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Getting young adults to participate - 1/31/2010 4:24:09 PM
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vv56964
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Our church has many active groups and committees, including Bible Studies, but we get very little involvement from individuals/couples ages 25-40. As someone in this age group that would love to get to know others with my experiences, this is quite frustrating.
What do you do as a church to get this age involved and connected?
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 1/31/2010 8:04:11 PM
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rcjames
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I teach them the same thing that I do all others.
(Joh 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(Joh 3:17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
(Joh 3:18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(Joh 3:19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Young adults do not need "Special" programs etc. They need Christ just like everyone else. One they have Christ, then they will desire to know him better, and become more like him, which is what Church is all about;
(Eph 4:13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
(Eph 4:14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
(Eph 4:15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
The main problem is trying to get folks who do not know Christ to be interested in learning about Him. That is backwards, as they need to get to know Him first. Folks need to repent, be baptized, and recieve the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38); then they are ready for Church and to grow.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 1/31/2010 8:23:50 PM
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davelinde
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I've led small groups in all kinds of ages... mostly as families 30 to 40ish, they participate when you engage them... connect on matters that matter to them.
The last group I led was "college career" aged 18-20ish... They were a a GREAT group, easy to engage and understand, though it could NOT ignore that I'm pushing 50 (and they weren't).
I guess I also wonder where the disconnect could be... how are you trying to engage? Send them a text? FB them? dunno... are you going where they are and asking what would get participation from them?
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 1/31/2010 10:35:53 PM
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vv56964
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As a GenXer myself, who was at one time not caring to be engaged, I realize that it doesn't have that much to do with "wanting to know more."
My husband and I are currently having a disconnect as we were able to initiate and plant the seeds for a growing young adult ministry in a previous church that we were members of. The church currently has a great young adult (25-35) group that is actively involved in fellowship both in and out of church. My husband believed that "we have done this before" and therefore it should be easy. Unfortunately, in our last church, we had a group that wanted to be involved and just didn't know how. I don't believe our church currently has those dynamics or the passion to learn and connect.
This could be my frustration to connect and exasperation that I can't seem to get anything started and was hoping to obtain some good ideas. I truly believe that having programs alone doesn't make anyone want to participate as it is easy to blend into the background.
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/1/2010 12:48:11 PM
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B-Swan
Posts: 83
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From: Indiana
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rcjames
I think you have well explained some of the problem; folks think that it has to be all about them, when it should be all about Him.
Thanks
RC
I think that's part of the problem. As someone right in the middle of this age group (31), I would pose another part of the problem: who's helping these young adults discover and hone their gifts and talents and providing them an opportunity to use them?
I grew up in church (actually through about 6 or so churches), and they all seemed to be the same. They would preach that we're all part of the body, we all have different roles in the body...but there's little if any help with discovering where everyone fits within the body.
In today's church, the expectations for youth ministers seem to be keeping their current youth group kids out of trouble, teach them about God (which turns into repetitive classes on the 4-5 biggest sins of their generation), and keep them in church until they graduate high school.
So then they graduate high school and go off to college for 4 years (most of them). They're away from their "home church" for 4 years, so they start to feel out of place. What they do for a church while in college widely varies (some are fortunate to find one, some bounce around, some don't see the point when you're only there off and on for 4 years, and some give up).
So after college they either come back home and go back to their home church, which never tried to help them figure out how they fit within the body and after 4 years away from them really doesn't know now how they fit. Or they move to another city and the college cycle kind of starts over again. They still don't feel fully comfortable because they still don't know where they fit and now they have to learn a whole new set of people.
Obvoiusly this (I hope) is not true of every area or every church. But in my area at least, this is how it is. Nobody until about a couple years ago has tried to help me really find my gifts, my calling, and where I fit in the overall body.
From my experience, somethings need to change fundamentally in how we raise the young people up into young adults. We need to train them better, help them discover where they fit and how they can best glorify God with their gifts and talents, and not just continually ram the same 4-5 sin topics down their throats until they graduate and they aren't the youth minister's "responsibility" anymore.
