Why Young Adult Ministry? Part 1 - Young Adult Culture

A friend of mine asked the other day why we decided to start a ministry that targets young adults. It was a great question that led to a very long answer. So, I decided what a great thing to start blogging with. Here's part one...The Young Adult Culture.

Let's start with a look at the young adult make up of Greenville, SC. Greenville County is home to some 90,000+ young adults between the ages of 18 and 35. Many of these young adults were born and raised in Greenville; however, more young adults have moved to Greenville for work or to be near family that has moved to the area. Colleges also help bring young adults to the area. Large colleges in the Upstate attract high school grads to the area, who then find a job and stay in the area after college.

Now, the current young adult culture is quite different from any previous generations. University students are attending school longer than before. A normal four year degree is almost unheard of. Students change majors as much as a five year old changes his mind picking out dinner. With all the options available and very little time devoted to finding out one's passion before entering university, deciding a major is quite difficult. Then after graduation, with universities costing an outrageous amount of money, more young adults tend to move back home with their parents, or a parent, to save money and pay off loans.

Young adults also tend to be more transient today than ever before. After graduating college, many travel the World to experience life. Often taking a year or two off after graduating to do so. More young adults don't mind taking on simple part time jobs that offer flexibility over stability and pay while seeking out life's calling. Many times young adults ignore bills and responsibilities that need to be focused on. This transient society and mindset makes commitment in relationships, churches, and jobs among young adults very difficult and many times extremely rare.

I'll end with some statistics on young adults and church. According to research by Barna, over 75% of teens actively involved in church will quit going to church after graduation. Of those 75%, only 30% will ever regularly attend church again at another point in their lives. Barna mentioned one time on the Focus On The Family show that the most difficult demographic to reach for Christ is the professional, white, 25 year old male. Today's young adults tend to carry more baggage in their lives than any other previous generation. Many of the issues seen in church youth groups carry over into the young adult age group and expand into even more and deeper routed struggles. Single parents in this age bracket are on the rise. Depression in this age group continues to grow due to many current life circumstances and those experienced during childhood. Drug use during teenage years continues into later years of life. Alcohol abuse grows with bars being the predominate and often only social gathering place for young adults. Loneliness tears away at the hearts of many young adults as they seek that special someone in their lives. These are just a few examples of the many difficult issues dealt with by young adults.

This is a hurting a generation. It is a forgotten generation. It is a generation needing God's love and redeeming power of Christ's sacrifice! Why has the church spent millions of dollars on youth programs, only to leave them hanging after graduation?

Introducing Ministry Highlight Thursdays!

Ok, one of the things the blog will include is a ministry highlight every Thursday. Just a quick intro to people doing awesome things locally and around the world.

This week, I'd like to introduce you to my friends the Meyers. They are missionaries and educators in Sandton, South Africa with Biblical Ministries Worldwide (www.biblicalministries.org/countries/southafrica.html). Over the past 3 years they have helped plant MountainView Bible Church in Glenanda, Johannesburg (www.mvbc.org.za), worked with Sandton Bible Church (www.sandtonbiblechurch.org.za), and helped start the Berean Bible Institute. Not only did the Meyers help start BBI, but Brent currently teaches at the Institute. For more information on the Meyers and the work they are doing in South Africa, check out their website at www.themeyers.info.