A Word from Kat

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s General Assembly, themed “Building Bridges,” took place in Dallas TX, this year. It was a week packed with meetings, workshops, fellowship, and worship—a great time to meet new people and catch up with old friends.

Along with the workshop I led, I was able to attend a workshop that really caught my interest. It was entitled: “The Struggle is Real: Starting and Sustaining Ministry with Young Adults” and was led by Emily Hull McGee who has been the Minister to Young Adults at Highland Baptist Church in Louisville, KY, for the past six years, a thriving ministry. No surprise, the workshop was full, as many churches are recognizing the few numbers of 20-35 year olds in their congregations. Isn’t it good to know we’re not alone? Isn’t it even better that there are churches out there with thriving young adult ministries we can learn from?

Our time began with us discussing what life is like for young adults now. There is a dramatic growth in young people going for degrees in higher education; people are marrying later; the economy is changing and more. Then we asked, “Where do we see young people around our cities and where are the spaces for young adults in our churches?” Last, we spoke about the lack of churches investing in this age group.

Emily offered five pieces of advice to our group, and though none of them are too surprising, they are good reminders of how we can be an inviting place that invests in the young people in our community.

1. The whole church needs to be invested in young adults, interested in their being a part of the community and flexible. This includes setting aside a part of the church budget for young adults. It also includes inviting them to the table and honoring their voices, and putting more than one or two young people on a committee.
2. Your Baptist Church must be authentically Your Baptist Church. This generation has been advertised to all their lives and knows when they are being advertised to. They value authenticity, so embrace who you are – embrace your quirky self!
3. Leaders and church-wide passions must be vibrant, inspiring, and life shaping. Listen to the passions of the young people and give space to find out what those passions might turn into in your church.
4. Your church must be ready to be led by young adults with new energies, new passions, and new ideas. This can mean change, and it can mean some real learning experiences for the whole church.
5. It’s all about relationships. Invest in the relationships. Intergenerational diversity is an ASSET, strength for young adult ministry.

Emily offered valuable insight from years of building and working with a program that most of our CBF churches are lacking. Young people are interested in the faith community, but it may not look like what the church is used to. University Baptist has a lot to offer to the young adults of our community – I know because I am one who is constantly learning, growing, and being encouraged in this place.

Peace,
Kat