For the current young adult generation, someone needs to be taking initiative to help them discover how they fit and what their gifts are, because most of them that really believe in God really do want to know, but after a period of time they get tired of hearing the same messages and hearing the continual requests for volunteers without someone helping them discover if that's where God wants them.
I would say my 2 cents, but I think I gave about a quarter's worth at least 
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/1/2010 3:45:09 PM
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RJR_fan
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Many churches seem to have adopted The Field of Dreams approach: "If you build it, they will come." However, this movie is a fantasy.
IMHO, we need to make the paradigm shift from "in-suck" to "out-reach." People want a piece of the action, an opportunity to participate in something far bigger than the "youth leader's" vision. Such as, an aggressive and exuberant eternal Kingdom, with miracles happening on the growing edge, where real Christians mesh with real people who are not (yet) Christians.
We need to teach our people how to party. After all, Jesus was known as a party animal. And time after time, the Kingdom is compared to a rowdy, noisy, and royal feast. The family dinner table is an incredibly powerful tool for evangelism. Let's encourage our folks to use this resource!
_____________________________
Blogging my way through the Turkish New Testament
Meet my beloved mentor, RJR
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/1/2010 4:05:27 PM
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rcjames
Posts: 8180
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From: Oklahoma
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quote:
ORIGINAL: B-Swan
I think that's part of the problem. As someone right in the middle of this age group (31), I would pose another part of the problem: who's helping these young adults discover and hone their gifts and talents and providing them an opportunity to use them?
I grew up in church (actually through about 6 or so churches), and they all seemed to be the same. They would preach that we're all part of the body, we all have different roles in the body...but there's little if any help with discovering where everyone fits within the body.
But are ALL in the building part of the Body of Christ; that is the salient question. Telling someone that from the pulpit does not a True Believer make.
Bottom line; one must be part if the Body, before they can find where they fit in.
Once a person becomes a Christian; then they will desire to learn who they are in Christ, what is thier calling in the Body of Christ, and you will not be able to keep them away from solid Bible teachings.
The mistake being made is assuming that everyone is a Believer; and that just ain't the case.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/1/2010 5:36:43 PM
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B-Swan
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From: Indiana
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Actually I agree with you that not everyone who enters the building is a believer, or even that all who enter the building claiming to be a believer is a believer. That's my fault for not adding that caveat, so thanks for the clarification.
quote:
ORIGINAL: rcjames
Once a person becomes a Christian; then they will desire to learn who they are in Christ, what is thier calling in the Body of Christ, and you will not be able to keep them away from solid Bible teachings.
Just because someone has a desire to discover these things does not mean that they're going to take the initiative to get help discovering them, or that the person will understand God's direction, or understand it correctly, especially as youth. They also won't always see their talents or gifts. That's why I feel they need mentors who are strong in their faith to walk with them in this discovery and help them see signs they may miss, or help them understand what they don't understand, or help them discover gifts they didn't know they had.
And that's all I'm saying is that was my experience, as a current 31 year old who fits in this young adult group. Christians are graduating high school, graduating college, living their 20's without ever feeling they know where they fit. I'm 31 and I'm just now starting to see where I fit, and I've desired to know that the last 21 years since I became a Christian. Now that I'm starting to see this, I can see how certain things in the past make sense now, how I missed things God was showing me, how I could use certain gifts I had for God that I didn't know I could use before. I just think a lot of current young adults have been missing that mentor/guide.
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/2/2010 9:18:36 AM
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Elena1030
Posts: 2961
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From: Music City, USA
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rcjames
I think you have well explained some of the problem; folks think that it has to be all about them, when it should be all about Him.
Church was not intended to be a social club, dating service, or an entertainment venue; Church was intended to be a place for Believers to grow unto the Stature of Christ (Eph 4:13-15).
Thanks
RC
I know that, and you know that. But how much do the other young adults know that?
