 Photo by Priscilla Du Preez □□ on Unsplash A young adult recently spilled his feelings about the church over coffee and a boxed lunch:
“Church can feel irrelevant, or even antagonistic, to young adults and their explorations. We want spaces where we can ask questions, make meaning, and be in relationships with others. And it doesn’t matter if we meet those needs outside the church.” I’ve spent the last year-and-a-half talking with churches and young adults, or those individuals aged 18 to 25 (or even 29), throughout metropolitan Atlanta in an effort to bridge the gap between Christian congregations and young people. That young adult’s words align with the sentiments of many young adults I talk with regularly—they long for a place to discern their identity, find belonging and community, and live meaningful lives. In my experience, young adults do not feel allegiance to institutions, denominations, or religious dogma. Instead, they pick and choose beliefs and practices to meet the felt needs of meaning-making and belonging. They bounce between churches and brunch; self-help books are stacked next to Scriptures; CrossFit cohabits nicely with a small group. Can’t the church be a gathering around the dinner table with friends? Can spirituality mean connecting deeply with a partner? Why do we need a building to mediate God’s presence? If the church has no “rizz,” or charisma, young adults will go somewhere else. A cacophony of voices offers hot takes on young adults with new church growth strategies. Here's yet another take: Young adults aren’t decrying God or spirituality; they long for safe spaces to ask questions regarding their beliefs. And the church can be a place that helps young adults harmonize their spiritual leanings and sacred experiences with a richer story and tradition. But the focus can’t be on filling seats or pews. Instead, the church must be willing to engage genuinely with young adults in ways that are open to their evolving spiritual journeys. READ MORE https://firebrandmag.com/articles/young-adult-ministry-in-the-age-of-authenticity
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