky, they share what they have just understood with you. There may only be one young adult participant, but the young are not totally absent. We accomplish this through retreats, special events, Bible studies and PROPEL. This was leading older adults in the embrace and ongoing welcome of younger adults. What would our world look like if every church had at least one young adult small group, where young people could find hope in Jesus and encounter life-changing, Christ-centered community? He also spent a decade working for The Navigators, mostly as associate editor for Discipleship Journal. What does it take to successfully launch a ministry to young adults? From my vantage point, more churches are making intentional efforts to reach 18- to 30-year-olds. But instead of seeking Jesus way of ministry, I took a page from Field of Dreams and believed, If you build it, they will come.. Prayer helps us become people prepared to join God in His work, rather than men and women attempting to find ministry success on our own. As long as you start with prayer, God will lead you to pastor and care for peoples souls, no matter the format. Eventually, I just gave up. A common pitfall of young adult ministries is becoming siloed or functioning as a church within a church that disconnects from the larger congregation. I've seen churches where the youth or worship pastor also serves in the young adult capacity. It takes a dash of strategy, and at least for me, I am finding it takes a heavy filter in some situations. It is to START following Jesus. Being with people when they encounter an ah-ha moment is one of my favorite experiences (its only second best to having my own ah-ha moment). . Young adults are the people in the age range of 18-30. As you pray and God puts people on your heart, begin conversations with them. Rebekah is, as she says, spectacular at being twenty-six. Three months later, my lead minister called after a board meeting. Often, it's best to pick 11th or 12th graders to form a "core" or "leadership" team to plan events and the like. Take time to plan, dont launch before youre ready, but dont feel the need to make it perfect either. Want fresh perspective? Subscribe and stay connected for useful information, resources and templates. This is a tough one. It takes more preparation than I initially expected. When I started, I felt like Nehemiah, not knowing what to do. You can work together to help and sharpen one another. Effective ministry acknowledges, understands, respects, and celebrates the cultural diversity of individuals and communities. Youre our new College and Young Adult Minister! Events Young People's Ministries and Discipleship Ministries host a variety of in-person and virtual events for young people and their adult leaders. Because her parents were married, Jordan says she held back from cutting her dad off . The Church meets young adults where they are present: the workplace, the home, the campus, and the civic community. But its critical to have a skilled teacher (or teachers) with the maturity, wisdom, and gifting to lead your group into life-giving biblical conversations. Worse, you get invited to share your thoughts, and suddenly freeze. They will turn your ministry into a community. The following principles are offered to guide the development of effective ministry with young adults. So, first of all, call them to something great, and do so consistently and with clarity. Not only can you get advice from these mentors, but as you integrate as a ministry of your church, you can find safety and protection under your churchs umbrella. Teachers and facilitators may be peers from within the group itself, be more seasoned members of the church or be church staff. We come together to listen to each other's insights and perspectives, LEARN from God's word and how to apply it to our lives and how to LEAD others to . At the end of the Great Commission, Jesus makes a great promise: I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). When it comes to young adult ministry, I havent invented anything. My ministry uses small groups communities of people who meet weekly to support one another, study and discuss the Bible, and pray. Seven reasons we should all be part of a congregation of Christian believers. Find someone who has been where you want to go and can offer advice to help you get there. Adam is the author of the NavPress Bible Study Beating Busyness. Adam and his wife, Jennifer, have three children and enjoy watching movies, playing board games and playing music together. This is when you can start to see people opening up more, going deeper in conversation, and the brotherly/sisterly bonds will form. For more information about building great small groups, check out Small Group University by Brad Lewis, the Chi Alpha director at North Dakota State University. Be a model for them in the way you sing, in your postures of prayer, and in your . Lead a vibrant young adult ministry that's spiritually thriving. Learn from that persons successes and failures. Prayer helps us stay focused on Gods priorities. Watch this video to f. In each of those situations success, setbacks and surprises the best thing you can do is gather as a team, pray for each other, pray for your community and church, then look forward to how God is going to keep working in and through you and your relationships. While having a young adult as the