And what activities, groups, etc. are we talking about that they aren't going to? I mean, they may be doing well to get to Sunday School and worship and maybe participating in one regular serving/ministering opportunity. Maybe it's all the other "extracurricular" stuff that they're not going to. I don't know.
Plus, we don't really have to be physically AT the church every time its doors are open for some activity in order to be growing in Christ and fellowshipping with other believers.
What's more important, probably, is finding out if the young adult population at one's church are growing in Christ. And if not, what, if anything, is needed to change.
And if a church doesn't have any or very many young adults (married or single), then that's another issue altogether -- a matter of evangelism, I would think.
_____________________________
"I like to stride, not mince." -- Maggie
Prayer thread for singles who desire to marry someday
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/3/2010 9:40:10 AM
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rcjames
Posts: 8180
Joined: 7/15/2005
From: Oklahoma
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quote:
ORIGINAL: B-Swan
Just because someone has a desire to discover these things does not mean that they're going to take the initiative to get help discovering them, or that the person will understand God's direction, or understand it correctly, especially as youth.
It has been my personal experience after over 46 years in the ministry that when one is genuinly saved that their desire to better know thier Savior is a strong driving force in their lives.
Scripture tells us;
(2Co 5:17) So that if any one is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
And that new creature does not have to be conjoled into becoming an integral part of the Body of Christ, or to learn more about God.
Again, I maintain the position that if a person has to be inticed to learn about God, then they just ain't a Christian yet.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/3/2010 9:48:12 PM
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stimulus
Posts: 56
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I'm unclear on something - are there many adults in your church ages 25-40, and they just don't participate in anything other than the main corporate worship service? Or do you have few people ages 25-40 who come at all? The two situationsr really call for different responses.
If you have that age group in your church in sufficient number, but they don't connect, then I think you're growing\serving\connecting opportunities aren't appealing fo some reason. I agree with RC that a genuine Christian will have some desire to study and grow regardless of church programs, but a lot of us won't attend something that we don't feel comfortable at, and will just go it alone. If that's the case, you need to revamp your ministries for that age group.
For starters, I would encourage you to quit thinking of them as "young adults". Maybe it's just my church, but our young adults group is 18 - 30, and most are under 25, and very few have kids. If you're advertising the event as a young adult event, but hosting something appropriate for a 33 year old mother of two, that might be part of your problem.
Instead, focus on meeting felt needs - Elena outlined a number of the life stages that exist in the 25-40 year old group. Trying to treat a 29 year old "young professional" like me the same way you treat a 19 year old college student doesn't work - and I'm not married and don't have kids.
Finally, I do want to echo RJR's comments about outreach. If you're church doesn't have 25-40 year olds in it - or they aren't interesting in what you're doing - start making a difference in your community. That will attract more socially-minded people who want to be a part of something greater than self, and that will lead to real spiritual growth in the young people you do have. If your church's members - whatever their age - have little hunger for God, maybe it's because they aren't doing anything that leaves them needing his assistance. Start volunteering at a soup kitchen, or organize a mentoring program for inner city kids, and trust me, your people will suddenly need a lot more of Jesus to be able to do what He's calling them to.
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/9/2010 12:23:51 PM
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thebaker
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i think it's important to remember that 20% of the people do 80% of the work (i think that's how it goes.) i don't know about the youth population in our church but that's the problem we have with the men.
as far as the youth, our church caters to them. they start getting the kids involved early. most of what the adults do, the kids do. the adult ministries serve the congregation and the community and the kid's ministries do the same thing. the adults usher, serve as deacons, pray, deal with media and technical stuff...so do the kids. the adults preach sermons, so do the kids. by the time they're young adults, they continue doing what they've been doing since they've been coming to church.
as far as newcombers, ALL newcombers are encouraged to participate. and recently enrollment in ministries in general have been increasing.
_____________________________
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
-Dr. Seuss
"Map out your future, but do it in pencil."
