If you're anything like me, witnessing comes super-easily. It seems I can winsomely turn every conversation I have back to the foundations of the gospel, have people laughing, nodding their head in agreement, crying, and saying, "Amen!" within just a few minutes. I quote a verse, and people cry out, "Please, more truth, Ben!" I sing a hymn while walking down the sidewalk, and people never look at me like I'm a freak … Nay, they begin singing along, raising their hands in worship. I just have to encourage them not to close their eyes … [Read more...]
The Ugly Truth About College Students And The Gospel
Here’s the ugly truth about college students and sharing Christ: Based on our understanding from research and personal experience, it’s clear that typical Christian college students do not regularly share their faith. Most Christian collegians have never even attempted to share the gospel with another person. Eating the Elephant of Gospel Cloistering In October 2011, a group of college ministry leaders gathered for an evangelism think tank to process the problem of Christian college students cloistering, or secluding, the … [Read more...]
10 Ways To Maximize Your Single Years
Singleness is neither a disease that needs to be cured, nor is it a carpe diem season of life. From the proper perspective, singleness is very strategic in God's economy — whether for a season or for a lifetime. Here are 10 ways you can make the most of your single years: 1. Know that Christian singles are a gift to God's church. 2. Be content in the season of life God has placed you. 3. Know that the ultimate goal of life is devotion to the Lord — not marriage, career, or fill-in-the-blank. 4. Grow your affections for … [Read more...]
What’s the Difference Between Career And Calling?
When does a job not feel like a job? Simple — when you know it to be a calling. One of the biggest secrets to making the most of your formative young adult years is allowing God the space to speak to you about how you were designed and gifted, how you were infused with passion for something, and how your gifts, talents, and passions can make a difference in the world. A SENSE OF PLACE Finding the place where your unique gifting and passion can bring blessing and relief to those who hurt and struggle in our world — that’s … [Read more...]
Why Social Responsibility Matters to Young Adults
Fact: There are places around our world that have no access to clean water, therefore thousands of children die every week because of disease caused by unclean drinking water. Fact: There are more slaves today than at any point in human history. Fact: Sex trafficking has become a multi-billion dollar industry around the world and endangers the lives of countless young women, young men, and children. Those are the facts. No doubt, some troubling issues are at hand in our world. Millennials are asking, "What are we going to do … [Read more...]
4 Things to Consider When Seeking a Church
Usually by freshman year of college, church attendance is at a slow decline; especially when you don’t live at home. It's easy to prioritize your weekends around home games and the need to sleep in after a late Saturday night. It's even easier to skip church when you don’t have a parent standing beside your bed telling you to get up and shower, or you’ll be late for church. In this newfound freedom called young adulthood, we sometimes find ourselves outside a community of believers. Even when we do, we don’t always have a clear … [Read more...]
How to Be Spiritually Prepared for Missions
Spiritual preparation for a mission project is the most important aspect of getting ready to go. Without it, you’ll be unprepared for the stressful situations that happen during your assignment. With the help of our friends at the International Mission Board, we compiled these four tips for being better spiritually prepared to serve: 1. PRAY All missionary work begins with prayer. Prayer softens the hearts of people and also helps us be sensitive to God’s guidance as He directs us to those who need to hear the good news. (See … [Read more...]
3 Ways To Connect With College Students This Summer
If it hasn’t happened already, college students from your church and community are starting to roll back into town for a few months of summer jobs, reconnecting with high school buddies, and watching complete seasons of their favorite TV series they missed while off at college. So here are two questions for your church body to consider: What role will your church play in keeping students plugged in during the summer? Does your church have a plan for connecting with college students during the summer? Whether it’s … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Celebrate Heroes in Ministry
Everyone loves a hero. There’s just something that stirs within us when a hero shows up to save the day. As I recently sat with strangers in a sold out theatre, I observed (and participated in) the spontaneous applause when the hero did something that proved he was fighting for something bigger than himself – when he was fighting for something that mattered. For those of us who lead collegiate and young adult ministries, there are heroes in our midst every single time we gather. We could never do what we do without the … [Read more...]
3 Practical Ideas for Reaching Young Adults
One of the most popular questions we hear from church leaders is: What outreach ideas do you have for reaching young adults? Let's cut right to the ideas, but keep in mind that a healthy and balanced young adult ministry plan should have one or more of Threads’ four markers of ministry—Community, Depth, Responsibility, and Connection—at its core. Hold a community sports event. Since it’s March Madness time, we feel obliged to start with the idea of creating a basketball tournament in your community. It’s a great way to impact our … [Read more...]
