There’s a divide in the church: This minister wants to bridge it
ST. LOUIS — Carlus D. Page sees a divide in…
Editorial: Creating community with college-age adults
What the church is doing and needs to do to minister to young Christian adults.
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
SEARCY, ARK. — “Keep your faith close as you start this new chapter.”
That’s the advice a lot of us got from our home congregations before we left for college.
For many of us, college brings our first opportunity to choose where and how we worship and connect with fellow believers. As these new adults church-hop around town to find a congregation that clicks, they must ask themselves what they want in a church. When they discover a church body to worship with regularly, do they feel the church meets their needs?
Related: There’s a divide in the church: This minister wants to bridge it
We conducted an informal survey of 57 college-age adults across the nation — most of whom worship with Churches of Christ — and asked about what they look for in a church.
A majority of participants said their church met their needs, but responses revealed that young churchgoers search for community.
Many mentioned a desire for community or fellowship with other Christians when looking for a church. They emphasized community, relationships with other believers or being part of Christ’s body as reasons for their involvement.
Amy Kendall
Young adults have a deep desire for community, and church staffers across the nation see it among the students they serve. Amy Kendall, a campus minister at the University of Arizona, said she worries about students isolating themselves on campus and not finding a new community when they move to college.
Imagine walking into a church on a Sunday morning and seeing members greet one another, but you don’t know anyone. As seniors at Harding University, we had this experience when we moved to Searcy. Walking into an auditorium filled with hundreds of unfamiliar faces is simultaneously intimidating and awkward.
Students frequently gravitate toward the college section during worship because their peers in the college group are who they’re comfortable with. But they seek meaningful connections in church beyond the college group.
Many of us are involved with leading worship, teaching children’s Bible classes and participating in small groups to connect with Christians in other age groups.
David Fraze, youth ministry program chair at Lubbock Christian University in Texas, addressed students’ need for intergenerational, authentic relationships in the church. During his keynote presentation at the Campus for Christ conference in July, he described how a small group fell apart because it was only college students.
David Fraze
“It collapsed because it’s inauthentic,” Fraze said. “You know what we need? Some adults to engage.”
So how can church members engage with college-age adults? How should we foster those authentic relationships?
The Christian Chronicle explored conversations about intergenerational ministries in our July and August print issues this year. Churches in Oklahoma and Texas have started “grandparent ministries,” encouraging older members to minister to young adults in the church. Congregations across the nation also have intergenerational small groups for women.
Students who participate in these ministries spoke positively about the relationships they formed with older members. They were not the only ones who benefited. Older Christians valued the perspectives of the young adults in small group discussions.
Intergenerational relationships are not reliant solely on older members. College-age adults are responsible for initiating involvement in church. But when members reach out to students, the students feel welcomed.
Attendees at the Campus for Christ event worship together.
When members reached out to us outside of regular worship times, or were excited to introduce us to other members, we felt included in the congregation’s community.
Next time you see young adults at church, stop and give them a hug. Ask how they’re doing. Don’t let the conversation be cursory — take time to get to know them. You’ll both be better because of that relationship.
KENZIE JAMES and ANDREW RENEAU are recent summer interns for The Christian Chronicle. They are both senior multimedia journalism majors at Harding University in Searcy, Ark.
