- In 2006, 69 million people in
the US are projected to between the ages of 18 and 30 (Census Bureau)
- Young Adult’s appreciate and
are spiritually fed by a variety of worship styles. There is no specific style of worship that is
a magic wand for drawing young adults.
- There is a wide diversity of
Young Adults. YA’s are: married, single
divorced, in College, never went to college, in the work world, in professional
schools.
- In a recent Barna survey, it
noted that 94% of young people do not respond to e-mail.
- Young Adults, like most
generations in the church, want a place where they can meet God as they are and
feel comfortable asking the “tough questions.”
- There is a diversity of
family and “home” experiences from which Young Adults come (traditional,
divorced, one-parent homes, same-sex parents, being raised by someone other
than parent).
- We are in the midst of a
generational shift-the GenXers are at the place where they are “suppose to come
back to the church” because they are getting married and having children. But they are not returning to the church for
a variety of reasons.
- GenXers have an intense need
for inter-generational, inter-racial and inter-faith relationships, which
transcend typical interactions and environments often found in churches.
- Technology has impacted the
18-30 year olds in significant ways-not only are they ultra “plugged in”—it
also feeds the dynamics of “Helicopter
Parents”, hyper-multi-tasking, and increases the gaps in the haves and have nots.
- The church must look at
non-tradition ways to engage in issues of faith. This has an impact on: Sunday school,
worship, mission trips, evangelism, service opportunities, where church
gathers, etc.
- Studies show that there is
NOT a decrease of young people entering seminary BUT there is a decrease in
those who are in seminary who are choosing ordination for traditional preaching
ministry. Only ½ of those graduate with
an M.Div.
One final word of note about
young clergy: currently there are 15,954 ordained elders in the United
Methodist Church. Only 951 are under the age of 35 (or 5%). Within 20 years,
14,000 our clergy will be retired.
Something got change!
