Recap on the Summit
I had a great time at last week's Summit on Emerging Adults. CE National hosted the two-day event with fifteen in attendance. We wanted to keep the numbers small in order to have more time for discussions and interaction. You can see a review of the event on CE Nationals web page. Thanks to CE National for hosting the event, to Lois Maxson for the meals (her Pennsylvania back ground came through), to Chuck Bomar for his keen insights into today's younger generation, and to those who came and shared their love for and thoughts on ministering to this generation.
As for me, I came away with a couple of thoughts. First, there is a need for those who work with twenty-somethings to gather. Every one of those who came to the Summit expressed their appreciation for a seminar that focused on college/young adult ministry. They especially enjoyed the chance to connect with others who minister in the same area that they do.
Second, I sense that this is a growing age-group ministry within the Church and an age-group that is forming its own identity within the Church. They are neither youth nor adults. Some who are of this age range have a hard time seeing themselves as young adults. This issue raises many questions for churches. How do you minister to them? What developmental stages are they experiencing? Do you hire a pastor to oversee this group? Can a volunteer staff lead them? Even those who work with them don't know the answers to many of these questions.
Third, church leadership is slowly recognizing the need to reach this generation, with emphasis on slowly. That's why CE National will be offering more of these seminars in the future. Our hope is to make them available to anyone interested in knowing how to start a college ministry, how to reach and keep this generation for Christ, and how to connect with others who are involved in twenty-something ministry.
If you want more information about future seminars, please feel free to email me at calibobble@yahoo.com or you can connect with me through CE National. Look for more seminar information on CE Nationals website in the coming months.
As for me, I came away with a couple of thoughts. First, there is a need for those who work with twenty-somethings to gather. Every one of those who came to the Summit expressed their appreciation for a seminar that focused on college/young adult ministry. They especially enjoyed the chance to connect with others who minister in the same area that they do.
Second, I sense that this is a growing age-group ministry within the Church and an age-group that is forming its own identity within the Church. They are neither youth nor adults. Some who are of this age range have a hard time seeing themselves as young adults. This issue raises many questions for churches. How do you minister to them? What developmental stages are they experiencing? Do you hire a pastor to oversee this group? Can a volunteer staff lead them? Even those who work with them don't know the answers to many of these questions.
Third, church leadership is slowly recognizing the need to reach this generation, with emphasis on slowly. That's why CE National will be offering more of these seminars in the future. Our hope is to make them available to anyone interested in knowing how to start a college ministry, how to reach and keep this generation for Christ, and how to connect with others who are involved in twenty-something ministry.
If you want more information about future seminars, please feel free to email me at calibobble@yahoo.com or you can connect with me through CE National. Look for more seminar information on CE Nationals website in the coming months.
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on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at 11:18 AM.
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