The Hidden Truth
Engaging you and other young adults in leadership roles can be more challenging than it seems at first glance. While many churches express a desire to involve young adults, there’s often a deeper issue that goes unaddressed: the gap between the church’s intention to involve you and your perception of actually being included.
Understanding the Challenges
From stories shared by young adults like you, two main challenges have emerged:
1. Perception of Limited Influence
You might feel like your voice isn’t heard when it comes to significant church decisions—Michael, a young adult in our church, certainly felt that way. As someone who had been actively involved in various programs, Michael often found himself contributing ideas in meetings, only to feel like those ideas weren’t seriously considered. His frustration grew as he began to sense a lack of genuine interest in his contributions, and eventually, he felt disconnected from the leadership process. Stories like Michael’s show us that many young adults face similar challenges, feeling like they don’t have a real say in the direction of the church.
To keep young adults like you engaged and prevent similar frustrations, the church needs to actively show that your input is valued. There are real opportunities for you to help shape the church’s direction, and it’s important that you know your voice matters.
How the Church Can Show Your Input Matters
One of the best ways the church can show you that your voice matters is by actively including you in decision-making processes. This could mean inviting you to attend leadership meetings or join task forces where important matters are discussed. By assigning you meaningful roles, such as co-leading a project or ministry, the church can demonstrate that your perspective is genuinely important. Establishing a mentorship program where you can be paired with an experienced leader also helps bridge the generational gap and shows that your growth and development are a priority. These steps validate your input while also helping you build connections with church leaders.
2. Resistance to Change
Like Jenna’s experience, you may have encountered resistance when proposing new ideas or suggesting changes in the church. Sometimes this hesitation stems from a desire to preserve tradition or uncertainty about how changes might affect the church. But by fostering a more open-minded culture that encourages innovative thinking, the church can create a space where your ideas are welcomed and explored.
How the Church Can Be More Inclusive of Your Ideas
The church can create a more inclusive environment by intentionally creating spaces where you feel comfortable sharing your thoughts without the fear of being judged. This might include regular forums, workshops, or even “town hall” meetings where you and other young adults can speak directly with church leaders. Having feedback mechanisms, like surveys or suggestion boxes, can also help ensure your ideas are heard—and acted upon. Seeing your ideas reflected in church actions or communications, such as newsletters or social media, will show that your input is valued and important.
Moving Forward: Let’s Work Together to Overcome These Challenges
By addressing these challenges directly, the church will not only begin to close the gap between intention and perception but also build a more vibrant and engaged community where you feel seen, heard, and valued.
Scriptural Foundation for Inclusion
Scripture provides guidance on why your inclusion and contributions are so essential. As Paul writes in Romans 12:4-5 (NIV), “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” This passage reminds us that everyone—no matter your age—has an important role to play in the church’s mission.
Let’s Move Forward Together
We want to hear from you! What do you think about these challenges? How can we work together to overcome them? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Your Voice Matters!
Your ideas and feedback are essential as we strive to create a more inclusive environment for young adults. Your voice can help us build a church where everyone, including you, feels valued and empowered to contribute. Let’s move forward together!
Footnotes:
¹ Barna Group, “The State of the Church 2023: How Young Adults Engage with Their Church Communities,” (Ventura, CA: Barna Group, 2023), 45.