A Common Journey: The Need for Young Adult Ministry in our Local Churches

Jun 4, 2010 by kentonarthurlee

Many local churches – both small and big local churches – do not have any form of young adult ministry.

I have heard the reasons, the difficulties, and the excuses.  I have witnessed the attitudes and the actions of church leaders.  I have seen firsthand the problems and challenges that come through trying to initiate and maintain a healthy young adult ministry.  But even with all those facts, there is an obvious reality: we need better young adult ministries in our local churches.

But we should never do something just to do something – so it begs an apt question.  Why do we even need young adult ministry in the first place?

The answer: a common journey.

Young adults are in such a weird time in their lives that they need to share this journey with other young adults who are going through the same things.  It is such a unique stage in life that our young adults have to have others around them who understand the journey that they are on.  But not only understand it – they need to journey with them through this.

This weekend, I was a part of a church trip to introduce graduating high school seniors to our young adult ministry.  It was honestly a beautiful and humbling thing to be able to talk to the seniors about the challenges, excitements, and situations that they will be facing in the days ahead as a young adult.  But the best part was that we were able to covenant with them that we would share this journey with them – a common journey.  It was a cool moment.

At the heart, we need young adult ministries in our local churches so that our young adults have a place to share a common journey.

Does your church have a place for your young adults to share a common journey?