Thoughts Welcomed!

Chuck on November 10th, 2009

I’m currently writing a chapter on characteristics found in churches that are embracing college age people.  This isn’t a chapter about characteristics in college ministries specifically, it’s about churches as a whole.  I currently have 8 characteristics and am looking for a few more.  So, this is where your thoughts would be welcomed!

  • If your church (as a whole) is engaging with college age people, what do you think it is about your church that is attractive?
  • Or, if your church isn’t engaging college age people (as a whole), what characteristics in your church are hindering that engagement?
  • In your time with college age people, what do you hear them say they like about their church (as a whole).

Again, I know it could be easy to talk about an individual ministry, but this needs to be broader than that.  Would love your insights, suggestions, thoughts…

Related posts:

  1. Adult, Adolescent, or Both?
  2. Thoughts For Campus Ministers
  3. churches that embrace college-age people
  4. worldview and truth
  5. New Book, Finally Here!

Share Discuss (12)

Serban at 11:35am November 10

I think the main aspect that attracts college-age to our church is the that we have cracked out space for them to be here. Meaning, we have a college age ministry.

Beyond that, a worship environment that they can connect with and relate to and that is a natural expression of their worship to God. I constantly hear our college age crowd say how much they love the environment they’re in and feel that we’ve embraced what they are going through. They like that our church is addressing raw topics from a biblical perspective. I.e, what does the Bible say about alcohol, sexualtiy, homo-sexuality, relationships, etc.

Another aspect that I constantly hear college age people saying about our church is that the people that are leading / speaking seem to be very normal. They don’t come across as experts or religious teachers, rather normal people that have real-life issues and can relate to the common person, more specifically the college age person.

Finally, our college age ministry is led by college students, and they love that they have a ministry that they can own. It’s an outlet for them to serve others and minister to others and be fully engaged in what God is doing in their community.

TurboBarns at 3:07pm December 1

I agree that they need to be on ministry teams, involved with kids, etc. However, ultimately, young adults want to how they will have an impact. It is the responsibility of the church to grow them in leadership and not just serving. Essential Church focuses on those that will leave the church and not come back until they have kids of their own. Churches that are embracing their young adults are the churches that see them as the future. How can we leave them out to dry from the ages of 18-35 and then expect them to be ready for leadership? It can’t happen! So, one characteristic of a church that targets young adults/college age ministry is where they value the maturing/developing of those in their twenties.