Why We Can’t Reach Young Adults
When our Threads team met in December to talk about what kind of content we needed on this site for the next few months, we came up with a pretty good idea. We decided to take the most asked questions we received at Connect Conferences this fall and answer them in detail.
Here is Question 1:
“What would you say was the number one reason programs/attempts to reach young people aren’t successful?”
Great question. It’s going to be impossible to boil it down to one key reason, so I will throw out several issues that have tripped me up in the last few weeks, months and years. Some failures are remarkably and painfully fresh in my mind.
We fail to develop, disciple and trust young adult leaders.
If you don’t get young adults themselves into leadership roles and let them truly guide the ministry, you’re wasting your time. Start with your core group and invest in them — long term. Make sure you are all on the same page with the destination you are heading toward. Then, give them ownership in decisions and directions. Expect some mistakes. Help everyone learn from the mistakes, but keep pressing on toward the goal of reaching young adults for Christ and teaching them to become mature believers. Don’t expect to be successful with a top-down, command-and-control leadership style. Teach your young adults to lead and let them do it.
We don’t understand the world of today’s young adults.
We’re a long, long, long way from Opie, Andy and Aunt Bee. The world in 2009 is unbelievably different than the world most of the Boomer generation is familiar with. Half of young adults grew up in broken homes. A majority of young adults struggle with a major challenge of substance abuse, pyschological problems like depression, and just plain loneliness. Church leaders have to sit down and talk with young adults about their lives and truly understand the world they live in. Until we are willing to truly understand and truly engage their world, we will never be able to lead them to Christ. We have to be willing to engage in their world, no matter how messy it might get. It’s important. Lives for all eternity are on the line.
We don’t choose people over programs.
If you’re Southern Baptist like me, you’re all about programs—Sunday School, Upward Sports, Support Groups, Women’s Ministry, etc. Programs are fine and good, but unless we are willing to value people more than programs, we will not reach the Millennial Generation. Maybe your church has done Sunday School for 50 years and has done it well. Are you willing to do it differently? Are you willing to go off site to do it? Are you willing to stretch your traditional hour of Bible study to 90 minutes or two hours to allow for more interaction among people who need to ask hard questions? Are you willing to do it at 11 a.m. Sundays instead of 9:30? Are you willing to offer Bible study at other times and settings during the week to account for all of the young adults in your community who are forced into working Sundays? Programs must take a back seat to people.
We don’t expect enough from young adults.
Challenge them to read the Bible through in three months. They’ll do it if it’s important to their spiritual growth. Challenge them to make a difference in their community through missions and service. They’ll do it. Ask them to create a worship service just for them and invite their friends and they’ll do it. They will rise to the challenge. Don’t worship at the church of low expectations. Worship the Lord Jesus Christ and hold up His expectations. You will be amazed at the results you see.
These are mistakes I have made. What do you think?
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 14 replies so far
Thanks for the great words of wisdom. I assume the suggestions will very based on age groups, regional distinctions, etc.
I can tell you I have tried to establish Student Leaders (16+ years or older) but could never get a committment. Attempted to open discussions with them one on one and in group sessions. It was one way!
We focused solely on the youth, I did not fall into the trap of program the church and associations, still not much progress. Setup myspace, AIM, Facebook, etc.
We even tried to get them involved in community outreach to other teens, elderly people (shut-ins), and a community at Tangier Island. We got some quick momentum, but it died quickly when it got to be too much of a job for them.
Most of the time, the teens wanted me to ENTERTAIN them, I am no entertainer. LOL.
I believe others have experienced similiar things best on my conversations with other youth leaders I have met at some of the Group Publishing Events and some of our State Youth Conferences.
1 | MrYouthGroupMan
Thursday, January 15, 2009, at 6:41pm
Mark, Thanks for taking the time to post and weigh in.
I agree with you on your thoughts about teen leaders. I have met with only sporadic success with 16 to 18 year-old leaders.
