Several weeks prior to finishing each issue of Interpreter, we send a question to all readers for whom we have email addresses, asking them to respond with a short answer of 50-75 words. A select few are included here, edited for length as necessary. Find many more at Interpreter OnLine. We hope you will join the conversation.
We Asked
What is your congregation doing right with young adults?
FOR THIS ISSUE, YOU SAID ...
Several weeks prior to finishing each issue of Interpreter, we send a question to all readers for whom we have email addresses, asking them to respond with a short answer of 50-75 words. A select few are included here, edited for length as necessary. Find many more at Interpreter OnLine. We hope you will join the conversation.
We Asked
What is your congregation doing right with young adults?
FOR THIS ISSUE, YOU SAID ...
Several weeks prior to finishing each issue of Interpreter, we send a question to all readers for whom we have email addresses, asking them to respond with a short answer of 50-75 words. A select few are included here, edited for length as necessary. Find many more at Interpreter OnLine. We hope you will join the conversation.
We Asked
What is your congregation doing right with young adults?
FOR THIS ISSUE, YOU SAID ...
We host men’s pickup basketball in our gym every Wednesday (for) 20-35 young men from our culturally diverse community. Also on Wednesday, we hold a Bible study for young adults at a local coffee shop that 15 to 25 college students attend. A church-sponsored softball team engages a dozen young men and women to play in the public league. The team’s core of church members set the standard for Christian conduct as they deliberately recruit outside the church, reaching out in relational discipleship.
David Ames, North Naples (Florida) UMC
We recently started a Visions and Ventures Group to help organize ideas for getting some life back into our church. We came up with getting a young adult group to meet. We have asked two of the members to plan an event for all of them in June with babysitting and lunch help available from the rest of us.
LaNell Fuelberth, Zion UMC,
Archer, Nebraska
Two young adult couples in their 20s lead our young adult ministry. They do in-home Bible studies during the week, service projects and social activities at local restaurants, all taking Jesus to the people instead of waiting for the people to come to hear the gospel. They planned an intergenerational Valentine’s Day dinner for the entire church and provided entertainment.
The Rev. Tom Grubbs, St. Paul’s UMC, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Ironically, the young adults in our church are some of the biggest supporters of traditional worship. We honor their sensibilities and do not assume that only contemporary worship will attract them. We eagerly include them in all aspects of church leadership as their gifts and passions lead.
Richard J. Hatton, First UMC,
Wellington, Ohio
Unintentional young adult ministry happened as we hired a college student to be the content provider and chaplain for our youth. He began inviting college friends for music and content help; we now have as many college students each week as we do middle and high school students! Organize or advertise it? We’ve decided to let it be, while offering enhanced activities for them as a way to thank and affirm.
The Rev. Gary Olsen, lead pastor, Rolling Hills Community Church, Lago Vista, Texas
Our congregation has a late Wednesday evening service off-site for young adults. It includes music, food and fellowship with the worship. We call it a “gathering.” The youth directors lead with help from the young adults. It is an open group with social media connections.
Eilene Ording, Liberty (Missouri) UMC
We have to be flexible. Give the kitchen and fellowship hall keys to your youth leaders without reservation. Walls can be painted, but lives changed for Jesus Christ may not happen, if we are not flexible. God will honor it all.
The Rev. Dewey L. Shaffer, Estill, Furman and Mount Carmel UMCs, South Carolina
Located directly across from the high school, our church builds relationships with students and administrators. We serve more than 250 cups of hot chocolate each week on “Thirsty Thursday” and invite the students to “Walk Over Wednesday” (“WOW”) once a month to sing/perform in a coffeehouse. We launched Rigley Rebel Rooftop Reachout, where students can watch a baseball game from our rooftop and “skybox” with free hotdogs and popcorn.
Bob Wood, First UMC, Lansing, Illinois
We pray for and support including young adults by allocating goals and resources to make building the young adult community a priority. A fulltime young adult director facilitates small groups and Sunday school relevant to college students and young couples.
Brooke Yrigoyen, First UMC.
Corpus Christi, Texas