The New Demographic and Church Ministry

In the last decade we have been pressed from a variety of angles and thinkers (Robert Wuthnow, Christian Smith, Jeffrey Arnett, Jean Twenge) to consider and then reconsider ministries to young adults, and by this I mean 18-30 yr olds. For awhile folks believed in the “church within a church” model, and some said that wasn’t working, and then others — like Wuthnow — said “You better think about that again.”

I want to go on record supporting a separable, but integrating, ministry to young adults — call them emerging, call them postmodern, call them young. There are very good reasons to see young adults as a separable demographic (Arnett, Wuthnow) and, if that is so, there are similar very good reasons to have ministries shaped for and toward them.

What are the top three features of ministries to young adults?

How to minister to young adults? Let me recommend a book by Brentwood Baptist pastor Mike Glenn: In Real Time: Authentic Young Adult Ministry as It Happens.

Okay, I’ll admit it: I’m speaking at his church (perhaps as you are reading this). But reading his book recently convinced me of the vibrancy of their Kairos ministry and of the solidity of the kind of ministry Mike and his staff have developed. What will you find?

First, the book begins with the Story of Kairos and how it developed. Good story with lots of suggestive ideas for anyone who wants to minister to young adults. Second, he sketches themes connected to ministry: Bible reading, groups (with an excellent suggestion about linking with seniors), honest struggle in a safe place, evangelism and how it’s shifted from confrontation to conversation, mission before belief, and a vision for one’s community.

What I like about this book? It’s honest, it explores ministry, it suggests ideas, it’s enthusiastic, it has created a safe place for 20somethings, it’s flexible — and most of all, Kairos grew because Kairos listened to the hearts of young adults.