I should have clarified this a little better. I am talking primarily 20-something leaders in young adult ministry, not 18 and 19 year-olds. I have seen some terrific 20-something leaders spring up to lead Bible study, worship and service (mission) projects.
Most recently, I have been working with a 22-year worship leader who is one of the wisest, most Christlike young men I have ever been around. He can do it all, and he has unbelievable maturity. These kind of folks can be found and they can be your leaders.
Thanks for NOT being an entertainer and being a discipler of young believers. jj
2 | Jim Johnston
Thursday, January 15, 2009, at 6:58pm
Ah, that makes more sense. Well, I am about to embark on the college/career age young adult ministry at my church. This is going to be new for me, but I think I will do fine. Some if not most of my devotions and blogs were a little to spirtually deep for the pre-20 somethings. if you have access to Facebook, come check me out and be my friend!
Mark Weston Ward markwward@verizon.net
3 | MrYouthGroupMan
Thursday, January 15, 2009, at 9:27pm
I have been involved (and loosely stay involved) with the youth of our church. More recently we started a young adult ministry at our church in May of last year. We attended the conference in Nashville and got so much out of the experience.
MrYouthGroupMan I FEEL YOUR PAIN (I feel like I could’ve written it)!And Jim, I agree with you wholeheartedly. It was nothing that I have read, just something that I noticed in the last year. Too many times we hope for leaders to take up the call at these young ages and it just doesn’t happen. You give them opportunity and guidance and it sparks and fizzles at best.
We recently requested prayers for our group to grow in numbers that will be a little older than what we have now (our group is made up of 18-20 right now) and that we would acquire some more help. I personally was hoping a late 20’s leader who would be there to support and/or take over some of the outreach that we do. It just seems that if I can’t make it to something last minute, no one will show and just make it happen.
I also appreciate your article. I will reread it and take it to heart. Please continue to pray for our small group leaders nationwide as we all work, have families, go to school, run businesses, and still make time to pray and prepare meaningful discussions for our young adults.
4 | Scott
Monday, January 19, 2009, at 9:35am
Scott, First of all, thanks for comming to Connect. I am glad it was something beneficial for you. The tough and sad reality is that many people in their 20s have never ever seen real leadership — from their parents or anyone else. You may well be the only leader who has ever invested in their lives. So, it’s going to take longer and require more of you to help get them to a point where they are ready to lead. It’s a tough, tough reality that I am understanding more about each day.
5 | Jim Johnston
Monday, January 19, 2009, at 9:39am
jim,
Thank you for your insight on this subject.
Our attendance is bout 200 - 300 each sunday and about 40 -50 of those are in the age group of 20 to 30 something.
We have small groups every Wed. night,but less than 10 attend any of the 4 small groups.
also my husband and I have tried to start a young adult Sunday morning class, but after a year we have 2.(and not often)
our Pastor is 27 and they are drawn in to him, but resist any commitent to anything else with the church family.
6 | rita
Monday, January 19, 2009, at 8:08pm
Rita, I appreciate you taking the time to post.
My first question about Wednesday night’s groups for this age group is whether the leader(s) is someone they connect with personally and is the topic or the specific Book of the Bible study being offered something they desire and need to study?
I would make sure both of these items are not issues that would keep them away.
Maybe Wednesday night is not the best night of the week for them as well. Ask what would be best for them.
I would really do some questioning of the folks who have not come on Sunday AM either. What would they want to study? What would make them want to come? What time slot is best?
Maybe a community missions/service project would be a better fit for them. Or perhaps a mission trip that would galvanize a group of young adults to serve and be more involved in your church.
Just a few suggestions. I hope they are of some help.
7 | Jim Johnston
Tuesday, January 20, 2009, at 3:02pm
I couldn’t agree more with the problem of churches not choosing people over programs. I too am Southern Baptist and proud of it, but I look at what many non-denominational churches are doing to reach young adults and much of their Bible study’s take place away from church and on non church days. My pastor has given me the freedom to do just that. Take Bible study into my home. He encouraged me to start a small group study during our Sunday night service since no young adults come anyways except my wife and I. As a church we need to think about how to reach this (my) age group and I believe it’s going to take doing church a different way to get the job done.