-Jon Bon Jovi
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/9/2010 7:57:26 PM
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lakehills101
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This is the fastest growing unchurched age group in our country. We as the church must find ways to effectively engage them. I have found them to be very open to spiritual matters, especially when I accept them as they are and don't just try to push my beliefs, but listen to them.
Social media works great with this age group! At first they generally communicate more openly with me on facebook or by text than they do in person. They then begin to open up more as we establish that rapport. I really think the biggest thing is that I genuinely like them and am interested in them as people. There's something about that, that all people can just feel and connect with.
On a practical and (hopefully) helpful note, find that person in your church who likes them and then have them create fun events to do with them. Even just come out and ask some of them what would be h-e-l-p-f-u-l for them to want to participate. This generation is more social and connectional than boomers. Even though I'm 48, once I learned these simple things they became easy and fun to engage and build relationship with.
_____________________________
~ Mike Knapp
http://www.lakehillsfmc.com
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/17/2010 1:09:42 PM
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SteelCurtain
Posts: 152
Joined: 3/20/2007
From: Virginia
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rcjames
quote:
ORIGINAL: B-Swan
Just because someone has a desire to discover these things does not mean that they're going to take the initiative to get help discovering them, or that the person will understand God's direction, or understand it correctly, especially as youth.
It has been my personal experience after over 46 years in the ministry that when one is genuinly saved that their desire to better know thier Savior is a strong driving force in their lives.
Scripture tells us;
(2Co 5:17) So that if any one is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
And that new creature does not have to be conjoled into becoming an integral part of the Body of Christ, or to learn more about God.
Again, I maintain the position that if a person has to be inticed to learn about God, then they just ain't a Christian yet.
Thanks
RC
quote:
It has been my personal experience after over 46 years in the ministry that when one is genuinly saved that their desire to better know thier Savior is a strong driving force in their lives.
Scripture tells us;
(2Co 5:17) So that if any one is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
And that new creature does not have to be conjoled into becoming an integral part of the Body of Christ, or to learn more about God.
Again, I maintain the position that if a person has to be inticed to learn about God, then they just ain't a Christian yet.
Thanks
RC
RC, I appreciate you validating your thoughts by stating that you have 46 years of ministry but not all who have been in ministry that long have kept "current" in what they are doing in today's church. While your premise that all you need is Christ is true, there is a need to connect with the young adult age group.
I am currently leading a young adult group in my church and have found it to be very, very hard to get people involved. Over 40 people signed up to attend our young adult meetings but only 8-10 have truly committed to it. This is the toughest age group to reach. Our age group is 18-35, married or single. It is broad, yes, but we have a few from that range attending.
The bottom line is that people have just made themselves waaaaay too busy these days. It's work from sun up to sun down, family time, then bed. Mix in one or two nights at church and that is all people want to do anymore. I don't believe people need to be enticed to learn about God has much as they need to be enticed to come out and enjoy the company. We advertise on Facebook and I have an email list that I use as well as the old standby's of the church bulletin and powerpoint announcements.
_____________________________
Pray simply, wait sometimes, stick to the path.
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/23/2010 12:42:19 AM
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Dakotasunbeam
Posts: 697
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Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.--Zechariah 4:6
RC James has a LOT of wisdom in his posts. Heed it. Its not about the numbers.
You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.--Matthew 7:13.
Accept what is from the Lord's hand and be happy! 
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/23/2010 10:54:26 PM
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Elena1030
Posts: 2961
Joined: 6/21/2006
From: Music City, USA
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Dakotasunbeam
quote:
ORIGINAL: SteelCurtain
quote:
ORIGINAL: Dakotasunbeam
Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.--Zechariah 4:6
RC James has a LOT of wisdom in his posts. Heed it. Its not about the numbers.
You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.--Matthew 7:13.
Accept what is from the Lord's hand and be happy!
come again?
I don't think that this thread is about trying to bring in more young adults into the church (although, being concerned for the GenXers, Millenials, and the iGeneration and their eternal destiny is important!) simply to increase numbers or to fill a quota of that age group.