leader helps, there is another even more important factor: how many hours this leader devotes to the task. This is the perfect opportunity to, before anything really gets started, submit this ministry to Jesus and to pray for His will to be done over it all. Make sure your team includes at least one strong church leader who knows all the ins and outs of the church and its power dynamics and personalities. Similarly, its wise to articulate what each persons role in the group is, so that your team is clear about whos doing what. Because of that, I believe its wise to establish a term of service on the front end for your leadership team. If so, can we connect them with campus ministries and churches in those places? Reach out to them. As a matter of fact, if you are reading this article and looking for a quick fix or a 10-step process, this article may not be the solution for your church. . You have just been appointed the leader for your church's young adults ministry. Assuming that foundation is in place and youve got your pastor and churchs blessing, here are five strategic considerations Ive gleaned from more than a decade in young adult ministry (including two groups that I helped lead as a single layperson and one community my wife and I led together after we were married in our mid-30s). Young adults, ages 20 to 24, saw a 34% increase in the homicide rate from 2019 to 2020, from . But as a single adult, I was too old for youth ministry but felt too young for many of the small groups and Bible studies the church offered. You want to speak up, but youre not sure how or when. After my friend got married, I almost lost my friendship with her. In many cases, God builds his people to lead and to serve despite naysayers, doubters, and skeptics. If you have a foundation and your church's blessing, here are five strategic considerations I've gleaned from more than a decade in youth ministry. Allow them to find their voice and worship God in their own musical languages and styles. This is not to justify surrounding yourself with yes men, though. Share a compelling vision, starting with why: Why would someone want to volunteer? 2. Ninety percent of churches with thriving young adult ministries have such a strategy. Thats what mentoring is all about. We make use of cookies on this website to help it work better for you. Howard Thurmans prophetic witness exemplified this form of leadership. And to obscure the truth is to tell a lie. Paul yes, that Paul is one of my favorite mentors. Wesleyan Studies Project Series 3: Methodist Evangelism, Clergy Age Trends in the United Methodist Church, Keeping Our Sacred Trust: Assuring Financial Integrity, Preventing Misconduct Keeping Our Sacred Trust Online Ethics Training, Lessons on Engaging Young Adults Effectively, Think Bigger: The Challenge of Reaching Millennials, 7 Tips for Sharing Your Congregations Story on Social Media, Online Worship Services Appeal to Many, but In-Person Remains More Popular, 50 Ways to Strengthen Ministry with Youth, Report on Disaffiliating United Methodist Churches through 2022: Comparing Similarities and Differences, Leading Voices: Leading Change Means Making it Easy for People to Do Hard Things, 3 Key Skills for Leading in Todays Argumentative Climate, The Hidden Impact of Rural Churches: An In-Depth Interview with Bob Jaeger and Rachel Hildebrand, 2020 Lewis Center for Church Leadership of. And, when church members engagement with the young is minimal, they are more prone to negative assumptions and stereotypes about younger people. That is awesome! The longstanding challenge of engaging young adults in church is far more difficult today. I believe these points are relevant for you as a deacon and leader today. Our churches need us. During the past four years, Ive been on staff at a church as the young adult pastor. That day the very same people who I felt used to misunderstand me walked up, shook my hand, and said, Young lady, we need your voice. What could I say now that they were truly listening? Their eyes light up, and they cannot contain themselves. You form memories by having fun together, but these events also open up spaces where you can cry together, confess to one another, and find safety in your community. How your church can work with young adults, Discover how to lead well in rural and small-town ministry, Want to learn about the container experience and start working in a shared place, Doing A New Thing: Ministry with Young Adults, Contains spam, fake content or potential malware. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20). This has been a lesson learned through the hard work of trying to fit in with forty-six and seventy-six-year-olds across the church. Effective ministry includes the commitment of necessary resources for the evangelization, catechesis, and pastoral care of young adults. Encounter Finding the Balance: Speak Up or Stay Silent? Singles left to themselves are more vulnerable to temptation, and accountability only works if there are deep connections. Develop an intentional transition. Whatever your teaching approach looks like, a consistent format paired with an emphasis on biblical content communicates that your community values growing spiritually. But no one else did. The ministries we tend to see in churches across the board are youth, womens, mens, childrens, etc. A speaker, writer, and volunteer youth pastor, Brad is