When you reach the 20- and 30-something stage in life, it's easy to see how friendships come and go. Those kids from 8th grade camp are no longer in your e-mail list. Buddies from high school who wrote in your yearbook, "We'll be friends forever!" are already a distant memory. Young adulthood is a chapter of life for forming new relationships. Naturally, certain connections grow spontaneously when you least expect it. Those are thrilling and unforeseen. Others, however, form because you sought them out. At this stage, it's important … [Read more...]
3 Essentials for Connecting With Young Adults
He was your server at your favorite restaurant after church on Sunday. She was sitting next to you on your bus commute this morning. They get together as a group at your local coffee shop. They fill your local college campus from August until May every year. Who are they? They are young adults (a.k.a…Millennials or 20-somethings or college kids or young professionals or the list goes on). In our communities from the rural towns of Alabama to the major metropolitan cities of Seattle and Nashville, young adults are all … [Read more...]
Why Patience Is A Process
We all have a specific calling in life. Some of us already know what that is, and others are struggling to find it. Either way, we all have an idea of where we want to end up in life. For some, we want to be the next great doctor or nurse who uses their medical expertise to provide healthcare to impoverished people across the world. Still, others desire to use their artistic talents to change the world through media and music. Some, like myself, feel called to preach and teach God’s Word and build up the church. All of these careers … [Read more...]
Why Young Adults Desire Spiritual Depth
The conversation about the absence of Millennials in churches has been front and center recently. The largest generation to ever be alive in our country is not connecting to our churches the way previous generations have. The question remains…why not? In a previous post, I started the conversation concerning four markers that are important to young adults and college students (read that post HERE). For young adult ministry leaders, these are components we must consider if we genuinely desire to connect with the young adults in our … [Read more...]
3 Ways Churches Can Reverse the Absence of Millennials
There’s been much buzz on the Internet recently about the absence of young adults in churches. Numerous blogs, research statistics, and denominational reports point toward this significant decline. There have been countless comments and conversations about the reasons Millennials are not connecting to church. But I’m not quite ready to say "the sky is falling" just yet. Why? Because I believe the Lord is going to use this generation significantly to proclaim the kingdom of God in a world that’s seeking for hope in something. There … [Read more...]
The Local Church: Do I Need It?
With multiple thriving college and young adult ministries to be a part of, often young adults don't settle into a local church. Even if they do attend church on Sundays, it's tempting to just show up for the hour or so of corporate worship. But local church involvement is so much more. CHOOSE List the traits you're looking for in a church body, visit a few, then choose a place to plug in. Keep in mind, every church has its flaws, but the most important thing is to find a church where you can grow spiritually, serve your community, … [Read more...]
Why Every Day Is Like Opening Day
For every fan of Major League Baseball, Opening Day is something special. Baseball parks are spruced up. There are new rosters. Teams are a mere 162 games away from their first game in the playoffs. Opening Day is a day full of hope for every baseball fan (even Cubs fans – sorry, couldn’t resist since I’m a lifelong Cardinals fan). Opening day represents a new beginning and a lot of promise. Similarly, the impact that churches and collegiate ministries are making in the lives of college students and young adults is even more … [Read more...]