Photo courtesy of Aaron Robert Photography. Copyright 2014. www.aaronrobertphotography.com
If you are a community that it looking to make some changes to attract emerging adults, here are a few ways that you can start without shifting your beliefs, or discussing it at a board meeting.
1. Design a website that welcomes them.
Your website will be the first encounter that most Emerging Adults will have with your church. As you look at your website, what does your church say, or what does it not say about emerging adults? Your website’s appeal is not based on being “hip” or “trendy”, but you need to understand what questions they will be asking. If you don’t know where to begin, drop me a note, and I will be glad to give you some thoughts. If Millennials are not visiting your church, then maybe your website provides plenty of reasons to stay away.
2. Open Avenues to SERVICE.
When an emerging adult enters your community, can they sense that emerging adults have opportunities to serve and lead? Or does your church have invisible signs saying, “Young Need Not Apply.” Seek to equip people of all ages regularly serving as greeters, ushers, communion servers, and speakers.
3. Refuse to speak negatively about adolescents or emerging adults.
Photo courtesy of Aaron Robert Photography. Copyright 2013. www.aaronrobertphotography.com
There is a desperate need within our world to change the metanarrative of human development. Within the church, many negative statements are made about adolescents and emerging adults. Are jokes made about adolescents? Are generations unfairly characterized such as being called techy (addicted to their phones), immature, or rebellious? Age-based humor should not be used.
4. Respond immediately and personally to requests for information.
Emerging adults are always in the midst of transition. They do not want to wait two months to serve or attend the next visitor’s meal or class. If they visited, invite them to coffee to discuss how they can further connect with your community. Assign this position to someone who is relationally-driven, and understands the needs of emerging adults.
5. Develop a unified voice on your current philosophy for emerging adults.
As a team, you must discus what happens once an emerging adult visits? If you don’t have a philosophy, here are some questions to get going (Click Here!).
Maybe you have covered these first steps, and haven’t seen any change. If you want me to help you or your team discover a philosophy of ministry that works for your community, contact me at gdavid@earesources.
