Does Your Church Have a Place for Val?
As a part of my church duties, I work the café, greet guests and generally try to make the lobby of the middle school we meet in as friendly and welcoming as possible.
For the past three weeks, my café partner has been 20-something Val. During a lull, she asked me what I did and I told her about Threads and how our entire mission is about encouraging churches to reach people just like her.
Here is a sampling of what she told me between serving up drinks for our guests:
“I had a great youth group at my church, but when I went to college, there was nothing for me. It was a tough transition.”
“Most churches don’t have anything for anyone who is single. When you get married and have a family, that’s when a church begins to notice you again.”
“You begin to wonder if churches really want you to come once you’re in your 20s.”
“Do you know how hard it is to find any church that has a Bible study or anything for people my age?”
There are 93 million people in the Millennial Generation ages 15 to 37 in America today. Many of them are asking the same questions Val is asking.
So what’s our answer?
About the Author
Jim is the director of Young Adult Ministry at LifeWay Christian Resources. He has worked for the past 11 years in a variety of roles, ranging from marketing to publishing to Internet development. Before being called to full-time ministry, he worked as a reporter and editor at Alabama’s capital city daily newspaper, the Montgomery Advertiser, for 10 years. Prior to coming to LifeWay, he also worked as an adult-in-missions editor at the Brotherhood Commission in Memphis. Jim and his wife Tammy have been married for 23 years and have two sons, Spenser, 17, and Ethan, 10.
There have been 3 replies so far
Two years ago I was teaching high school Sunday school class and had 6 seniors graduating. There was no next class for them, so I volunteered to teach the College Sunday school class. We didn’t know what department to put it under, Students or Adults. It has gone back and forth actually. We have expanded it to college and career, so we range from 18 to about 28. We have single moms, college students, college graduates, and some that haven’t been to college and work, and they all form a loose peer group of sorts. They are such a neat group because they want to be there, and we have some very lively discussions, often nearly running late for service! Finally they are starting to plan some activities on their own outside of church. Some of them I talk to on the phone in between Sundays, some I text, some I stay in touch via Facebook, some I email, and some I see on Wednesday nights. We have a room that looks kinda coffee shop like that the members decorated, put in couches and chairs, tables, artwork etc. They really are a blessing to me, and I’m glad God put it on my heart to teach this class. This is my third time teaching this class, and by far the best. Thanks for Collegiate materials. The ice breakers and discussion questions are the most helpful
Thanks, Bruce
1 | Bruce Komarowski
Saturday, July 4, 2009, at 9:08pm
I understand Val.. I left my old church because I wasn’t being fed when I was 20 years old. I found a new church, that I got very involved in the college group, but now I am 27 years old, and the college group is geared towards college students, or kids right out of high school.. it doesn’t feed me anymore. I am involved in my church, but I need something more than just being fed at the main service which is topic oriented.. I want to dive more into the word, but especially with people who are around my age.
My friend and I started a young adult ministry ranging from 20s to 35ish… but it only last a year, and our core of people were only like 10 people in a church that is approx. 3000. We weren’t supported as an important group to have, and closed us down about a year later. But now here we are in the same boat. It stinks… because were are all the people ranging in this age… it is like they disappear. How can my generation, those that are involved in church and wanting to grow reach out to others that are in our own age group and generation?
2 | Sarah
Monday, July 6, 2009, at 12:18am
Bruce and Sarah, thanks for your commitment to reaching this generation and introducing them to Jesus Christ.
Sarah, you asked about help. The lead area of this web site has a great deal to offer you, but here is one article in particular that might be helpful.
We are also releasing a guide on young adult ministry this fall that will help you as well. It is entitled Context. It will be out in September.
Thanks for posting!
3 | Jim Johnston
Monday, July 6, 2009, at 9:52am
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