6 Ways Churches Can Engage Young Adults
Although young adults are vital to any healthy congregation, many churches find it difficult to connect with them. In an opinion column in “The Christian Post,” Thom Rainier recommended six steps that churches can take to reach out to this important group.
Make discipleship intentional. High levels of spiritual vitality are three times as likely to have significant young adult participation as congregations reporting low spiritual vitality. Churches placing a strong emphasis on practices such as prayer and Bible reading are twice as likely to have substantial numbers of young adults
Young adults are not simply looking for entertainment, social activities or a worship experience that resembles the culture around them. Many are looking for something substantive. They want to know whether the faith proclaimed on Sunday actually shapes life on Monday. Intentional discipleship does not require a large budget. It requires a clear pathway that helps people learn scripture, pray, obey Christ and grow in their faith.
Create meaningful relationships through groups. Congregations offering more programs and activities are nearly twice as likely to have significant young adult participation as those offering relatively few. Provide young adults with clear opportunities to form relationships. Sunday school classes and small groups are among the most practical ways to create these connections. A healthy group gives young adults a place where others know their names, notice when they are absent, pray for them and walk with them through life.
Give young adults meaningful responsibility. Churches sometimes say they want young adults while giving them little opportunity to influence the congregation. They are invited to attend but not trusted to lead. Ask for their ideas. Invite them to serve. Give them responsibilities that matter. Include them in conversations about the church’s future.
READ: Technology central to underground worship in Afghanistan
Become easy to find and understand online. Among congregations reporting major use of technology, 24 percent have significant young-adult participation. Among those making only marginal use of technology, the number is just 10 percent. Every church can provide a clear and current website. Worship times, directions, children’s information, and contact information should be easy to locate.
Choose authenticity over imitation. Not every church must adopt contemporary worship. It may be that young adults recognize the difference between authenticity and imitation. A traditional church should not pretend to be a trendy church. A small congregation should not attempt to reproduce the worship service of a megachurch. Churches should worship with theological depth, genuine joy and appropriate excellence. Authenticity is more compelling than an awkward effort to appear young.
Replace maintenance with expectation. Young adults are attracted to congregations where something is happening — where people expect God to work, lives are being changed, guests are welcome and the future is discussed with hope. Even a declining church can demonstrate that kind of movement. Disciple them. Connect them through Sunday school and small groups. Listen to them. Give them meaningful responsibility. Help them invite others.
–Alan Goforth