God bless!
8 | Brian Lewis
Thursday, January 29, 2009, at 11:58pm
Brian, You are very fortunate to have a pastor who is willing to experiment with different approaches in order to reach people for Christ. I believe one of the key ingredients of successful churches is having pastors who are willing to lead graciously and not force a top-down, command and control environment on their staff and lay leaders. Just make sure you have a strategy in place for your group and clearly identify what its purpose is. We have a discussion going on this topic here: http://threadsmedia.com/lead/article/whats-your-group-strategy/
9 | Jim Johnston
Friday, January 30, 2009, at 9:39am
Iam a youth pastor for a church in South Africa(Meadowlands Baptist Church) in Soweto.
I have a serious challenge in establishing the Young Adults Department, but after reading this article on why we cant reach young adults. It made a lot os sense and it opened my eyes on what not to do this year around.
I would also like to get more resources in reaching them.
10 | Mandla Ngidi
Tuesday, February 3, 2009, at 3:40am
Mandla, Thanks for posting and for your commitment to young adult ministry. We have plenty of resources on the site, whether it’s leader tip or Bible studies or whatever you need. If you find something missing that you need or if you have any questions, please email me at jim.johnston@lifeway.com
11 | Jim Johnston
Tuesday, February 3, 2009, at 8:36am
Hi there!
I have to admit that we have tried many times to get a young adult group started but it always fell apart within 6 months… whether it be from lack of interest or (as in my case) they go on to be teachers…. so now I am the young adult teacher and frustrated!!! my group is very young - just graduated HS and first year college… and on the ADD side!! What worked for them only a year ago in youth group doesn’t work now!! Its very hard to keep their attention. one hour on Sunday just isn’t enough. My fear is that if we move Bible Study to a non-church night my few Y.A.s won’t show up for church on Sunday… Any thoughts on the subject? I can use all the help I can get!! Thank you!!!
12 | Donna
Thursday, February 12, 2009, at 6:39pm
Donna, it sounds like the age group that you have are the ones who are right at that crossroads in life where they are testing out a new kind of independance. This often is the point at which they move on FROM the church. I think that you do need to meet with them during the week in a comfortable setting and provide discussion for things that they need to work through regarding their faith. That setting also fosters an environment where they can invite people who despise stepping into a church. If they don’t show up to church on Sunday… they’re young adults. That’s a decision that they will have to make on their own and you can’t take responsability for the choices they make. You can only influence those choices. Therefore, you set the example and do the right thing and don’t get too frustrated when you don’t see immediate results. I think back to the examples set for me as a young person and how many of those people don’t even know that I look back on those times in reverence of the example they set and how much of a jerk I was.
Sorry threads. hope i didn’t step on any toes there.
13 | Scott
Friday, February 13, 2009, at 6:20am
Scott, That’s why we have this set up in this format, so everyone can share their wisdom.
We need all of the collective wisdom we can get. The last time I checked, I don’t think we have been able to corner the market on wisdom here in Nashvegas.
Besides, I encourage toe-stepping.
Donna, I have taught a group just like the one you describing. What a challenge — every day. Let them talk and chase rabbits a little further than you are comfortable with, but keep bringing them back to the teaching points and how it relates to their lives.
Probably the most important thing that happens is not in the group teaching time. It’s what happens the rest of the time you relate to them. Build relationships with them. Take care of them. Love them. Feed them. Invite them into your home. Be there for them when they need to talk late at night. Your success at discipling them is directly related to how much they think you care about them.
It’s a tough call. But God has equipped you to do it if He has called you to this work. It sounds like He has.
Write back any time.
14 | Jim Johnston
Friday, February 13, 2009, at 10:27am
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