the coauthor of over a dozen books, including 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, Faith in an Anxious World, Growing Young, several Sticky Faith books, Every Parents Guide to Navigating Our Digital World, and Can I Ask That? Build bridges of connection with local college pastors and ministries. So, tell them that. We teach others from those beliefs, too. A fun, safe space to grow and learn. Building a ministry fully submitted to the Lord sets you up with the most stable foundation you could ask for. But, whatever the age of the leader, the presence of a designated person, paid or unpaid, responsible to lead young adult engagement is crucial. Our growing library of conversations about the joys, challenges, and successes of ministry with young people unites a diverse set of practitioners and academics. Many of us have found family within congregations and support during the toughest times of our lives. Asking ourselves, What is the call of my congregation? is an excellent place to start. I see a great need for singles to connect in the same way married people connect both socially and spiritually. As far as what the first action step should be in getting people interested in building a community, its easy! Theyre the thermostats who change the temperature in a room. Understanding the relationship elements of the blessing can do more than communicate parental acceptance to a child. August 25, 2021 Being with people when they encounter an ah-ha moment is one of my favorite experiences (it's only second best to having my own ah-ha moment). Dont approach conversations with your community as tasks to get over with; constantly remind yourself that each person is unique and valuable. Figuring out adulthood in the church can be exponentially hard. Rebekah lives in Tulsa, OK with her husband. But I stopped talking for a while during those early months in my new role. This is back to the basics. Visions are visual. I waited until the waitress brought us our coffee, and then I began to share a bit of my heart with this man who had watched me grow up and in recent years had become more of a mentor. If a church cannot say that, then maybe they are being called to focus their ministries in other directions. I love to watch people magnets you know, those who naturally attract and engage others. It could look like lots of things, but the important thing is that you as leaders encourage and facilitate ways for those in your group to love, serve and minister outside of the community instead of just focusing inwardly. The first Thursday came. This track of doctoral study from Wesley Theological Seminary focuses on the power of a prophetic witness like Thurmans to draw people toward a positive new future. Call out their leadership skills, and ask them to keep engaging others. This accountability is defined by people who are committed to knowing each other and loving God, and who will remind each other who they are in Christ when that perspective is lost. It is wise to remember that not everyone has such good associations with church, maybe even especially those who are Millennial or Generation Z. Podcast #1. NEW 6-session curriculum available now! Do you? Appointing a worship leader with all the talent in the world is cool, but if they stir up strife and drama all the time, you may want to allow them the space to grow first before asking them to lead. As United Methodists, the Urban Abbey teaches a shared method of engaging the hands, heart, and head in the life of faith. Not everyone you know is ready to lead, so make sure you ask people you trust to steer this ministry with you. Consistency is an important part of creating a successful young adult ministry. Call, email, and chat over a meal if you can. However, there are some things most successful young adult ministries do. Find a team in your church who wants to work on this together and commit to it. He notes that churches that assume they can engage young adults in the same manner as anyone else virtually always fail. One of my favorite of these moments happened in a large conference room with teams from 14 different and diverse churches in the Washington D.C. area. Training means we have youth doing ministry so they learn how to disciple, organize, care and plan. Its the guide I wish someone had handed me a year ago, or much earlier. Theres no magic amount of time, but a year to two years were both timeframes that seemed to work well for the leaders of groups that Ive participated in. Find the experts. When all else fails, find the best volunteers you can and empower them, teach the Bible, and pray a whole lot. Even if God gave you a vision, youll want to run it by the leader of the church. Dr. Emily A. Peck-McClain is Visiting Professor of Christian Formation and Young Adult Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She has been working with the Lilly Endowments Young Adult Initiative through the Wesley Innovation Hub for the past four years. Learn more and apply today for May 2024. The truth is that God is just as present with young adults who are not a part of the church as God is present with those of us who worship with a congregation every Sunday. Get an intercessory team together to pray for you. One way you can do this is by setting up small groups. Young adult ministry leaders should help students make ministry connections so they can successfully transition into the local church during and after college. Dont pray for your own prayer requests today. Goal One: Connecting Young Adults with Jesus Christ. As I discussed my desire to begin a young adult ministry with my pastor and friend, I was relieved to hear that he knew such a program was missing at our church. How and Where do you begin? Young adults must begin to see this as a lifelong journey with God's people rather than a season of participation in some activities. From there, you can start a rhythm of worship, prayer, food, and games. