Drawing Young Adults to the Church: Mission & Service
Churches across denominational lines are asking the same questions: how do you draw young adults into the Church? Many churches are finding that merely changing the look of Sunday morning services or adding Emergent-style programs is not getting the results they are looking for, which is reaching the 18-31 age demographic. So, what does draw young adults into the Church?
Mission & Service
According to Howe & Strauss, young adults are highly motivated by just causes and service. Last February, Wheaton College hosted an AIDS Benefit through their Student Global AIDS Campaign chapter. The evening helped to fund a maternity ward in Uganda as well as to serve Ugandan women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Wheaton is noted for its strong involvement in bringing awareness to social issues. Many church college groups are involved in their community or take overseas mission trips, but most serve through the church's college ministries and are segregated from the rest of the churches missions or outreach programs. But when a church gathers all ages together to build shelter for the homeless or serve in other ways, young adults feel more connected to the Body. They begin to build relationships with older & younger Christians, which they truly desire to have. That's what happened at Los Altos Grace Brethren Church.
The college group decided to build a home in Mexico through an organization called Hands of Mercy. They needed to raise money for materials and volunteers for the construction. So, they made an announcement in the church. "We just invited the church," shared Jenna Helfer, one of the college students who oversaw the project. "Most things are separated in the church," added Shanna Mason, another of the organizers, "but the church was excited that the college group wanted to do this." Others who helped were Aryn Negron and Kim Kertz, who managed the fundraising. By the time the they were finished, they had raised nearly $15,000, enough to build three houses and a deck for the missionaries.
But the best part was seeing how many from the church volunteered. "We had a work day that Saturday before we left to construct some of the frames, and we had whole families helping out, "said Jenna. Even Ayrn's 90 year old neighbor pitched in and gave a hand. I asked them if they would do it again. "We'll, maybe once we get some rest," said Shanna, "but we would love to do it again." People from the church have gone down since then and visited those they helped, but just as important was what it did for the church. "I think we feel closer to the college students," shared Miles Fischer, a long time attendee at Los Altos. "We got to know some of them, and they got to know us, and I think it's helped our church."
If you want to hear more about their story, you can contact pastor Phil Helfer at office@lagbc.org or 562.596.3358.
Mission & Service
According to Howe & Strauss, young adults are highly motivated by just causes and service. Last February, Wheaton College hosted an AIDS Benefit through their Student Global AIDS Campaign chapter. The evening helped to fund a maternity ward in Uganda as well as to serve Ugandan women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Wheaton is noted for its strong involvement in bringing awareness to social issues. Many church college groups are involved in their community or take overseas mission trips, but most serve through the church's college ministries and are segregated from the rest of the churches missions or outreach programs. But when a church gathers all ages together to build shelter for the homeless or serve in other ways, young adults feel more connected to the Body. They begin to build relationships with older & younger Christians, which they truly desire to have. That's what happened at Los Altos Grace Brethren Church.
The college group decided to build a home in Mexico through an organization called Hands of Mercy. They needed to raise money for materials and volunteers for the construction. So, they made an announcement in the church. "We just invited the church," shared Jenna Helfer, one of the college students who oversaw the project. "Most things are separated in the church," added Shanna Mason, another of the organizers, "but the church was excited that the college group wanted to do this." Others who helped were Aryn Negron and Kim Kertz, who managed the fundraising. By the time the they were finished, they had raised nearly $15,000, enough to build three houses and a deck for the missionaries.
But the best part was seeing how many from the church volunteered. "We had a work day that Saturday before we left to construct some of the frames, and we had whole families helping out, "said Jenna. Even Ayrn's 90 year old neighbor pitched in and gave a hand. I asked them if they would do it again. "We'll, maybe once we get some rest," said Shanna, "but we would love to do it again." People from the church have gone down since then and visited those they helped, but just as important was what it did for the church. "I think we feel closer to the college students," shared Miles Fischer, a long time attendee at Los Altos. "We got to know some of them, and they got to know us, and I think it's helped our church."
If you want to hear more about their story, you can contact pastor Phil Helfer at office@lagbc.org or 562.596.3358.
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on Saturday, June 9, 2007 at 4:52 AM.
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