KEY RESOURCES
- Barna Research & Solutions – https://www.barna.com/nextgen/
- Feed Research – USA & Global – 2020 – https://feed.bible/research/
- Fuller Youth Institute – https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/young-adult-ministry-now Hemorrhaging Faith
- Study (Canada) 2012 – https://hemorrhagingfaith.com/ Renegotiating Faith Study (Canada) 2018 – https://p2c.com/renegotiating-faith/
- Red Frogs – https://ca.redfrogs.com/
STRENGTHEN THE HOME.
Research shows that when Jr & Sr High Youth 1) grow up in homes where families have regular spiritual experiences together (praying, reading the Bible), 2) eat dinner together regularly as a family, and 3) serve together at church, there is a greater chance of continuing as dedicated followers of Jesus into the adult years.
FOCUS ON RELATIONSHIP
Research shows that relationships are essential to this generation. As a result, many young adults are looking for mentors who will listen and help them transition into adulthood. In addition, some research indicates that the influence of a non-related Christian adult actively involved in a kid’s life increases the chances of remaining in the church. Churches of any size and financial means can intentionally serve young adults. They can start by building a young adult small group with a passionate leader about listening, mentoring, and discipling.
FACILITATE EXPERIENCES
Experiences such as retreats, camps, and mission trips that produce spiritual markers in the lives of youth as they transition to young adulthood cannot be underestimated. Where churches cannot host young adult services and camps, they can work together by hosting and supporting collective experiences with other churches.
ALIGNMENT
Churches should consider aligning ministries from kids to adulthood to bring consistency from one age group to another. For example, if adults are encouraged to connect in groups, groups should be introduced in kids’ ministry and youth. This brings consistency and familiarity from one age to another and helps retain engagement.
INTENTIONAL TRANSITIONS
Transitions are significant from one age group to another. Transitioning from high school/youth ministry into the next ministry must be intentional. Youth leaders should be conscious of what group a graduate will be part of once they finish with
youth and who their next leader will be. If they travel for college, connecting them to another local church or college ministry can help this transition. Preparing youth for young adulthood is the key to successful transitions. Connecting youth to groups and mentors they can be associated with is key to supporting a good transition. Mission Canada offers a course for highschoolers transitioning to post-secondary institutions called Life Launch https://www.mentorship.one/p/life-launch
OWNERSHIP & INFLUENCE IS ESSENTIAL.
Research suggests that the younger a person is given ownership of a ministry, the greater the chances of staying involved into the young adult years. In addition to this, it is essential to realize that young leaders attract young people. This means that young adults need to be engaged at the leadership level with regular input and influence of tangible decision-making elements of a local church. This also means that young adults should have a regular platform presence and influence of services that reflect their style and culture.
SERVICES THAT CONNECT
In our post-Christian culture, we need to be aware of the add-ons we emphasize as a church community that might discourage investigation into the message of Jesus. In our services, we can be mindful of language and concepts that we use that might not be understood and need to be better explained.
SERVING TO REACH
Unchurched young adults in the Greater Toronto Area have little context to Christianity and what happens Sunday morning in our churches. Instead, their perception of church and Christianity is built by film, friends, and social media. Therefore, relationship-based serving and hospitality are essential to emphasize in our churches. Serving makes the opportunity for relationships. The relationship provides the opportunity for the unreached to ask spiritual questions, for us to share our stories, and join together as we follow Jesus.
Mission Canada is active in our Colleges and Universities, building bridges of relationship with young adults through College Ministry and Red Frogs Outreach. Connect with a campus working as a partner church. Offer financial support, share resources such as church office space and portable equipment, open up your facility for local events, host dinners for college kids, send volunteers to serve on campus with the worker, and support the campus food bank.