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Churches are missing the opportunity to minister to a hungry demographic
Ways to close the gap and reach 18-24-year-olds
According to recent studies, only 6% of 18-24-year-olds live with a spouse, a stark contrast to similar studies from 1996, sitting at a significant 40%.
These numbers not only speak to a difference in culture and societal expectations but also the need for a shift in how we reach young adults.
The truth is, young adults no longer have the same timeline previous generations have experienced — there are more stages than being a college student, a young married couple, or young parents.
But what does that mean for the church?
It means that it may be time to reevaluate how we connect with young adults and the type of ministry resources we provide.
If all you have to offer is a young Christian couples group, you may be missing out on an entire section of your community.
Let’s dive a little further into why these changes could be necessary:
Young adults are moving through milestones at a slower pace
Today, the average age for becoming a first-time parent is 27 and climbing — a huge leap from the previous average of 21.
Meaning, the resources offered to 18-24-year-olds should not be confined to marital courses and parenting support.
If we want young adults who are:
Still at home
Building their career
Searching for community
To reconnect with the church after college — or their education of choice — the outreach shouldn’t wait until after they graduate.
The more connected they are through school, the more likely they are to come back and keep coming back.
Just because they leave for school does not mean they are no longer part of your ministry. They are still part of your flock.
Our advice? Keep the line open.
There are a few simple ways to do so:
Action Items: Encouraging young adults to reconnect with the church
1. Assign specific members of the congregation to stay in contact
When you find out a member of your congregation is getting ready to head off to school, don’t just throw a send-off party and call it a day. Find out who they connected with at church and enlist them to keep contact flowing.
Letters, texts, care packages — gestures that keep the connection fresh, making it easier for them to reintegrate during holidays, spring break, summer vacation, and so on.
If they’re not responsive, that’s okay. The point is to be there and be consistent to encourage reconnection. Warmth, care, and nurturing are important aspects of ministry, and this is no exception.
Unless you know they're in someone else's care, they are in your care.
2. Help them find places to worship in their new environment
Helping a new student navigate how to plug into local places of worship, prayer groups, bible studies, and more can ease the transition and keep them connected to their faith.
This could be as simple as doing some research about the state/city/town they’re studying in and alerting them to local opportunities with an encouraging message.
3. Build ministries that speak to their stage of life
To circle back to how we started this topic, 18-24-year-olds need more than couple-focused hangouts and childcare options.
Examine your ministries. Speak with the single, at-home, college graduates in your community. They’re in your backyard.
Most likely they have not lost their faith — they’re simply not sure where they fit in anymore. And you can help answer that question by designing ministries with them in mind.
That doesn't have to mean wild, out-of-this-world events or super high-energy activities.
Care for them, nurture them, guide them. Unless you know they're in someone else's care, they are in your care.
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