Category Archives: For Parents

Whenever I talk to people about what I do, they usually respond in two ways.

1.  “Our church doesn’t have anything for young adults.”

2.   “Our church would never be able to start something.”

And when I hear these responses, it reminds me over and over again, why I love what I get to do.

I first want to clarify what I mean by college ministry.  College ministry is finding ways to minister God’s love and grace to the emerging adults within and outside our church community.  Your church may not be able to build a huge, thriving, spiritual “hang-out” community for young adults, but you can create ways to minister to emerging adults in your community.

I also would never call it a ministry to college students because not everyone who graduates from high school goes to college.  I gave it that title becase those are currently the words that people type who are searching the internet for answers.  They should be called Emerging Adults (or at least go old-school and use the title “Young Adults”).

So before your community develops ways to minister to emerging adults, ask yourself three questions.

Who is your audience?

There is a reason why this question is first.  You cannot answer the second two questions until you have the first.  A ministry should not be launched by local demographics, but by who do you currently have committed to your community.

This is not because I don’t believe in reaching out, but because I believe that evangelism is best done through current social circles, rather than slick posters and hip events.  So start with who is attending your church already.  If you have no one currently attending, then ask who in this age demographic has had previous contact with your church.

As you identity both leaders and attenders of this new ministry, invite them to join you in answering questions two and three.

 What is your mission?

I am not that you need to write a purpose statement/missions/values and objectives before you do ministry.  While there may be some merit to the business-oriented “Purpose-Driven” method, I have found that its values have been overstated (although greatly appreciated by modernistic baby boomers and baby busters).

It is essential to know what we want out of this age group.  Do we want to provide an extended “youth group,” or what do we hope to accomplish through trying to start this ministry?  I believe that the purpose of any emerging adult ministry should be tailored to the values and vision of your church.  Don’t launch a college ministry to appease a vocal parent whose child didn’t go to college.  You shouldn’t do it because it is a missing program in your portfolio.  You shouldn’t do it because you somewhere to recruit more youth workers.

One right reason is because you have a passion to see emerging adults shepherded, and parents loved as they walk through these years.  However, there could be other reasons.

 What are your resources?

After feeling God’s direction to your ministry, take a look around you and see what resources you possess in order to make it happen.  The three main resources are money, people, and possessions.  Think through each of these areas:  money, possessions, and people.

Money – You are probably asking, “What money?”  When I first started our college ministry, we didn’t have much money.  I had to borrow from the youth ministry budget in order to buy so much as a pizza.  It took time to build this resource, and to convince people that financial support would make an impact.  Acquiring money takes time, and therefore requires planning.  However, don’t make money an obstacle.  Remember that the church budget isn’t the only source of funds.  Some emerging adults have money, and don’t need you to pick up the tab on the pizza.

Possessions – Launching a ministry doesn’t require a lot, but some tools in your toolbox might help your work progress faster.  Does your community have a building or a space to meet?  If it doesn’t, are there people in your congregation that would open up their house to the group?  After you have the basic necessities met, you might start looking to see about other possessions, like vehicles, cabins, or boats that would be available to the group.

People – This is the most important, and I save it for last.   A good team will be the best indicator as to whether or not your group is going to grow.  Remember that your team should not be all from the same age group.  Make sure that your team does include some emerging adults.  Look around your current community to see who might be available, and have a willing heart to commit to helping them.

Dr. G. David Boyd is the Founder and Managing Director of EA Resources.  Contact him at gdavid@earesources.org, if he can help your community to better minister to the challenges and needs of emerging adults.

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