I think that two things (if not more) are happening in many churches:
(1) the young adults who are attenders or members may not be participating much beyond weekly Bible study (or Sunday School) and one worship service.
(2) some churches do not have very many young adult attenders and members, though there is a complement of some young adults in the community. Maybe the church has some young adult visitors; maybe not.
This thread seeks to explore ways to reach young adults.
Some methods of relating to adults are effective no matter what age the person is. Other methods are not going to be as effective.
I do believe that as the Holy Spirit empowers us, we'll use various methods creatively to reach people with the gospel and to help them become part of the bodylife of the church.
_____________________________
"I like to stride, not mince." -- Maggie
Prayer thread for singles who desire to marry someday
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/23/2010 11:17:47 PM
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Dakotasunbeam
Posts: 697
Joined: 6/2/2005
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But that's my point... if God doesn't draw them...
quote:
ORIGINAL: Elena1030
quote:
ORIGINAL: Dakotasunbeam
quote:
ORIGINAL: SteelCurtain
quote:
ORIGINAL: Dakotasunbeam
Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.--Zechariah 4:6
RC James has a LOT of wisdom in his posts. Heed it. Its not about the numbers.
You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.--Matthew 7:13.
Accept what is from the Lord's hand and be happy!
come again?
I don't think that this thread is about trying to bring in more young adults into the church (although, being concerned for the GenXers, Millenials, and the iGeneration and their eternal destiny is important!) simply to increase numbers or to fill a quota of that age group.
I think that two things (if not more) are happening in many churches:
(1) the young adults who are attenders or members may not be participating much beyond weekly Bible study (or Sunday School) and one worship service.
(2) some churches do not have very many young adult attenders and members, though there is a complement of some young adults in the community. Maybe the church has some young adult visitors; maybe not.
This thread seeks to explore ways to reach young adults.
Some methods of relating to adults are effective no matter what age the person is. Other methods are not going to be as effective.
I do believe that as the Holy Spirit empowers us, we'll use various methods creatively to reach people with the gospel and to help them become part of the bodylife of the church.
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/23/2010 11:41:55 PM
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Elena1030
Posts: 2961
Joined: 6/21/2006
From: Music City, USA
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Dakotasunbeam
But that's my point... if God doesn't draw them...
So... We do wrong to seek to construct an environment in which the Holy Spirit is more likely to draw them? Or to offer activities, events, missions opportunities, and such that would pique the interest of Christ-followers who have yet to find a place of service?
Sometimes all it takes is one person saying, "Hey, I'd love to start up a drama troupe to do skits as part of our worship services. Anyone else have a passion for this?" and then others join in.
Even when it does start as a "burning" in the heart -- God's drawing the person to Him and to something specific to do -- then it still takes people speaking up about it.
Realizing that some methods of communication and structure and whatnot are going to appeal more to young adults... is a bad thing?
_____________________________
"I like to stride, not mince." -- Maggie
Prayer thread for singles who desire to marry someday
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RE: Getting young adults to participate - 2/24/2010 2:25:36 AM
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RJR_fan
Posts: 798
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: RTP, in sunny NC USA
Status: offline
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quote:
Even when it does start as a "burning" in the heart -- God's drawing the person to Him and to something specific to do -- then it still takes people speaking up about it.
Realizing that some methods of communication and structure and whatnot are going to appeal more to young adults... is a bad thing?
When I came to the Lord, the discovery that Jesus was for-real, in the real-world, not just an artificial experience ginned up in an artificial specialized environment, was revolutionary -- and very attractive to people who were asking real questions about, "life, the universe, and everything."
Folks who thought in terms of how to generate the traditional artificial experience more frequently and predictably did not connect with my crowd. Their "message," their "gospel," seemed to reduce the God of the universe to a memory in the minds of middle-aged people. Something important and real was going on -- and these folks only wanted us to play church with them.
_____________________________
Blogging my way through the Turkish New Testament
Meet my beloved mentor, RJR
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