Building a Young Adults ministry

As a rule in ministry – I stick to the time honoured leadership adage; “I don’t really know what I’m doing” (Moses, Gideon, Jeremiah, etc.) I guess I know some things, but ultimately I want to stay dependant on God for all I aspire to do. Speaking of aspirations, I am presently trying to build a thriving young adult community that is characterized by a hunger for God, passionate worship, deep relationships, belonging for people of any kind, and a mind to change the world outside the church walls, as well as within.
So how is that done exactly? Well, I’ll share a little of what I am doing and we’ll see how it goes... I guess one of my ambitions is to “build it right” – like Mike Holms. I’ve seen too many Young Adult ministries get really big, and THEN try to add quality, and values to the community, with mixed success. I’d rather start small, KNOWING who we are and what we’re about – so that as we grow – we can fight to maintain and deepen that identity, that quality. For instance, the way we worship – with freedom. I ask myself; “what kinds of things are okay in our worship times? What do we value?” Then we talk about those things all the time, and act on them. In our case, values like, passion, risk, creativity, and intimacy have come up as we prayerfully form our gatherings. I guess the question is “who are we in worship?”
That question can be applied to a lot of key things. Who are we in reaching the lost? Who are we in following Jesus as disciples? Who are we in relationship with each other? I feel that, as we begin to answer these questions – THEN we have what we need to build our gathering. Instead of inviting people to an event – we can invite people into an identity. Be it an invitation to Thursday night, or lunch on Sunday, or a social event on Saturday, but it is all the same identity, the same family. We call ours “facechurch”. This thinking equips us to bring church to a friend – rather than just bringing a friend to church. In other words – we can take these values, this identity with us to work or school, or the mall!

To this end I have prayerfully looked for partners. Not just leaders, because I expect to have a good number of leaders. Partners are leaders who share a bond, demonstrating by their example – the kind of deep relationships we want to build. Partners share more than the work load, they share the spiritual and emotional burdens of life and ministry. They also share the joys and victories. With these partners I have formed a “Vision Team”. This is my cell group, my key leaders. Next, I hope to form a core group of people who believe in the vision, and own the identity. This, more than anything else, will be what draws people into fellowship with us. I hope that this core group will commit to radically follow Jesus. They can lead cells and reach out to friends. People will feel drawn to the love we have for each other (John 13:35).

Imagine a coffee house full of people, live music in the corner, and the sound of an espresso machine in the background. Fragrance and conversation fills the air. You’re a visitor – don’t really know anyone yet. Now imagine that this group embraces you – draws you in, but they’re unrelenting in their personal passion for God and their devotion to Christ. These people are the real deal, not perfect – but authentic... and they want you to journey with them. This is the kind of identity I hope to be a part of.

Pressure

It’s so easy to get wound up real tight with all that is going on in life these days. I’m amazed at the amount of stress most of us carry around and think its “normal”. When I stop for a moment, I realize that much of the pressure I’m under comes from the expectations of other people. Sometimes these expectations are figments of my imagination. In other words – I allow myself to be stressed by things which may not even exist. I submit to expectations or opinions that no one has actually placed on me. Maybe they spring from my personal fears and insecurities. Or perhaps they are fashioned by that crazy human tendency... the one where I find ways to beat myself up in a misguided attempt to be better. Can anyone relate?
Well, if you are like me, then it’s worth remembering that I am performing for an audience of one. There is only one opinion that ultimately matters most. And I have it on good authority that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matt. 11: 28-30).