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Reaching Young AdultsA New Life Ministries
Report
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 | Young adults are much more likely to favor the legalization of marijuana. |
| Young adults are much more likely to feel that sexual harassment is a major problem at their places of work. |
| Young adults are somewhat more likely to feel that abortion is a "choice" which people have a right to make rather than it always being wrong. |
| Ninety-three percent of young adults feel that talking about sexual issues and concerns is a good and appropriate thing to do in church settings; only 39% of older adults agree with that view. |
| Young adults are more likely to feel that there are circumstances in which divorce is "necessary" and that homosexuality is a "legitimate choice" for a person to make. |
| Eighty-seven percent of the young adults in the study feel that premarital intercourse is "all right," in contrast to only 24% of older church active adults who feel that way. |
| Young adults are more likely to feel comfortable working with computers and to spend daily time on the Internet. |
| Older adults are much more likely to feel that the political system in their country "works" (both in the United States and Canada). They are also more likely to feel that having a strong military is important, though older Canadians did not see that as important as older United States residents. |
| Even though they are active in the life of a congregation, 74% of the younger adults do not feel that church involvement is "essential" to the faith. Sixty-one percent of the young adults feel that the church functions too much like any other institution in society. |
When one considers that such great differences exist in perspective between young adults and older adults who are active in the church, it is not surprising that it is difficult to retain young adult involvement and to reach new young adults. In this study, 87% of the young adults said that they "withheld their beliefs and opinions a significant amount of the time because they knew older members would disapprove of their views."
1. Find out how young adults who are already in your church feel about congregational life and programs. You don’t need to put them on the spot individually by asking how they feel about the issues covered in the survey on the other page of this report! But be aware as you visit that they may have different views on some topics. Find out how they came to be involved in your church. Ask them what differences in attitude they see between themselves and older members of the congregation. Ask what new programs or opportunities should be offered for young adults.
2. Work toward an attitude of openness on the part of everyone in your congregation. Share information like that presented on the other side of this report. Help people understand that younger and older adults may not feel the same way on some issues, which is all right as long as people feel free to say what they really feel and believe. Our beliefs often change through the process of talking about them with others.
3. Involve young adults in leadership positions in the church. You need young adults on the church board or other top decision-making groups in your congregation. Let them know that their opinions and perspectives are valued and important to the future of your church.
4. Form a special young adult task force with the goal of reaching more young adults. Members should include young adults, older adults, and the pastor or another staff member with a special concern about young adult outreach. If you don’t have young adults who are active in your church, then "borrow" some from the community for the purposes of this task force.
5. Do a careful assessment of what it is like to visit your church. Ask some young adults who are not part of your church to be "inspectors" for you. Have them visit your worship services and Sunday school and give you feedback. Would a single parent feel comfortable attending? Are the restrooms for your church clean and pleasant? Will people feel comfortable having their children use them? Is the order of worship easy to follow for a person who does not belong to your church? Are Sunday school classes prepared to welcome visitors? Are visitors helped to feel welcome without being put on the spot?
6. Recognize the diversity of the young adult population and decide whom you want to reach. Consider the different needs and life stage of persons like these:
| A single college student |
| A married couple, one or both in college |
| A single employed person living alone |
| A single employed person sharing a home with another person |
| A single employed person living with relatives |
| A married couple, both employed and without children |
| A married couple with one or more children |
| A single person with one or more children |
And the list can be expanded. Which categories are the ones most likely to be reached by your congregation? Develop effective and appropriate outreach strategies.
7. Offer an alternative worship service, or use more contemporary elements in your existing service. Some young adults and many teenagers do continue to complain of boredom in traditional worship services. More contemporary music, the use of different instruments, occasional dramas, the use of video, and greater informality can all help young adults feel more comfortable.
Anabaptist Evangelism Council 2002
Leonard Sweet, Featured Speaker
February 15-17
Sheraton Gateway Suites, Chicago O’Hare Airport
The $199 fee covers all sessions and includes five meals.
Special rates are available at the Sheraton Gateway.
Contact New Life Ministries for registration information at 1-800-774-3360.
Young adults, like older adults, want to feel accepted and cared for by the congregation!
The following resources will expand your understanding of ministry to and through young adults. See the descriptions below and order those products you believe will be most helpful to you.
 | Fifty Ways to Reach Young Singles, Couples, and Families is a concise report available from New Life Ministries which is filled with practical strategies for outreach to young adults. |
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| Widening the Welcome of Your Church gives guidance to congregations seeking to improve their hospitality to persons of all ages and includes some specific information on reaching out to young adults. |
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| Overcoming Barriers to Church Growth can help your church’s leadership identify several areas for improvement in outreach. |
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New Life Ministries also offers help through congregational surveys and a comprehensive study of the needs and possibilities of your congregation in the area of outreach. Ask about the LifeQuest Congregational Profile and the LifeQuest Congregational Survey. |
To purchase any of these products, go to our online order form or call us toll-free at 1-800-774-3360.
And remember, you can contact New Life Ministries without cost or obligation to talk about the specific needs of your congregation.
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This report is published by New Life Ministries, a nonprofit corporation, and is mailed without charge to clients and friends Our partner organization, Christian Community, provides much of the content for this publication. Persons receiving this publication may reproduce the contents in local church and regional judicatory bulletins and newsletters. Please request permission for other reproduction from:
New Life Ministries, 6404 S Calhoun St,
Fort Wayne, IN 46807
Phone: 1-800-774-3360 • E-mail:
NLMServiceCenter@aol.com
Internet: www.NewLifeMinistries-NLM.org
Other New Life Ministries Reports • Other Online Resources
Reaching Young Adults • New Life Ministries Report • © 2001
2000-2008 New Life
Ministries (www.NewLifeMinistries-NLM.org).
All Rights Reserved.
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