Here is a huge mistake that leaders can make with young adult ministry.  It is Young Adult Ministry Mistake #41: “You have to fit into a generalized pastor mold to be a successful young adult ministry leader”.

The truth is, it is way better for you to simply be yourself.  You do not need to fit into a specific role or a generalized mold.  You do not need to be your pastor.  You do not need to be Rob Bell or Francis Chan or Toby Mac.  You only need to be yourself.

Too many young adult leaders do not think that they are good enough to have success.  They do not believe that they are the “right material” for leadership.  So they operate during their Bible studies and church services as completely different people.  They put on a perfect front – even though they are extremely well-intentioned.  Bottomline: they do not feel like they can be themselves because that would not be good enough.

I am telling you today that you are good enough.  You.  Just as you are.  Your young adult ministry needs you to just be yourself.  If you are funny and unorganized, then be funny and unorganized (but work on that).  If you are an introvert and very detailed.  Then be an introvert who is very detailed.

Your young adult ministry needs you.

And you can do it.

What is the state of your young adult ministry?

Now, normally, we would be talking about the “state” of young adult ministry as a state of existence.  But in this blog, I am literally talking about the state.  Like, the United States.  If your young adult ministry had to be compared to a state in the good old US of A – then which state would it be?

Would it be a Rhode Island?  Very small but still very strong.  And growing.

Would it be a North Dakota?  Not a lot of people.  And surprisingly cold.

Would it be a California?  Huge. Tons of people. Lots of diversity.  Some great stuff.

Would it be an Arkansas?  Very family-friendly.  Very close.  Very tight.

You see what I am saying?  Just an interesting exercise.

What is the state of your young adult ministry?

“Just give me one leader – even if they do everything wrong.”

That is one of my mottos for young adult ministry.  And it is not just that I love terrible leadership.  But, really, it is the value that I place on the role of leadership.

For so long, young adult leadership has been a leader-less wandering nomad.  Local churches, districts, regions, and other forms of church have not had any structure or leadership.  Young adult ministry has been more like a family flag football game than the National Football League.

But all that can change through leadership.

Committed leaders are one of the keys to a successful young adult ministry.  Leaders who are committed will continue to push through obstacles, struggles, and failures.  It might be long division and trial-and-error, but a committed leader pushes through for the sake of their young adult community.  Leaders are the people who care for others.  Leaders are the ones who know what’s happening.  Leaders create the culture and community of belonging and love.

Even if a leader does everything wrong – they are still incredibly valuable to the young adult ministry.  Young adults need someone who cares, someone who is going to always be there, and someone who they can count on.  We can lay the foundation of young adult ministry in our local churches when we build it with leaders.

Leaders who care.

Leaders who are there.

Leaders who are willing (even if they are not able).

We can do this.  We can build this.

… just give me ONE leader.

That’s all your church needs.

I recently received an email from a young adult pastor who had a question about district young adult ministry.  In our Nazarene denomination, we organized our local churches into districts and regions.  Where I live, my local church is a part of the Intermountain District.  We have about 50 local churches in our district.  For a quick understanding of what kind of ministry happens at a district level, this is where all of our high school camps, revivals, evangelists, and seminars come from for the betterment of the local churches.

So what does young adult ministry look like on a district level?  Well, to be honest, there are not a lot of things happening for young adults on most of our districts in North America.  But some things are happening and changing.  And many people are wondering how to improve young adult ministry not only from a local church level but also from a district level.

Not that I have had any raging success with district young adult ministry.  In fact, I remember one event we had where only seven people showed up.  But I have been working on this on the side for a couple of years and have learned a few things.  Here are some general principles that I think can help to begin to set a framework for ministry to young adults at a district level.

Equip.  First and foremost, district leaders need to realize that ministry at a district level is not the ideal ministry for young adults.  Ideal ministry comes from their immediate context and community in their local church.  Young adults have to have a home in the local church.  That is where the most important ministry is found.  And the district young adult ministry should do all it can to equip local church young adult leaders.  District leadership should use their comparative advantage to get resources that will equip local church leaders.

Resource.  This one is kind of like the “equip” one, but it is a little different.  District young adult ministry needs to resource the young adults in their area.  Set up a website.  Give them book reviews.  Highlight important Sunday School resources.  Give everyone the best chance to succeed.  A district ministry can resource their young adults so that they can go as far as they want to go.

Represent.  Sometimes young adults just don’t realize that they can be involved with things.  You might already have a great calendar of events that are happening on your District.  But young adults are not sure if they can be a part of these things.  So your district leadership can help represent young adults at these events.  District ministry can make it easier for young adults to feel comfortable, welcome, and a part of things that are already happening.

Listen and Respond.  This one is probably the most important.  Your district is going to be different than any other district.  On the Intermountain District, we have a large geographic  area.  So events do not work well for us.  But we are listening to our young adults and trying to respond to what they want.  Take the time to listen to your young adults and see what they are looking for.  And then work to make it happen.

Hopefully some of these things can be helpful.

Here we go!