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete. Ministry with young adults might mean ministry completely outside of the church with people who will never come into the church. In 2021, suicide and homicide rates for children and young adults ages 10 to 24 were the highest they've been in decades, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and . The lives of college students, 20-somethings and young couples are transient. And anyone who has experienced that grace is being changed by the Holy Spirit and called away from their sin. You want not only to consider their natural talents, abilities, and affinities but also their heart and their relationship with Jesus. Our group began with a few young adults on our knees, calling out to the God of heaven and asking Him for wisdom on what to do and whom to invite. That strategy virtually always fails. Want to write for us? Remind them of the beauty of the gospel, lest it become a stale replica of the vibrant truth it is. It can be easy to look down on something like a dodgeball event. 6 Ways to Get More Out of Your Small Group, 5 Questions With Single Foster Dad Flipper Peter Mutabazi. Now, get out there! Dont just blindly uh huh the feedback people give you; genuinely listen. Now what? These stories I share with you so you know that no one has ever called me quiet, meek, or mild. Get fresh insight on young adult ministry from our leading experts. As a church body, are we helping equip young people to thrive spiritually when they get to college? To help young adults develop relationships with peers who share similar values and beliefs which nurture and strengthen their faith, thereby creating communities of support. Ministry is less effective if your leadership team moves in 10 different directions. Cookies give you a more personalized experience, and provide analytics that allow us to serve our users better. I realize young adult ministries vary in how they are set up and resourced (i.e., weekly gathering, no gathering, small groups, staff, etc.). Young adults are desperate to do something great. Thinking back to my own failed attempt at starting a young adult ministry and all that Ive learned about serving my brothers and sisters in Christ since then Jills words fill me with hope. Every Wednesday, "Leading Ideas" delivers information, resources, and strategies for forward-thinking church leaders. Within your church, think beyond just your department. While establishing this community may be challenging, it brings a deep sense of security when you have one. This shows we are not in bondage to sin any longer. Our voices matter. Single moms had a place. Here are 10 steps to building an effective young adult ministry: 1. Churches with thriving young adult ministries report that a leader spends on average 20 hours per week. The following principles are offered to guide the development of effective ministry with young adults. Avoid a key temptation. June 19, 2023 at 7:00 a.m. EDT. There will be people who wont agree with the changes, and you may even see people leave or step down from leadership roles, but continue to follow the guidance of the Lord and lean on the advice of trusted mentors. Indicate your willingness to meet with them one on one occasionally to invest in them. Ask as many questions as possible. 9 min. Congratulations! Remind yourself that it probably takes a lot of guts for them to talk with you about this difficult thing, or remind yourself that they have been wrestling with the things they are talking to you about for a while. Maybe God is nudging you to be a champion for this cause in a leadership or support role. I dont know whats best for your ministry. Don't treat this period haphazardly. Thirdly, provide a solution to their sin. Looking back, I can see that the problem wasnt with anyone else; it was with me. To make contact with young adults and to invite and welcome them to participate in the life and mission of the Christian community, which proclaims Jesus Christ by preaching the Gospel. Please confirm you want to block this member. It is not about having people on a team who never disagree; its about building a team around one vision. As I read through the Gospels, I am struck by the fact that Jesus created no programs, nor did He command His first followers to do so. FEB 5, 2023. There are more singles in the church now than in any other decade in modern history. Here, on this page, you will find ministries, organizations, and apostolates with resources geared towards young adults ages 18 to 39. Sometimes childhood friendships dont survive the move into adulthood. Chris Wilterdink writes that a critical strategy for engaging young adults is to create discipleship opportunities and build relationships in the existing online communities where they are already active.
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